Make-up Tips For Menopausal Skin

We already know that menopause can be a rollercoaster ride – but when it comes to make-up for menopause? Well, that should be the easy and fun bit. We’re not here to tell you how you should look – far from it. Instead, we’d like to inspire and help you find the best make-up for menopause, whether that’s pre, peri, or post. 

Whatever the guise – a super bold lip, edgy eyeliner, or a sprinkling of stardust – and whatever your age – there are no boundaries when it comes to make-up at Beauty Daily. 

Sure, learning which formulations benefit mature skin is a must and your application methods might need a tweak, but we’ve got you covered! 

Read: The First Signs Of  Perimenopause, According To Experts

Why does our skin change during menopause?

There are many changes to your mind and body during menopause, from brain fog and night sweats to heart palpitations and low mood. “But skin and hair issues can be the first symptoms of menopause to manifest themselves, and you can pretty much blame the declining levels of the hormone oestrogen for that,” shares Katie Taylor, CEO and Founder of The Latte Lounge, an online community offering support, tips and signposting for the health and wellbeing needs of women over 40.

Oestrogen helps retain water levels and plumpness in the skin; but a lack of it decreases the skins defences leading to up to a whopping 30 per cent loss of collagen in the first five years of menopause.

So, to bolster your skin, you will need menopause-targeted skincare to help keep it taught, smooth, and glowing for longer. 

Menopausal skin must-haves

“Those going through the menopause often report an increase in fine lines, sagging skin, dark circles and changes in how the skin behaves. Dry skin becomes a major gripe, but so does an increase in oil production,” shares Taylor. What worked in your 20s and 30s won’t work during your 40s and beyond. Plus, your skin is far less forgiving which makes a regular skin-care routine a must if you want your make-up to sit better. At Beauty Daily we recommend an efficient regimen of cleansing, moisturising and SPF – every day. Along with exfoliating a couple of times per week, to say goodbye to flaky skin.

Try the Super Restorative Rose Radiance Cream, £80, pre make-up application. It refines skin texture and contains little fillers to plump fine lines, while the pearl extract injects instant radiance.

Our make-up tips for menopausal skin

As your skin starts to change with the onset of menopause, you’ll find that you need to adapt your make-up buys and application techniques. Here are 4 of our expert tips for mastering your next look:

Flush-proof make-up

Firstly, a decent primer will offer a smooth canvas, and prevent your foundation from falling into the ‘cracks’, and give it some much needed staying power, especially if you get hot and sweaty flushes. The Clarins SOS Primer’s improve make-up hold, have added skincare benefits, and colour correctors too.

When it comes to choosing a base shade, Beauty Daily says, “Instead of playing matchy-matchy with your skin tone, it might be worth taking it one shade darker to take into account any melanin loss [which is another side effect of menopause]. Also, if you’re permanently flushed-face, go for a more yellow-toned base to counteract the red or pink tones.” 

As for formulation? That comes down to personal preference. But make-up artists tend to agree; less is more. A decent tinted moisturiser, teamed with concealer to cover age spots and blemishes, can be enough coverage. If the skin peeks through by lunchtime, rather than overload the skin with powder, carry a travel friendly foundation like the Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid, £38 for touch-ups throughout the day. 

Read: Foundations for Mature Skin

Make-up for mature skin that ensures eyes pop

Accommodating changes caused by the menopause can be as simple as employing some clever make-up techniques. Beauty Daily explains, “Unearth those eyelash curlers! As you age, your lashes flatten out, so by curling them, they will instantly make your eyes look bigger and brighter.” We recommend the Supra Curling Mascara, £25. In clinical trials, 94 per cent of women felt their eyes appeared more open. And if you’re experiencing ‘dry eye’, which according to Taylor, “up to 50 per cent of menopausal women do,” then it’s likely you’ll need the Clarins Wonder Perfect Waterproof Mascara 4D, £25, as this condition can make eyes water more than ever.

Take things a step further and up the ante on your brows to help give the illusion of an eye lift, which will help counteract the collagen loss that leads to sagging skin. Head to a Clarins counter for advice on how to create the perfect arch for your evolving face shape and check in with regards to colour too. The general rule is to go a shade lighter than your natural hair shade if you have brown, or black brows, but if you’re blonde or a redhead, go one shade darker.

 

Warm, tone and hone your complexion

When it comes to best make-up for post-menopausal skin, it’s wise to take gravity into consideration. If you used to apply colour on the apples of your cheeks, you need to rethink that strategy as it’s likely this technique combined with volume loss can drag the face down. 

Sarah Joan Ross, Beauty Daily Editor, suggests “sweeping bronzer in a number ‘three’ shape – from the forehead, along the cheekbone, finishing along the jawline. Then, add a pop of colour – peach, warm pink, apricot and terracotta tones are great, placed high on the cheekbone. This will give your face a more dimensional, youthful, and lifted visage.” 

Finding the best lip products as you age

Lips do thin as you age, but there’s no need to ditch bold colours, especially as this alone can lift the mood, even on the most challenging of days. Sometimes there is a loss of volume, and your lips become a little more asymmetrical, so begin with a Clarins Lip Difiner,£20, in a shade darker than your natural lip tone. Apply, blot, then powder it down and follow with your chosen lipstick. Add a little dab of gloss or sheen on the cupid’s bow and the centre of the lip to further plump and amplify.    

Quick Tip: Keep a moisturising facial mist, £26 in your handbag to help relieve uncomfortable flushes when on the go. 

Feeling empowered to ace your make-up? Then check out the best foundations for mature skin to find your perfect match, and gain a few insider tips from our editors.