The ultimate guide to
MIDLIFE
BEAUTY
Skin first
CREATE A SMOOTH CANVAS
If you find that your make-up just doesn’t sit
as well as it used to, an uneven complexioncould be the problem. “When your skin isn’t
smooth it will scatter the light,” says themake-up artist Caroline Barnes. “You need to
create a smooth surface so that moisturiserwill hydrate the surface better and make-up
will sit nicely on your face.” Your secretweapon, then, is a good exfoliator.
“Don’t shy away from exfoliation,” says ShaniDarden, facialist to eternally glowing A-listers
such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley andChrissy Teigen. You might be nervous that
scrubbing will dry out skin even more, but it’san essential step in the midlife beauty routine.
“The dead skin cells need to be removed sothe treatment and hydrating products can
properly penetrate the skin,” notes Darden,who recommends introducing a gentle
chemical exfoliation, such as Dr DennisGross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
( 1 £89 for 30 pads), a couple of times a week.As we age our facial hair (affectionately known
as peach fuzz) can also become thicker,
making for a less-than-smooth surface. If thisis bothering you, Barnes recommends
researching dermaplaning, in which a tinyscalpel is used to gently remove the top layer
of skin and any fine hair, temporarily creatinga smooth complexion that makes a great base
for make-up. There are at-home dermaplaningtools available, such as the Dermaflash
Luxe Facial Exfoliation and Peach FuzzRemoval Device ( 4 £180), which uses a fine,
carefully guarded blade that vibrates as itsloughs away the top layer of skin. Although
these products come with safety guides tohelp protect against cutting yourself, if it’s
your first time having a go at dermaplaning,it’s worth visiting a professional dermatologist
or qualified aesthetician.Three-step contouring? No thanks. We speak to the
pros who really, really know what works at 40-plus,
from fuss-free make-up to results-led skincare
Words Verity Clark
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