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Every beauty professional has their nonnegotiable steps. In our series Like a Pro, we tap experts for the top three techniques they absolutely swear by. Here, you’ll hear from a variety of industry insiders on the fail-safe tricks they always keep in their back pockets. We’re all about simplifying your beauty regimen wherever you can, and sometimes the best routines are as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Say it with us now: Makeup has no rules, so you can dress up your face beat however you please. The best makeup techniques are the ones that make you feel most beautiful—you are the expert in your own features, so who are we to say you’re highlighting them wrong? 

Now that caveat being said, makeup artists do know the most effective ways to enhance your appearance, and they have seen a few common missteps over the years. They are the pros for a reason, after all.  

So consider these three common makeup misconceptions from bareMinerals global makeup artist Carly Giglio below, tailored to those with mature skin. 

We’ve said it once, and we’ll say it again: When it comes to makeup for mature skin, less is more. For instance, you might think you need to pile on concealer to effectively smooth out under-eye wrinkles, but that will only exacerbate their appearance as the product settles into fine lines. Trust that a precise application and soft buffing brush will go the distance. 

As a general rule, Giglio recommends choosing one feature to highlight, rather than trying to enhance all your features at once. Let’s say you want to accentuate your eyes: “Choose a color to enhance and then balance with a neutral lip,” she says.

That’s not to say you can’t ever fashion a bold face beat—but even full glam looks have a focal point. “By trying to enhance everything at once, it’s playing into that ‘more makeup’ look, which can tend to look aging,” Giglio adds.  

Another place people commonly exaggerate? The brows. “Aim to fill brows naturally to frame the face but not over power,” Giglio shares. She recommends a soft-tipped pencil (such as the bareMinerals MINERALIST Micro Defining Brow Pencil) to create hair-like strokes if you’d like a bit more density.

Just be sure to start slow and walk away from the mirror every few strokes so you can view your work (trust, it’s easy to overdo it when you stand up close). From there, you can use a brow gel to fluff up the hairs and keep them lifted.  

Now, let me be clear that there is no “right” or “wrong” foundation to use. The product (and all makeup, for that matter) is entirely personal to your tastes. That being said, those with mature skin tend to fare better with hydrating liquid formulas, as they help cushion the skin and make it less likely the formula will settle into wrinkles. 

You may also want to choose one with a “natural or soft radiant finish” to help the skin appear more vibrant, says Giglio. You can technically opt for matte, but it’s much easier for those formulas to accentuate dryness and read cakey.

She recommends the bareMinerals ORIGINAL Pure Serum Liquid Foundation for its dewy, true-to-skin finish. I’ve been using it for the past few months, and I can totally attest—it melts into the skin so effortlessly, you can barely tell it’s even on. 

“I do think another mistake is women 50+ thinking they can’t wear shimmer,” says Giglio. “You can! But choose the right texture and level of shimmer to enhance your makeup look, not over power.” 

See, shimmery formulas easily catch the eye, so they might not be best for someone who wants to lead the focus away from fine lines. And some products with glitzy particles can even settle into wrinkles. 

But according to Giglio, the right formula can add just the right amount of sparkle without making the skin appear dry—namely, delicate cream options that use natural pigments and soft light-reflecting particles. Think hydrating liquid highlighters and creamy pots of shadow. 

The takeaway 

Again, makeup really has no rules. Go ahead and layer on all the matte foundations, shimmery powders, and bold colors you please! However, if you’re hoping to master the most natural-looking face beat, Giglio’s tips may serve you well. Her final piece of advice? “Prep with skin care based on your skin concerns,” be it dark spots, dehydration, or breakouts—a universal tip no matter your age.