Makeup tricks that take years off your face are big business on Instagram.
Posts with tips like using eyeliner for youthful eyes or blush to hide wrinkles receive thousands of hits every day.
But can the way you apply slap really give you younger-looking skin?
Makeup artist and influencer Kate Hughes worked on business for over 30 years and is ready to share its secrets.
“I know what it’s like when your face doesn’t look like how you feel inside,” says Kate, 54. “When I reached 50, I suddenly felt invisible. My skin became dry and dull. Menopause happened.
“Using the wrong techniques can make everything go wrong.
“But using a few simple and easy tricks, you can get your shine and radiance back.”
In a special experiment for Fabulous, Kate used different techniques to show how a few simple changes can make you look years younger.
AGE TECHNIQUES
Give you The shine and define the structure
GIVE eyebrows a long tail
To look younger, I used the pencil higher on the eyebrow and left the tail much longer.
This frames the face and lifts it slightly.
Always try to match your natural eyebrow color. Use a soft pencil and make sure it is sharp. Also use a brush to brush your eyebrow upwards.
Eyebrow mascaras are also very good, but be sure to clean the brush as soon as it comes out of the tube before applying.
GIVE YOUR EYES A JOKE
FOR something that lifts the eyes, use a slanted eyebrow brush and a very dark eggplant or brown eyeshadow, not black, as they are softer on mature skin.
Anything goes in terms of color, it’s more a matter of getting the technique right. Use the brush close to the lash line and lift it at the end to give the illusion of a lift.
It’s a much younger look. Tubular mascara is a good option, it wraps around the lashes and is easier to remove than waterproof mascara.
Apply high bronzer
FOR a more youthful appearance, use bronzer to lift your face, applying it higher on the cheekbone than usual.
Then, apply the blush uncomfortably high on the apple of your cheek. This gives it that lovely “lifted” effect. Use something with a little shine – but not too much product, as you don’t want to highlight fine lines or wrinkles.
DO contour your lips
On my better side, I underlined it a little, but I didn’t go straight into the corner.
This makes the lip a little fuller, with more volume and less compressed and small. I also used a red one, which brightens the lips. If you want a bold, vibrant lip, go for it. It can brighten your appearance and boost confidence.
You might think that matte lipsticks or lip glosses are a no-no, but you can use them—it’s just a matter of getting the technique right.
USE illuminating foundation
USE a product that is moisturizing and illuminating, such as a BB cream.
Make sure you choose the same color as your skin tone.
Preparing your skin with a primer before using foundation can help smooth makeup application.
Use the same foundation all over your face to even out your skin tone. Then, use a concealer to hide problem areas like dark eyes or blemishes.
AGING TECHNIQUES
Make the skin look flat and drag the features down
DO NOT make dark eyebrows
I USED an eyebrow pencil to outline my eyebrow and just below it.
I left it very short at the tip so that the eyebrow tail wasn’t too long and brushed it downwards. Eyebrows should frame your face, but doing it this way is unflattering.
It pulls the face down, giving it an aged appearance.
Never darken the color too much as this can make the brow look flat.
DO NOT use kohl eyeliner
HERE I applied a black kohl pencil eyeliner, a technique that was popular in the nineties, but is now outdated.
It’s a good illustration of why you need to always re-evaluate your makeup regimen and not rely on doing something just because it’s the way you’ve always done it.
I lined the eyelash from the corner of the eye and went down a little at the end.
It’s a very harsh look that drags the look down and ages the face.
DO NOT blush your cheekbones
BRONZER here is applied below the cheekbone.
We’ve always been taught to put blush on the apples of our cheeks, but as we age, they can diminish.
Again, applying blush here drags your face down and makes your skin look older.
And another word of warning: You should never use anything that is completely matte, as this can make dull skin look even duller.
DO NOT line the corner of your mouth
HERE I used an eyeliner just below the lip line and went straight down to the corner of the lip.
You can see that this is prohibited and that the results are quite unfavorable.
This technique can drag your face downwards as you may have a small wrinkle at the corner of your mouth that naturally points downwards.
You should always avoid applying eyeliner there as it drags your lips downwards.
DO NOT use matte foundation
A THICK, matte foundation can soften the complexion and age it. It’s good to match your skin color as anything too light may be unflattering.
Don’t use too much as it will highlight fine lines. Many Insta makeup artists say to avoid under-eye concealer and use color corrector to hide dark circles as it can clog creases.
However, concealer is good and can work well as long as it is not too thick.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story