You may try to keep your skin looking younger by following makeup trends you learned from friends or family members. But, are these trends really helping you? No one likes getting older, but it's even worse if your beauty routine is thwarting your efforts by making you look older than you actually are.
What are 10 mistakes you might be making in your beauty routine (and ways to fix them)?
As the U.S. front man for Giorgio Armani Beauty, Tim Quinn recently shared his top 10 things you should be considering:
- You sweep your blush on too low. Instead, ignore the oft-repeated advice to "apple color" the apples of your cheeks and instead brush your brush across the tops of each cheekbone (no lower than an inch below your eye). This creates an instant illusion of lift.
- You leave your brows bare. Instead, take two minutes each morning to subtly shape and shade in your arches. This will cover grays, camouflage sparse growth and make tired eyes appear more open and alert.
- You apply mascara to the lower lashes. Rather, sweep color on just the top lashes and those at the outer corners of your eyes. This frames the eyes while minimizing the risk of under-eye smudging.
- You use matte lip color. Try switching to a satiny finish. It stays put as well as a matte, but won't cling to (and highlight) flaky spots. It's also less likely to bleed.
- You don't touch up your under-eye concealer. You should treat concealer as you do lip color. Make sure it stays moist (this prevents caking) by tapping eye cream over the concealer a few times a day.
- You apply foundation from the hairline to the jawline. Instead, use a foundation brush to apply coverage only where you need it. Unless you're trying to hide skin-tone discolorations, your complexion will look fresher in a sheer formula, or a full-coverage foundation diluted with a drop of moisture.
- You skip eyeshadow primer. Apply a skin-colored primer (or a stick concealer) over your eyelid to cancel out redness and discoloration and to help your shadow last and prevent creasing.
- You still wear chalky nail colors. Trade in opaque whites and pale pinks for bold-colored creams, shimmers, even glitters.
- You OD on dry shampoo. Instead, opt for an airy, non-mattifying spray to boost body and absorb oil.
- You skip body lotion because of the "dry time." Try a dry-oil and apply it to damp skin in the shower, it's fast absorbing so you don't need to wait to get dressed.
Tim Quinn, beauty expert and current front man for Giorgio Armani Beauty, shares the top 10 tips on whether or not your beauty routine is helping you or hurting you.
After training in Milan alongside the world-renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath, Tim Quinn joined the Giorgio Armani Beauty team with the launch of the brand in August 2001. His myriad experience as an artist includes work in TV, print, and film.