My everyday makeup routine is pretty simple, as I work from home and live in a laid-back community. But recently, we received dinner invitations and a save-the-date for a wedding, and they reminded me that I needed some new “party” makeup. So, I thought I’d revive an old blog post trend called “What’s In My Makeup Bag”. I call mine the midlife minimalist party edition. You won’t find any false eyelashes, pearl embellishments, or floating eyeliner here. Instead, you’ll find solutions to some common midlife changes, and suggestions for upgrading your everyday makeup for special occasions. This is what’s in my makeup bag…
Brushes
Until recently, I used inexpensive makeup brushes that I bought randomly from my grocery store. When they started to fall apart, I knew I wanted to replace them all with a new set. So I started reading reviews, watching demos, and talking to the advisors at Sephora and Ulta. The bad news: they all recommended different brands, and many of them favored different brands for different types of brushes. The good news: there were a handful of brands that came up in conversation over and over again.
After much thought, I decided to splurge on this Sigma Beauty 12-pc Essential Brush Gift Set.
What a difference a brush makes! Over the past few years, my skin has lost elasticity, so makeup doesn’t glide on like it used to. These brushes are softer on my skin, they are easier to control, and deposit makeup better than my old brushes.
Foundation, Corrector, And Concealer
I currently wear Jane Iredale’s Liquid Minerals foundation every day, as a part of my simple 5-Step Makeup Routine. (I buy mine from a local salon, but you can find Liquid Minerals in Amazon’s Luxury Beauty shop). It’s more like a tinted moisturizer than a foundation, so has a very natural look.
Eye Shadow, Mascara, and Eyebrow Color
Our eyes (and hands) tend to be the first areas to show signs of age. I know my eyelids are softer and more hooded than they were in my thirties, so bright colors, glittery finishes, and complex techniques just don’t work for me. I wear Jane Iredale’s PurePressed eyeshadow (Triple Cognac And Soft Kiss) which has either a matte or slightly shimmery finish. The tiny compacts make them perfect for travel.
For mature faces, less is more, especially when it comes to eyeliner. If you are finding that your eyes are softer and more hooded, heavy eyeliner will make them look that much smaller. Try a fine line with liquid eyeliner. If you don’t have a steady hand, a soft pencil liner is easier to use. I like Burt’s Bees’ Nourishing Eyeliner which glides on easily and stays put.
Contour, Blush, and Bronzer
For everyday makeup, I sweep a little bronzer across my cheeks. But for special occasions, I’ve been playing around with contouring. If you haven’t tried contouring, the concept is simple; use a dark color to create depth (under your cheekbones and jawline), and a light color to create highlights (cheeks, corners of your eyes, forehead, nose, and chin).
Lipstick
Wow, remember lipstick? After years of wearing masks, I’d forgotten what it was like to choose lipstick. Lips often look thinner as we age and lose collagen in our skin. They also tend to dry out and show fine lines. So start with moisturized lips and a good lip liner.
