Makeup

I love doing my makeup every single day. But many people shy away from wearing makeup everyday because they may not want to wear a full face. Having a polished makeup look doesn’t mean you have to wear a dozen products, or spend a long time in front of the mirror. A basic makeup routine can be as effortless or polished as you want it to be. In today’s post, I am going to share a basic makeup routine that that feels natural, flattering, and easy to personalize with your preferences.

For more posts about makeup techniques and recommendations, here are some recent posts to check out:

What Order to Apply Makeup

Best Drugstore Makeup For Mature Skin

No Makeup Makeup Products

What Is A Basic Makeup Routine

A basic makeup routine typically includes a few key products to help enhance your natural features. That usually consists of a complexion product to even out the skin tone. Mascara to help define the lashes. A cheek color or bronzer to add some color to the face. Finally, a lip color of your choice to complete the look and balance out the face. The exact routine can vary based on skin type, skin tone, desired coverage, and personal preference.

How To Start A Basic Makeup Routine

Find images of inspiration

Whether on Pinterest or social media, try to find makeup looks that you love. This will give you an idea of your own personal makeup preference and style.

Visit a makeup counter or makeup store

While so much is available online, there is nothing like a good ol’ fashioned makeup consultation or a basic makeup lesson. It is how I learned and how I was able to get more knowledge of makeup techniques. You can visit a department store, Sephora or even a local salon for help on understanding your skin tone, the order of makeup application and how to achieve the looks you want.

Start small

You do not have to revamp or identify your everyday makeup look all at once. I like to recommend a product for each portion of the face so the finish look is balanced. One product for the eyes (mascara, eyeshadow, liner, etc), one product for the cheeks (blush, bronzer, etc) and one product for the lips (lip gloss, lipstick, etc).

Research different brands

Is there something specific that you want out of a brand? Are you wanting cruelty free products? Vegan products? Make a list of the brands that fit your own criteria and then look at the products that they offer.

Stick with neutrals

For a basic makeup routine, it’s best to choose makeup products in neutral tones.

Basic Makeup Routine Steps

Prep Your Skin

This may seem like an inconsequential part of your makeup steps, but ensuring your skin is nicely prepped before makeup is key to longevity and having your makeup look more natural overall. I will do my entire morning skincare routine first thing but I like to make sure my skin is well hydrated immediately before I apply any foundation, concealer or any complexion product. Often my SPF can prep my skin nicely for foundation. But if I don’t apply my foundation right after my SPF then I will use something to add a bit more moisture to my skin like this glazing milk.

Apply Your Complexion Product

This step is one of the most important steps of a basic makeup routine because it will create a blank canvas for the face. That complexion product could be a foundation, skin tint, tinted spf, etc. It’s best to go with a formula you will feel comfortable wearing every day. My biggest tip in applying foundation is to start with a small amount and build up as you need it. Especially if you are using a foundation that offers medium coverage or full coverage, it’s best to start with a sheer layer and build up. Some people only apply foundation where they feel they need it. And others (like myself) apply foundation over the entire face.

I like to apply my foundation to the four main parts of my face and blend it out from there. I will put a bit on each cheek, my forehead and then on my chin. You can use either a makeup brush or sponge depending on your preference. Then begin the blending process in the center of the face and work your way out.

Here are a few of my favorite foundation formulas:

Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick

This gives light coverage that can be built up, blends in seamlessly and makes your skin look like it’s just had a facial. It’s fresh and dewy without ever being too glowy. It is truly the perfect embodiment of a skin-like complexion product that manages to look better as the day goes on!

Merit Beauty The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick

The Merit Minimalist Complexion Stick gives a creamy satin finish to the skin, sheer to light coverage and easy application with the stick format.

Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Foundation

If you want a true foundation for special occasions, this is fantastic. The key for me is using the tiniest amount of product and applying it with a damp makeup sponge. It’s one of the longest lasting formulas I’ve tried while still keeping a hydrated and blurred finish throughout the day.

Add Concealer

Not necessary for a basic makeup routine, but applying concealer can be an added step to help cover a dark under eye area or areas of your face that foundation did not. My foundation usually will cover everything I need. If it doesn’t, I will use concealer under my eyes to brighten my dark circles or on any dark spots or blemishes I may have.

These are two of my current favorite concealers:

Ilia Skin Blur Serum Concealer

An absolute dream for mature skin! This concealer truly blurs in the most amazing way. It has a satin finish that gives a soft focus luminosity to the skin. In addition to the incredible blurring properties, it stays put all day long.

Sarah Creal Beauty Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer

The Face Flex Concealer and Complexion Enhancer is designed to be a multi-purpose complexion product that moves with your face throughout the day without creasing or fading for up to 12 hours. It conceals, corrects and adds just enough coverage.

Apply Eyeshadow

You don’t have to wear eyeshadow everyday but if you want to, this is the step to apply it. Either use your finger or a makeup brush to apply. Choose something neutral in tone and subtle to simply enhance your natural features.

Eyeliner Next

A basic makeup routine doesn’t necessarily include eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara so do feel like you need to wear all three. Mascara is the one product that I feel makes the most difference but adding eyeliner or eyeshadow a great additional step to make the eyes pop.

Finish With Mascara

Mascara can really help to define the eyes even without any makeup on them. It’s the one product for the eyes that I recommend as a must have for a basic makeup routine.

This is my current holy grail mascara formula:

Tarte Tubing Mascara

My favorite mascara that I constantly repurchase. No smudging or flaking.

Define the Brows

If you eventually want to update your basic makeup look, this is a great step to add into your routine. Adding a bit of definition to the brows either by using a brow pencil or brow gel can help to create a polished eye look.

Apply Bronzer

Bronzer is a great product that can sculpt your face and add warmth to the complexion. It’s important to add some color to the cheeks in the form of a bronzer or blush to keep the makeup look balanced. If you decide to use both bronzer and blush for your look, apply your bronzer first. Choose a shade that is similar to your skin tone without being too dark to give the face a sun kissed look.

Here are two of my favorite bronzer formulas:

Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer

This is a lightweight sheer cream bronzer that can be used on specific parts of the face or all over to give a subtle radiant glow. It’s a complexion balm that adds warmth to the complexion and can be used to even out the skin tone.

Rhode Pocket Bronze

These bronzers were the launch of the season! I am a HUGE fan of the pocket blushes so I had high hopes for these new bronzers. Thankfully they live up to the hype for me especially the shade Pebble. Creamy, easy to blend and long wearing.

Apply Blush

Adding blush after your bronzer will help to add a bit of a natural flush to the cheeks. It’s not necessary for a basic makeup routine, but choosing some type of cheek color (blush or bronzer) is essential to creating a polished look. Deciding on a cream or powder option depends on your skin type and personal preference. Start with just a small dusting on the cheeks and see how that looks before applying more. It’s always easy to add more blush than to remove too much.

Here are two of my favorite blush formulas:

Rhode Pocket Blush

The Rhode Pocket Blush is a cream blush formula designed to give a diffused wash of color with a satin finish. They are a lightweight formula that melts into the skin easily without leaving a tacky or greasy feel. They leave my cheeks looking fresh without being too dewy or shiny.

Sarah Creal Blurring Pressed-Mousse Blush

If you don’t want something dewy or anything that leaves a glowy finish, this Sarah Creal cream-to-powder formula is a must try. It is one of the most beautifully blurring formulas I’ve ever tried while still leaving a soft focus powdery finish. As someone who is usually a glowy cheek fan, this has become one of my favorite blush formulas.

Set With Loose/Pressed Powder

Even a basic makeup routine could benefit from a setting powder. There are loose and pressed versions so it can take a bit of trial and error to decide on a texture that works best for your personal makeup needs. Most setting powders are best applied throughout the t-zone of the face which is where most people will get shiny or oily. I have dry, mature skin and still use a setting powder to help create a smooth finish to my makeup. It can also help extend the longevity of whatever complexion product you are wearing.

This is the pressed powder I wear every single day:

Givenchy Prisme Libre Pressed Powder

This pressed powder is blurring and helps to mattify slightly but still leaves a soft luminous finish to the skin.

Lip Liner

For a basic makeup routine, lip liner may feel like an unnecessary step. I do recommend it for those with mature lips because that added bit of definition can make a huge difference. You can either use lip liner just around the edge of your lips. Or if you want to help your lip color last longer, apply it all over the lips. Typically lip liner formulas are quite pigmented and long wearing. So even if your gloss or lipstick has worn off, your lip liner is still there.

When applying lip liner, use short feathery strokes rather than drawing it on like a pencil. This looks more natural and soft and requires less blending afterwards. Usually once I have applied my lip liner, I will smudge it out just a bit with my finger to soften the look even more. I try to follow the natural shape of my lips rather than lining too far outside the edge of my lip.

Here are my two most worn lip liner formulas:

Versed Lip Frame

With a thicker contour liner, you get a smudged soft look from the first application. No harsh lip liner lines with this.

Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Liners

The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape liners are designed to be a soft-focus blurring formula that enhances the lip shape while also delivering skincare benefits. They are meant to give the lips definition and dimension without any harsh lines.

Lipstick

Whatever lip product you choose to wear will depend on your personal preference for texture, feel, longevity, etc. Most lipstick formulas will provide more coverage and possibly be more long wearing than a lip gloss or lip oil. If you want something that you don’t have to reapply as often, choose a medium to full coverage lipstick formula.

Finish With Gloss

If you prefer a more glossy/shiny finish to the lips with a bit less coverage, a lip gloss could be a better option to finish off your basic makeup routine.

This is one of the best lip gloss formulas I’ve tried:

Sarah Creal Beauty No Further Questions High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss

The formula is creamy and intensely nourishing while the pigment is just opaque enough to give the perfect amount of color.

I’ve been testing quite a few new (to me) concealers and thought I update my blog post with all the formulas that I’m loving. There are some new additions and a few got removed in favor of other formulas I like more. As I’ve gotten older, I need a different kind of concealer that helps to conceal but still keeps my under eye area smooth, won’t settle into fine lines and doesn’t emphasize texture. If you are in the market for a new concealer and you have mature skin, this is the post to bookmark!

Best Concealers for Mature Skin

How To Choose a Concealer For Mature Skin?

It can be a trial and error process before you find a formula that works best so don’t be discouraged if it takes a few times to find the best concealer for your skin. It’s best to look for concealers that have hydrating or serum-like textures which will look better on dry or textured skin. A full-coverage concealer is only worth it if you really need heavy coverage for specific reasons. If not, sheer to medium coverage concealers are what I would recommend for mature skin types. There are a few exceptions here and there but for the most part, full coverage formulas can often emphasize texture and fine lines even more. Dullness is another concern that mature skin types face so look for concealer formulas that have a natural, satin or radiant finish. Concealers with matte finishes are suitable for using on the face if you struggle with oily or combination skin, but can look too dry and cakey under the eyes.

Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer & Complexion Enhancer

The Face Flex Concealer and Complexion Enhancer is designed to be a multi-purpose complexion product that moves with your face throughout the day without creasing or fading for up to 12 hours. I personally use it only as a concealer but it can easily be dabbed all over the face and blended out as a light foundation or complexion enhancer. This is creamy and smooth perfection!!! Some concealers claim to be creamy and hydrating but still dry down and make my under eye area look cakey. This does not at all. It’s super blendable but does set after a few minutes. It’s moisturizing and slightly blurring.

The Face Flex Concealer gives medium coverage though can easily be sheered out by applying a smaller amount. For me, it is the perfect amount of coverage and manages to look absolutely flawless on the skin. It gives a nice natural finish that mimics the look of real skin. It’s truly beautiful.

Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Brightening & Hydrating Concealer

As soon as this was launched, I immediately ordered it. The shade range is amazing (50 colors + 6 correcting concealer shades). And it is formulated to be a serum-like concealer with medium to buildable full coverage. You can instantly feel the serum texture as soon as you swipe it on the skin. It’s incredibly creamy, hydrating and smoothing yet still covers anything and everything I need. It contains biomimetic pigments and texture-perfecting microspheres which gives it a flawless and slightly blurring aspect.

It’s incredibly long-wearing and suitable for all skin types but especially if you struggle with dry under eyes, this formula is perfect! I can see why it has become a favorite amongst makeup artists AND consumers too. Read my full dedicated review post here.

MAKE Beauty Skin Mimetic Concealer

Another serum concealer that instantly impressed me and would be perfect for dry, textured or mature skin. It provides light to medium coverage in a serum-like consistency with a radiant dewy finish. While it’s somewhat buildable, it’s not meant to be full coverage. The formula has skin mimicking pigments so it does blend in effortlessly and lasts nearly all day. I’ve also tried using it as a quick makeshift foundation and it looks stunning on the skin. I typically will use it only under the eyes and maybe around my nose to conceal any redness. It’s not as blurring as some of the other formulas but still looks skin-like and nearly undetectable.

Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Concealer

Much like the skin tint, this concealer gives amazing medium coverage without looking cakey or emphasizing fine lines. The shade range for her concealer is diverse and includes something for every skin tone. There are 20 shades in all to choose from. The concealer is formulated with various skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate, caffeine to reduce puffiness and centella asiatica to moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier.

RMS Beauty Revitalize Hydra Concealer (discount code: Maree-15)

This was a very new discovery that I tried in late November but it became an instant favorite. The Revitalize Hydra Concealer is a medium coverage hydrating concealer with skincare ingredients. It blends like an absolute dream, doesn’t emphasize fine lines and LASTS ALL DAY! This is  one of the longest wearing concealers I have ever tried. Another distinguishing feature of this concealer is the small brush applicator which is different from many traditional doe foot applicators. I love how precise you can be with the brush as it allows me to spot treat areas easily. It melts into the skin and is virtually undetectable while still giving amazing coverage.

ILIA Beauty Skin Blur Serum Concealer

I’ve only been testing this concealer for a short time but I had to include it in this list because the formula is that impressive. This is a true blurring formula that gives medium coverage with a satin finish. It gives a soft focus like look to the skin which is perfect for those with texture or fine lines. Additionally, the ILIA Skin Blur Serum Concealer is extremely long wearing and doesn’t require any setting powder to last the entire day. It feels lightweight because of the serum-like texture but still covers everything I need it to.

Drugstore Concealers For Mature Skin

L’Oreal True Match Serum Concealer

I have a few serum concealers in my collection that are all quite amazing so I was not sure how this drugstore version would compare. Like the Tinted Serum Foundation, the L’Oreal True Match Radiant Serum Concealer contains skincare ingredients that helps to hydrate and smooth the under eye area. It’s can be used anywhere on the face that you want to conceal. I had high hopes for this concealer after loving both the foundation and tinted serum and I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations.

How To Apply Concealer on Mature Skin?

Use less than you think you need. You can always add more but it’s harder to remove product when you’ve applied too much. Be sure your skin or under eye area is well prepped with good skincare. Makeup will always blend better on hydrated skin. Set your concealer with a powder if you struggle with too much creasing. A soft focus, blurring powder is best for mature skin. If the product settles midday, you can always use a hydrating face mist to help refresh the area. Another great option is to pat in an under eye balm (I’ve heard amazing things about this one) over your current concealer to help rehydrate. Then add a touch more concealer on top if needed.

Concealer For Mature Skin FAQs

What is the best concealer for dry mature skin?

There is no “best” concealer for mature skin since everyone’s skin and needs are different. I have tested a ton of different formulas and highly recommend any of the ones I shared in this post if you need a place to start.

Should you use a color corrector under concealer?

A color corrector is a great addition under concealer if you struggle with discoloration under the eyes.

How do you stop concealer settling into fine lines?

Unfortunately, concealer will settle into any fine lines but there are a few things you can do to minimize this. Ensure the area is well moisturized before applying concealer. Apply a small amount and build up as needed. The more product you apply, the more chance there is for it to move around. Set the area with a soft focus blurring powder and/or setting spray.

Is full coverage or light coverage better on mature skin?

Lighter coverage is best for mature skin.

How often should you replace your concealer?

It’s best to replace your concealer every 6 months if you have not finished it.

You might also like: How To Cover Dark Circles Under Eyes on Mature Skin