Strong make-up, trendy hair color and strong shadows can make you look older than you really are.
Who wouldn’t want to age gracefully and with dignity? Few, however, want the passage of time to show in their appearance before their time. Many still strive for a youthful look with means that actually work the opposite way.
Over the years, we have interviewed numerous hair gurus and make-up artists about the beauty habits of Finnish women, which age before their time. A few “mistakes” are mentioned time and time again – Do you recognize these?
1. Unnatural hair color
This is probably the most common beauty sin. Raven-black hair, bright red and hydrogen peroxide blonde do not at all make hair look brave and youthful, but often the opposite.
– Contrasts that are too strong are old. Harsh colors make the skin colorless, they make the skin look grey. Natural shades, on the other hand, bring color to the face, hairdressing brand Kevin Murphy’s trainer Juha-Matti Manninen described in our interview.
In a shade darker than your own color, you also have to be careful about the root growth. A lighter base makes the hair appear thinner – which is associated with aging.
Similarly, when listing youthful hairstyles again and again, natural colors that are slightly lighter and warmer than your own tone are emphasized, with vibrancy, for example, with highlights.
2. Cool tones
In hair dyes, cool shades – the ones that many people prefer for fear of yellowness – are also the most aging.
– Cool tones meet as if to sharpen the features. They can make the look look tougher and older. If you’re over 30, I’d say it’s time to switch to a more neutral hair color, Swedish trainer at hair salon brand L’Anza Johan Arvidsson has stated.
When it comes to make-up, you should also remember that a little touch of heat on the face is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, in blush, a fresh peach or coral nuance works better than cold pink.
Cool platinum blonde look, sharp cut and strong make-up that can age – in the picture Rita Ora is about 23 years old.
3. Short bangs
Even the term says it: many women cut their hair practically short as they age.
– I’m really tired of the fact that when a woman reaches a certain age in Finland, she should cut her hair short. It’s absolutely absurd, Manninen gasps and points out that even an 80-year-old can have beautiful, long hair.
– If a woman has beautiful hair and turns 45, why the hell should she deliberately age herself with an aunt hairstyle.
Also remember that slightly longer hair can create a beautiful, vertical line that narrows the face. Instead, a short hairstyle leaves the face bare and brings out the features mercilessly.
Katy Perry looks amazing in short hair, but remember that the style will help accentuate your features.
4. Strong make-up style
The same thing that applies to hair also applies to makeup. Strong contrasts age, and when it comes to make-up, it usually means dark eye make-up and heavy contours.
Strong make-up that emphasizes the eyes, lips and skin at the same time can also look heavy on the face. Even teenage models can be made to look like they are in their thirties when dark eyes, strong brows and red lips are applied to them. So if you want to look youthful, update your make-up shades to lighter, fresher and more natural ones.
Bella Hadid, 23, would look even older in this feminine makeup. /All Over Press
5. Heavy eyelashes
The same goes for mascara. Long and curved eyelashes are certainly beautiful, but heavy loose eyelashes and thick layers of mascara can make your eyes look tired. Besides, if you can see the age around the eyes, surely you don’t want to make them the eye-catcher of your makeup?
Makeup artist for the natural cosmetics brand Dr. Hauschka Karim Sattar even urges adult women to change their black mascara to brown and to give up makeup on their lower eyelashes – because it brings about five more years to the face, according to her.
6. Untended corners
Eyebrows have a strong influence on the look, so you should pay special attention to them. Beautifully shaped corners can affect the look like a face lift!
The most beautiful angles are born from a person’s own starting points, which ones really suit the face.
– Sometimes I do my clients’ brow makeup longer than other eye makeup, when everyone has plucked their brows to whatever shape they are! Vacancies must be filled. If the corners are terribly thin, I draw them thicker with a pencil. Brows give the face posture, make-up artist Raili Hulkkonen advise.
7. Fluffy sun powder
A light tan looks beautiful, but excessive self-tanning or dabbing with sun powder hides the skin’s own glow. Sun powder can make the look look cakey, so use it sparingly.
– If you put shades on yourself, you should do it the first time in daylight. That way you can see that the shading doesn’t get too dark, Hulkkonen advises.
There are also different types of sunscreen, and adult women should avoid products that are too shiny.
– You should think about your own skin tone and beware of terribly dark colors. A slightly softer brown, which is humane for the skin’s own color, is the best.
Jennifer Lopez is gorgeous, but sometimes the flash lights reveal that the makeup artist has applied products thickly. This look cannot be considered refreshingly youthful. /All Over Press
8. Forgotten blush
You can probably forget the sunscreen, but you shouldn’t compromise on the blush instead.
Dr Hauschkan’s Karim Sattar advises that a touch of fresh, natural blush brings a youthful glow to the face.
Hulkkonen, on the other hand, advises that blush removes fatigue from the face. He trusts coral-toned red with most of his clients.
9. Thick foundation
A thick, pack-like foundation emphasizes lines and makes the skin look lifeless easily. Surely you don’t want powder or concealer to accumulate in the lines?
– Make-up should not be thick if you don’t really need it. The natural lightness of the skin must be achieved with the foundation. You can also add glow drops to the foundation, Hulkkonen advises adult women.
Young people often use glow in makeup only on the cheekbones, but according to Hulkkonen, an adult woman’s stylish glow is on the whole face.
– A mature woman’s glow is created with a highlighter and a foundation that is not too matte and not terribly sparkly.
10. Nonexistent foundation
On the other hand, it is not necessarily a good idea to completely give up foundation. Damage caused by the sun and uneven skin tone age the skin more than wrinkles, for example.
Therefore, a light foundation that evens out the skin tone is more “rejuvenating” than, for example, focusing on lip makeup or eyes.
11. Clinging to trends
Is your hair still the same as it was in your youth, do you still wear make-up like crazy? Favoring the trends of the past seems unhelpfully outdated, whether it’s hair or make-up.
On the other hand, just as well, copying a trend favored by young people can make it seem to an adult that this is not you with your own age.
Experts advise older people to put timeless elegance ahead of trendiness.
– Don’t follow fashion trends, but find your own style and stick to classic, beautiful things, Manninen states.
Images Getty, All Over Press.
Story previously published in May 2020, April 2021 and October 2021.