Beauty Rituals – Feeling Good About Your Face Despite The Lines

​If your beauty regime has always been an indulgent and enjoyable part of your life, there is no reason why it shouldn’t continue to give you pleasure as you age. Frequently an interest in beauty is dismissed as mere vanity but a beauty ritual is a sensual source of happiness and relaxation for most women – just because you know and care about skincare, sunscreens and serums doesn’t make you a dimbo. It simply means that you possess a healthy amount of self-respect and  take care of yourself accordingly. 

By the time you hit 40, you have probably experimented with a wide selection of beauty looks, some more successful than others – (my own have included  brightly dyed red hair, blue eye-liner and kabuki like foundation) – and have adapted a signature look that is flattering and easily created on a daily basis. So while the days of big hair and gothic lipstick may be a distant memory, I still love the ritual of grooming and make-up that help me prepare for the day ahead. 

 As we age, we may start to feel that we need to refine our approach to skin-care and make up to take into account changing hair colour,  skin tone and evolving lifestyle. What worked so beautifully on  your face at 30 may not look so striking at 50. Our faces change with age – contours soften,  brow and lash colour fade, skin can become sallow or pale and lines becomes more pronounced.  So it is worthwhile every few years to examine your skin-care and make up and honestly assess what is working and what isn’t . 

Regardless of any other changes, application of a daily sunscreen is vital to preserving facial skin- there are many lightweight fluids that can be worn comfortably every day or you can buy a moistruiser or BB cream that includes a decent level of sun protection. No-one want to look like a shrivelled prune so be sun-smart and make sunscreen a daily habit – it is the single most preserving behaviour you can adapt for your skin.  

As I age, I have adapted a lighter touch with make-up while simultaneously ramping up my skincare and gravitating to more natural plant-based products.  Make-up should never be mask-like, rather it should  enhance your features so that you look prettier, fresher and smoother. Prepping your canvas is  essential so  I cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily and massage my face with various oils including rose-hip and other plant based oils to stimulate facial circulation and promote a glow.  I want my skin to look as healthy as possible,  and hopefully to look fresh and rested not desiccated and dry. I have taken to wearing a tinted moisturiser or BB cream daily and generally reserve foundation for night time or special occasions. Also the importance of a good under-eye concealer can’t be overstated – if you successfully apply concealer to diminish dark under eye shadows you can knock off years. 

Adapting a less is more approach to make-up allows your skin to shine through and is more youthful than loads of product. If you exert restraint and apply less you will learn that it looks better – too much make-up is ageing and can have a tendency to sit in wrinkles and highlight them. Invest in a selection of good quality products that really work and make you feel happy, and learn to apply them skilfully rather than throwing everything on indiscriminately, The most effective way to look polished and easy is to pare back and learn how to apply make-up expertly – a professional make-up lesson is a good investment.

 I have also gravitated to a more natural palette when it comes to eyeshadows, blushers and eye pencils – I find them more flattering and less prone to highlighting lines and pores. Because features can become less defined with age I also focus on highlighting brows and eyelashes with colours that are realisitc rather than hard – tones of taupe, grey and brown are generaly more attractive than graphic black. Keeping brows groomed and shaped is very important as they do literally frame your face and well-shaped brows lift the entire eye area. Post 40 lipstick becomes a lifesaver – a quick slick of a super flattering shade can immediately brighten your face and add sparkle to eyes and skin. 

On the subject of Botox and fillers, I think that it is every woman’s preserve to decide if she wants to indulge – I just haven’t seen very many women in Ireland with these done well. It takes a very skillfull medical practioner  with an excellent eye to use them judiciously and personally speaking I would rather look like myself (lines and all) rather than a taut and startled stranger. I have heard excellent things about lasers but have yet to try them as I am a bit apprehensive of potentially aggressive procedures. A good facial is more my speed as it is not only a relaxing treat, but also helps to promote circulation and improve a sense of wellbeing.   

For now I am happy to mantain my current skincare routine, get good quality sleep, plenty of fresh air and exercise and a varied (mostly) healthy diet. Our lifestyle choices and general well-being shows up very clearly in our faces – for the moment I am content to continue ageing relatively naturally and being grateful for the opportunity to do so. 

I think that  society needs to fundementally review attitudes to ageing and beauty . I would love to see the stigma that surrounds ageing replaced with a more positive attitude that values warmth, wisdom, expression and experience in woman’s face instead of just youthful dewy skin.          

It may sound like a cliché but I agree with Lauren Bacall who affirmed:
 “I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.” 

My Favourite Products
Here in no specific order are a selection of my favourite skincare and make-up products that I use and love.

Skincare  
Cleansers – Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish,  Kinvara Absolute Cleansing Oil 
Moisturisers – Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser, Kinvara Active Rosehip Face Cream
Serums – Kinvara 24 Hour Rosehip Face Serum
Toner – Pixi Glow Tonic, Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic   
Primers – Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Benefit the Porefessional Pore Balm
Facial Oils – Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil
Eye Creams – Clarins Xtra Firming Eye Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, Kinvara Eye Wow! Eye Serum 
SPF Face – La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Fluid, Factor 50  
Body Cream/Lotions – Clarins Moisture Rich Body Lotion  
Balm – Weleda Skin Food, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 
Hand Cream – Helen James Considered Hand Cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream
 

Make Up 
BB Cream – Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue SPF30, Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15
Foundation – Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup Foundation SPF 15
Concealer – Clarins Instant Concealer 
Bronzer – Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint Bronzing Fluid
Facial Self Tan – St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Face Lotion
Blusher – Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm – Amp’d Up Apple 
Lipstick – MAC Creme In Your Coffee Cremesheen Lipstick,  M&S Rosie for Autograph Lipshine – Rose Bud 
Eyeshadow – Clarins The Essentials Eye Make Up Palette,  M&S Rosie for Autograph Eyeshadow Palette in Copper Gold Rush  
Mascara – Maybelline Classic Volume Express Mascara, Lancome Amplicils 
Brows  -   M&S Autograph Fibre Sculpting Brow Gel, Eyelure Brow Kit 

Hair  
Shampoo -L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo, Jason Moisturising Aloe Vera Shampoo 
Conditioner - L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Conditioner, Jason Moisturising Aloe Vera Conditioner 
 Hair Oil -  L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil Miracle Hair Perfector 


 
  

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