Makeup in your 40s: How to change it up
P.S. We're looking for your mini stories in time for Mother's Day
5 of the best makeup products for glowing skin in your 40s
By Lauria Locsmondy
Like our skincare regimens, as we enter into perimenopause and beyond, the makeup we select also requires a glow up. That matte finish that got us through our 20s would do us zero favors today since our skin requires products with hydration and moisture — which not only benefits its health, but visually reflects light for an illuminating and (dare I say it) youthful appearance.
Switching over to sheer and cream-based facial makeup does not completely cancel the arsenal of powders you may have racked up. It simply means that a balance of textures should be considered for achieving a gorgeous and on-trend made-up skin. Here are my recommendations, in order of application, after much self- and client-based experimentation with GALs our age.
1. Sheer foundation
MAC Studio Radiance Face and Body
My all-time favorite foundation is MAC’s Face and Body. When I worked for MAC, I would tell customers how it doesn’t smudge, is buildable, a bridal-kit favorite, and is “90% water.” I remember this video from forever ago of Pat McGrath playing with the liquid texture, dripping Face and Body into her hands. The makeup queen showed how she dotted it along her face and let the formula evaporate a bit before blending it into her skin with her fingertips. The big bottle runs about $40 but will last for months and months since a little goes a long way.
Tip: This application works well because I prep my skin beforehand with an SPF moisturizer (No7 Menopause Daily Moisture being my current fave). Always do this — unless you’re using a tinted moisturizer like Laura Mercier in place of foundation, which already includes this hydration to simultaneously prime and protect your skin.
Call & Response: What did you learn from Mom about beauty and life?
Moms, grandmas, aunties, godmothers and mother-figures — they teach us so much about life and beauty. With that in mind, we’re looking for your “mini” stories to share in time for Mother’s Day on The Midst Substack.
Tell us what your mom or mother figure taught you about “BEAUTY and LIFE” by Sunday, May 7. Totally open to interpretation — skincare tips, don’t-worry-bout-it advice, what-not-to-do insights … we’re open.
Please email feedback@the-midst.com and include:
1) your story in 50–250 words
2) if possible, a relevant photo to publish with your piece
3) your name as it should appear with your story
4) your location and any social media handles you’d like us to include
We’ll publish a collection of our readers’ responses on The Midst Substack.