Here’s a tip. When you’ve rushed out to the nursery ‘au naturel’, don’t check yourself in car windows as you walk along the street. It might have worked when you were stealing glances in Ford Cortinas at your Bananarama-esque ‘do’. These days, it will only make you want to stay indoors. Forever.
That’s because when you’re the ‘other’ side of thirty, you need both good lighting and a little product help to stop you looking, shall we say… tired. OK, old. But it’s not just about wrinkles. Nowadays, the thinking woman’s anti-ageing armoury focuses on plumping, lifting, refining… you get the picture. Here are some ideas for weapons. And as for lighting, I’m sure B&Q do dimmer switches.
Serums are the toners of the new millennium, and deliver supercharged ingredients before you’ve even reached for your moisturiser. A specific lifting one like FAB Uplifting Serum (£35) is a good place to start if you’ve had a bad experience with your reflection.
Roll it on (yes, really) and feel everything tighten up a bit. Or choose to even out and illuminate with a natural ingredient powerhouse like Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Bright Serum (£46), which smells pleasantly cucumbery and slides on like silk.
Next, slap on a really decent anti-ageing cream. For me, vague terms like ‘moisturising’ and ‘hydrating’ are not enough. I want to see some really baffling science, followed by something that has a genuine smoothing effect on my skin – but isn’t too rich and spot-inducing (contrary to popular belief, being over 18 doesn’t mean you have dry skin). My current favourite is Functionalab’s Biomimetic Fine Lines Cream for Combination Skin (£75).
Then, before foundation, try a primer that gives you a plumped-up base for your makeup. NIP+FAB’s Sheer Make-Up Fix (£14.99) does just this and is one of those products I keep going back to. Prompts a guaranteed ‘You look well’.
Now you’ve got your slap on, don’t think you’ve finished. An instant wrinkle filler like Clarins Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate (£24) can be ‘painted’ on any specific lines you feel conscious of, such as between your eyebrows, or around your mouth and nose.
You can use it over makeup, and even top up during the day if you’re planning to walk past any car windows.