The best make-up for women over 40 Simple tweaks that will give you a fresher look

These simple tweaks to your beauty routine will definitely give you a fresher look

IF YOU APPLY ALL OVER POWDER AFTER FOUNDATION DO THIS INSTEAD Use it sparingly – only powder areas where shine develops.

WHY Powder can be too drying, enhancing dullness and wrinkles. Use a luminous-finish foundation to give your skin a fresher glow.

TRY Radiance Lift Foundation, $39.95, Max Factor. IF YOU APPLY THE SAME SOFT SHADE OF LIPSTICK DO THIS INSTEAD Pump up the colour!

WHY After 40, it’s harder to pull off a nude lip. Whereas a pink or coral will give you a lift. If you’re colour shy, dab (don’t swipe) it on straight from the tube and blend with a fingertip or brush for a blurred finish.

TRY Smoothie Lip Colour Crayons, $18.95 each, Natio. IF YOU LINE YOUR UPPER AND LOWER LASHES IN BLACK DO THIS INSTEAD Keep the black line on top and use a softer shade on the bottom.

WHY A black line drawn into your upper lashes will make your eyes look more open and your lashes thicker. But black on your lower lashes has the opposite effect, making eyes look small. Applying a softer shade – brown, grey or even pale blue, along the bottom, subtly enhances the shape of your eye.

TRY Trunaked Eyeliner Duo in Mocha/ebony, $13.95 each, Covergirl. IF YOUR BROWS ARE THE SAME THICKNESS END TO END DO THIS INSTEAD Give them a lift by defining the arch.

WHY Your arches sit above the outer edge of your iris, they’re the highest points of your brows. Using a pencil, do hair-like strokes to subtly define and shape the inner sections, working up to the arch points. Lastly define the ends. Light brown or taupey brown shades suit most women.

TRY Absolute Brow Pencil, available in three shades, $11.99 each, Designer Brands.

IF YOU USE BRONZER AS YOUR BLUSH COLOUR DO THIS INSTEAD Highlight cheeks with a shade of soft, warm pink.

WHY Yes, a sun-kissed look is appealing, but as you age it’s the flush of cheek colour that needs topping up. A little blush on the apples of your cheeks will give you a fresh vibrancy.

TRY Certified Organic Lip & Cheek Cream, $39, Inika. IF YOU TRY TO COVER LINES WITH CONCEALER DO THIS INSTEAD Conceal dark shadows, redness and blemishes only.

WHY Trying to hide wrinkles with a concealer highlights them. Using one that matches your skin tone, apply it to areas of uneven skin tone and in a ‘V’ shape under your eyes. Blend gently.

TRY True Match Concealer, $29.95, L’oreal Paris. IF YOU APPLY FOUNDATION AFTER MOISTURISER DO THIS INSTEAD Add a layer of primer in between your moisturiser and base.

WHY Primer instantly helps to make your complexion look smoother. If your skin is lacking lustre, pick a radiance-boosting formula.

TRY Liquid Light Illuminating Primer, $26.95, Luma. IF YOU ALWAYS WEAR LIP GLOSS DO THIS INSTEAD Play up your lips with a satin finish lipstick.

WHY Lips look soft and supple when your lipstick is balmy and creamy – not wet and glittery. Plus, a gloss tends to disappear in no time or settle into lines around your lips.

TRY Stay Satin in Yuppie, $14.95, Rimmel London. IF YOU ALWAYS APPLY MULTIPLE EYE SHADOW SHADES DO THIS INSTEAD Blend a single shade, such as soft taupe, over your lids.

WHY You don’t need to wear lots of colours to make your eyes appear brighter. An all-over application of a taupe or soft, muted shade will add interest and dress-up your eyes beautifully. TRY Little Round Eyeshadow Pot in 06 Utaupique, $20, Bourjois.■