More Than Skin Deep

There is a saying that beauty is only skin deep. That external beauty does not always reflect what’s on the inside. But I have always believed that beauty as I know it, is more than skin deep. Beauty can affect us on a deep level. Makeup can make us feel a million dollars or it can trigger an emotion from a past we’d much rather leave behind. Just as a scent can transport us to our favourite holiday destination or remind us of a best-forgotten ex.

I recently recalled a time my hair colour turned out so much darker than I’d hoped and I hated it – almost irrationally so. I washed it excessively hoping it would fade and after some time I realised it wasn’t that it looked particularly bad on me, I hated it because my refection in the mirror reminded me of a person I no longer wished to be - the old me. I had outgrown her and I had changed and I needed that change externally too. Hair and makeup can often be seen as frivolous but can hold such magnitude. Casting aside previously loved styles, products and fragrance is a way of shedding our skin – a metamorphosis of sorts.

It’s only natural that midlife will bring with it periods of time we’d rather forget. And I’m not just talking about beauty or fashion faux pas. Sometimes we abandon beauty that might be right for us because it’s a reminder of a negative experience or a past part of us we don’t connect with anymore. Similarly, as we age we can hold onto makeup techniques we can do in our sleep, but now, for some reason, make us look like we need 8 hours. Those beauty tricks that always made us feel our best can now, all of a sudden, make us look our worst.

But it can be hard to let go of a comfort blanket and hard to know how to change. A rule of thumb as we get older is to soften it all down – less is more, as they say. But I’m not always a stickler for rules when it comes to makeup. We are all unique.

“Beauty is an expression, a personal statement, it can be a loud roar or a gentle whisper – you should always do you. “

I often think of the time I worked with Maureen O’Hara and she was still as glamorous as ever. Her classic Hollywood eyeliner and red lipstick signature look never changed. Even at the grand age of ninety. And to be fair she still rocked a red lip! It’s easy to understand why someone would hold onto a style of makeup that made them feel beautiful, youthful, accomplished and iconic.

Adapting our makeup to the subtle changes of age doesn’t mean we have to bid farewell to a signature style if we still love it, we just need to revisit it every so often and revise. It’s easy to get stuck in a makeup rut and as much as I love a great staple product, without some change we’d still be slathering ourselves in Astral cream and white musk, all without an eyebrow to our name.

Switch up foundation

Softness is key when it comes to making changes as we age. Full-coverage matte foundation can be a comfort blanket for many women, but a heavy-handed application can lead to a blanket effect, hiding natural luminosity. What can seem like the ideal quick-budge-proof-fix for a long working day ends up being a blank canvas with the need for extra time to fill in your features and bring your face back to life.

For a healthier and more youthful complexion, swap heavy bases for light-to-medium coverage. Of course, not everyone has perfect skin and being over 40 doesn’t make you immune to problem skin or breakouts - I actually feel like I get more spots now than I did in my teens – but most women who feel they have bad skin generally have a high percentage of good skin that doesn’t need heavy coverage. Opting for light to medium coverage lets the good skin shine through and concealer can be used for additional coverage only where it’s needed.

Change colour palettes

Tweaking colours and techniques can make us look just as defined but more awake. Swap black pencil on the waterline for browns or shimmering bronze pencils and shadows for softer, more flattering results. Or keep the waterline bare, choosing instead to define with shadow under the lash line.

Alter techniques

With so many products promising us lift, certain techniques can do this for you without the hefty price tag. Avoid dragging your eye shape downwards with shadow and liner by applying the product upwards from the end of the lash line to create a lifting effect. If your application technique isn’t perfect, you can clean edges with concealer on a flat concealer brush starting below the outer corner of the eyes and lifting the brush upwards towards the tail of the brow. For added lift, invest in an eyelash curler like Shu Uemura’s award-winning curler to really open up those peepers.

If like me, you’re not brave enough to try lip filler, a good lip liner will be your best friend. As we age our lips start to thin and lose a little colour. Charlotte Tilbury Iconic Nude Lip Cheat is one of my favourite lip liners for a plumper pout. Its nude beige tone makes it a perfect pairing for a nude lipstick or gloss. You can even team it with a little lip balm for a more defined lip by day. Or choose the shade Pillow Talk if a nude pink is more your thing. As well as thinning lips, we also have the joy of fine lines around our mouth causing glossy lipsticks to bleed. For a feather proof lip, apply a little concealer around the mouth and set with lightweight powder before applying lip liner.

Injectables or not?

And then there’s always the question of Botox. Should I or shouldn’t I? Sometimes I feel like the only person without it. Being surrounded by women half my age who have Botox is surely making me look even older than I am. I tried it about ten years ago when I had no lines at all but I was plagued with migraines and desperate for a cure. I really doubt it cured me but here I am now with migraines a thing of the past (fingers crossed) and lines a thing of the present. I often wonder if it’s a route I want to take and if a compliment feels the same when you know you’ve cheated.

But I’m pretty sure makeup is deceptive to a degree, and I sure as hell feel good when I receive a compliment wearing that, so maybe Botox is something else for me to consider on this journey into midlife. I no longer feel like the girl who got Botox all those years ago, but I’m guessing if I get it, looking at her in the mirror won’t bother me as much when the reflection is a more youthful one. I suppose beauty can be rather superficial at times too.

Ailbhe Lynch July 2020.

How has your beauty routine changed in midlife?

We’d love to know in the comments!