Save money on makeup over 40 with these 5 essential items and helpful tips that will streamline your natural look. Look your best without breaking the bank!
For more updates over 40, check out these posts:
- Everyday Hairstyles for Women Over 40
- 3 Steps Forward: Updating Your Style Over 40
- 40+ Beauty: Insider Tips and Tricks
Makeup Over 40
Remember the story of The Velveteen Rabbit? Perhaps, like me, you’ve read the British children’s book enough to memorize large portions.
The story follows a brand new, stuffed rabbit who becomes his little boy’s favorite companion. Over time, the rabbit realizes he must make a choice. He can either keep his original appearance or allow himself to be hugged, dragged along, and spilled on.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco
Those of us in Empty Nest made our choice long ago.
But, if you’re anything like me, there are days you’d like to look a little less “real”. Just because we’ve been loved and loved others (a lot) doesn’t mean we need to resigned ourselves to looking shabby.
Maybe you’ve given up paying attention to your face, other than a thorough washing in the shower. Or perhaps you feel stuck in a rut, applying the same shades with the same techniques you did in college.
If either of these describe you, you’re in luck. Today’s makeup selections offer women over 40 more value than ever. Whether you prefer a natural, everyday look or are ready to up your game-here are some tips and products with lots of bang for not much buck.
Here’s How to Save Money
In fact, there are so many beauty products available today that whole stores have sprung up around the industry. “Age-defying” and “wrinkle-reducing” are common buzzwords in our vocabulary. The abundance of choices quickly becomes dizzying.
Let’s talk about price. Spending money on myself leaves me feeling guilty to begin with. Spending $30 on eyeshadow I may wear 5 times a year seems out of the question.
Keep reading. You’ll find places you can save money on makeup, as well as a few items you should probably pay a bit more for. I’ve linked to my favorite products, but please share your own! If you’ve found something you love, we all need to know.
Start by breaking your makeup routine into 5 essential areas:
- Eyebrows
- Blush
- Foundation and Concealer
- Natural Lip
- Eye Routine
5 Essential Areas
Eyebrows
Tweezerman Ultra Precision tweezers
Although my brows are light in color and volume, I still tweeze stray hairs. Don’t hesitate to have your brows professionally groomed if you need it. Once you have a clean line, they will be easy to maintain for a few weeks.
Invest in a really good pair of tweezers to avoid the frustration of “capturing” tiny hairs. Tweezerman is a tried and true brand, and this pair is $20. I’ve linked to the Tweezerman site, but you can find these in most drug stores.
If you have issues with vision, Tweezerman also sells a lighted pair of tweezers for better up-close visibility. Just click on the link and you’ll see many options.
L.A. Colors 3 Color Eyeshadow Orchid: CBES626
I regularly find this palette at my Dollar Tree store. However, it’s not available on the Dollar Tree or L.A. Colors websites. I’ve linked to Poshmark, where it costs $6.
The middle circle of this eyeshadow palette matches my brows perfectly, since my natural haircolor is dark blonde. It’s very difficult to find a match! If you have darker hair, you’ll probably have a much easier time finding a matte eyeshadow or powder brow product.
This set of 3 spoolie brushes sells for $6.99 from Amazon. You can find similar brushes in most stores where makeup is sold. Some eyebrow pencils even have a spoolie brush included on the end of the pencil.
The spoolie gives a much more natural effect than a comb-type eyebrow brush. If you’ve never filled in your eyebrows or feel unsure, watch my video at the top of this post and I’ll walk you through it.
Blush
Milani baked blush in “Luminoso”
This blush has become a makeup standard for its glowing look on most skin tones. You can find it on the Milani site I’ve linked to for just $7.99, but also at most stores where makeup is sold. I’ve noticed it’s often out of stock because it’s become so popular.
Remember to apply blush to the apples of cheeks for over 40. As we age, we lose collagen in our cheek area. The simplest way to apply blush is to smile big, then apply with an upward sweep to the plumpest area of your cheek.
Avoid “clown circles” or applying blush to the hollows of the cheek. Both of these effects will add years to your face. Just a little blush does the trick and adds a healthy glow!
If you prefer cream blush, try Cindy Joseph’s BOOM brand. Her line is revolutionary in it’s simple, natural look. This stick is a bit more pricey at $28.00, but you can use it for lips and bronzer as well.
Foundation and Concealer
As we age, estrogen levels drop, leading to drier skin. But-the cruel irony of hormonal breakouts is an annoyance many of us contend with.
In addition, the effects of sun damage in our youth are now starting to show. All these changes make foundation and concealer invaluable. Choose either a lotion or a cream foundation with SPF 15 or higher. Make sure to wear sun protection every day, as UV rays do their work even on cloudy days.
Experiment with sample-size products until you find a perfect match for your skin color and type.
I love these products for their light feel and complete coverage. The concealer is $27 online or at Ulta, but comes in a travel size for $10 if you’d like to try it first. Mine has lasted 10 months!
Tarte Shape Tape Matte Foundation
For just $25, this is a very full-coverage concealer. Just a couple of tiny strokes of this product does the trick. Unfortunately, the applicator is a wand, not my favorite for risk of contamination.
To avoid introducing impurities to the product over time, either transfer concealer to a clean surface before brushing on your face, or make sure your skin is very clean before you dab product and insert the wand back in the container.
Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation
At just 11.99, this product gets rave reviews for full coverage and ease of use. You can find it anywhere makeup is sold. Although I haven’t tried it myself, it’s next up on my list.
The applicator is much smarter for cleanliness, if you’re a germ watcher, like me. Just squirt a pump out on your brush or sponge without fear of introducing bacteria to the container.
Natural Lip
If you’ve been following me on Youtube, you know I love a bold lip! In fact, it’s kind of a signature for me. I just feel more myself when I have bright pink or red lipstick on.
I realize this is unique to me and you may not feel at all comfortable drawing attention to your lips. Even so, remember that lips tend to lose fullness and color over 40. Even subtle color can make a big difference in your look.
Experiment to find a lip color that adds a healthy glow to your skin and also feels comfortable for you. Remember, you can actually make your own lip color! Just blend 2 or more shades in a small container and apply with an inexpensive lip brush.
I like to apply my lipcolor just once and then forget about it for the rest of the day. Here’s one of my favorites products for that reason:
Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Lipstick
At under $10, this is the least drying and longest lasting lipcolor I’ve found, and I’ve tried many! I wish it came in more shades, as the selection is very limited.
If you decide to use a long-lasting lip color, make sure you choose one that is non-drying. Many come with a clear gloss to apply during the day. This will freshen the color and moisten lips, especially in dry weather.
Eye Routine
Eye makeup doesn’t have to take more than a couple of minutes to apply. For very little work, this step can take years off your look and give your eyes a bright twinkle.
Watch Dominique Sachse’s tutorial for hooded eyes if you struggle with lids that have become droopy.
L. A. Colors 6 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Almost Nude
Colormates Brow and Eyeliner Pencil
My favorite eyeshadow is the L.A. Colors 6 color palette, Almost Nude, available at Dollar Tree. Watch the video to see how I apply it in just a couple of minutes.
Eyeliner doesn’t have to be heavy or difficult to apply. Even those of us with poor vision and shaky hands can work with a forgiving pencil and smudge away our mistakes!
Sassy and Chic Contour Makeup Brushes
Sadly, my favorite mermaid makeup brush isn’t listed on the Dollar Tree website, so you’ll have to hunt in the store.
You can find a link to my vest in this post:
This is the WalMart Haul That Will Make You Want to Up Your Style
The coin earrings I’m wearing aren’t available online. I think they may have been from last season, as they were on clearance. You can find something similar here.
In The End
Do you need me to remind you how beautiful you are, just like you woke up this morning? Maybe it’s been awhile since someone told you. We don’t need makeup for camouflage or a throw back to our younger days.
We’ve earned the smile lines, the worry wrinkles and the wisdom in our eyes. Instead of covering them, let’s make the most of who we are. We are powerful, discerning, kind women. Most of all, we are REAL.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
The Velveteen Rabbit
