10 Makeup Trends That Don’t Work On Mature Skin

Makeup should enhance your natural beauty, not fight against it.

As our skin changes with age, so should our makeup routines. Those techniques that looked amazing in our twenties might not be doing us any favors now.

I’ve spent years working with clients of all ages and discovered that certain trendy techniques can emphasize fine lines and texture rather than creating that fresh, youthful look we’re after.

Here’s my honest take on which popular makeup trends you might want to reconsider if you’re rocking beautiful mature skin.

1. Heavy Foundation Layers

Foundation that’s too thick settles into fine lines, making them more noticeable, not less. I cringe when I see women applying layer after layer, thinking more coverage equals better results.

Mature skin needs breathing room. Heavy formulas sit on top of your skin instead of melting in, creating that dreaded cakey effect that ages you instantly. Plus, throughout the day, it can crack and separate. Switch to lightweight, hydrating foundations or tinted moisturizers instead. Apply with a damp sponge using a bouncing motion rather than dragging or swiping. Your skin will look naturally radiant rather than masked.

2. Extreme Powder Baking

Remember when everyone was packing layers of powder under their eyes? That technique might work for 20-year-old influencers filming in ring lights, but it’s brutal on mature skin. Excessive powder emphasizes every tiny line and can make the under-eye area look dry and crepe-like. The technique was actually developed for drag performers under stage lighting – not for everyday life!

Instead, try setting your concealer with the lightest dusting of finely-milled powder using a small fluffy brush. Or skip powder altogether and opt for a hydrating concealer that sets on its own. Your under-eyes will thank you.

3. Glitter Everything

Glitter eyeshadows might bring back nostalgic memories of your disco days, but they’re not doing mature eyes any favors. Those sparkly particles actually draw attention to textured eyelids and can make crepey skin more noticeable. Worse yet, glitter has a nasty habit of migrating throughout the day. What starts as a subtle sparkle on your lids ends up highlighting fine lines around your eyes or settling into creases by lunchtime.

Swap the glitter for satin or soft shimmer finishes instead. They give dimension without the harsh reflective quality. A wash of satin eyeshadow brings light to the eyes without emphasizing texture.

4. Harsh Instagram Brows

Those sharply defined, block-like eyebrows might rack up likes on social media, but they look severe and unnatural on mature faces. I’ve seen too many women trying to recreate these dramatic brows, only to end up with a permanently surprised expression. Our brows naturally thin as we age, and trying to create an illusion of thick, geometric brows often looks harsh against softer facial features.

The contrast between drawn-on brows and your natural features can be jarring.

Focus instead on gently filling sparse areas with feathery strokes using a fine pencil or powder. Brush brows upward with a clear gel for a subtle lift that frames your face beautifully without the Instagram intensity.

5. Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Long-lasting liquid lipsticks feel like a miracle product until they turn your lips into a desert. The ultra-matte finish that younger women can pull off often looks painfully dry on mature lips, emphasizing every line and flake.

Our lips naturally lose volume and moisture as we age. These drying formulas cling to dry patches and can make lips appear smaller and more lined than they actually are. I’ve seen these lipsticks literally crack when someone smiles!

Reach for hydrating lipstick formulas or tinted balms instead. Cream finishes with a touch of shine actually make lips look fuller and healthier. If you love bold color, try blotting a cream lipstick for longer wear without the dryness.

6. Dramatic Cat-Eye Liner

Sharp, extended cat-eye liner looks striking on firm eyelids. On mature skin? It often turns into a droopy mess by midday. The problem isn’t your application skills – it’s physics working against you.

As skin loses elasticity, that perfectly applied wing can transfer to crease lines or droop downward. What was meant to lift your eyes ends up having the opposite effect. Plus, thick liner all around the eyes can make them appear smaller.

Try a softer approach with a smudged pencil line that gradually thins toward the outer corner. Avoid extending the line too far past your eye. This gives definition without fighting against natural eye contours and creates a more flattering, lived-in look.

7. Overdrawn Lip Liner

Dark lip liner with lighter lipstick isn’t just stuck in the 90s – it’s particularly unflattering on mature lips. The stark contrast draws attention to any feathering or bleeding into fine lines around the mouth.

Our lip borders become less defined with age, making precise overlining even more challenging. The artificial line often looks obvious rather than enhancing, especially in natural lighting. When the liner and lipstick are different shades, it creates a harsh, dated look.

Match your liner to your lipstick color or go slightly lighter. Apply it precisely along your natural lip line or just slightly over for subtle enhancement. Blending the liner inward creates a gradient effect that helps lipstick stay put without the obvious outline.

8. Aggressive Contouring

Those dramatic, sculpted cheekbones achieved through heavy contouring? They’re actually aging on mature faces. I’ve watched countless women try to chisel their faces with dark contour only to end up looking hollow and gaunt.

As we age, we naturally lose facial volume. Adding shadows can emphasize this loss rather than creating definition. Dark streaks of contour powder also tend to sit on texture and can look muddy or dirty rather than sculpted.

For gentle definition, try a soft wash of bronzer applied with a fluffy brush where the sun naturally hits. Focus on warming the face rather than creating shadows. This brings dimension without the harsh lines that draw attention to texture.

9. Blinding Highlighter

Super-intense highlighters might create gorgeous Instagram photos, but in real life, they emphasize skin texture like nothing else. That metallic strip across your cheekbones acts like a spotlight on pores, fine lines, and any uneven texture.

Mature skin reflects light differently than younger skin. What looks dewy and fresh on smooth skin can appear frosty and emphasize crepiness on mature skin. I’ve seen too many women disappointed when their highlighter makes their skin look more textured, not more glowing.

Choose subtle, luminous products with finely-milled shimmer rather than chunky glitter particles. Apply with a light hand to the high points of your face where light naturally hits. The goal is a natural radiance, not a strobe light effect.

10. Lower Lash Mascara Overload

Coating your lower lashes with multiple layers of mascara creates a spider-leg effect that draws attention to under-eye darkness and fine lines. I’ve seen it happen time and again – women applying the same heavy mascara technique to both upper and lower lashes.

Heavy lower lash mascara can cast shadows, making dark circles appear worse. It also tends to flake and smudge throughout the day, creating the dreaded raccoon effect. This is especially problematic as our skin produces less oil with age.

Try using a tiny mascara wand or a clean spoolie with just a touch of product for lower lashes. Or skip lower lash mascara entirely and focus on defining your upper lashes for an eye-opening effect without the under-eye drama.