So I get it. Makeup isn’t your thing, you just couldn’t be bothered.
But you do want to look good.
I have some tricks to share with you and I made this little video. In the video you can watch me go from an oatmeal granny with nondescript features to a silver fox who actually has EYES. I'll show you what a difference it makes when you switch to colours that harmonise with your Season. Pay special attention to what happens to the eyes when I go from the wrong colour (for my Bright Winter Season) to better ones, even without using makeup.
Click to play
1
Use your colours
The video starts with me in a colour that is not in my palette. My skin is naturally quite pink, but this muted moss green makes my face looks nondescript and you hardly notice my eyes, not my proper healthy blush and twinkly eyes. My eyes look drab and my lips have almost no colour.
The white linen top is an example of one of my best Bright Winter neutrals.
If I were an Autumn, I would have looked great in that army green T-shirt and wearing white would definitely have been a step back but for me as a Bright Winter, wearing white it’s a step forward, look at how my eyes pop and the hair looks glossy and bright. Milky white like that white linen top is better for me, white with a little bit of yellow in it, much better than that moss green (and I repeat, that green would have been smashing on an Autumn).
Let’s add colour. What about a splash of colour to the white top? That's when I put on my beloved old yellow cardigan that I really like to use. Another step in the right direction, still without wearing any makeup.
I then changed to one of my tops in a colour that I wear a lot, a bright fuchsia pink. Still no makeup, but a much healthier glow to my skin and hair.
2
Curate your collection of eyeglasses
You’re bound to end up with eyeglasses at some point, and when you’re my age, it’s pretty much a given, so the video shows some things to think about when choosing eyeglasses, especially important to consider if you want to live a life free from the hassle of eyemakeup.
The most neutral eyeglasses I own are the frameless ones. I like them because they are almost invisible. They are great when I want to wear a little eyemakeup, because they don't hide anything.
Next, I'm showing you my eyeglasses in somewhat of a neutral frame, rose gold, which is great for Bright Winters. Neutral colours are a safe bet, and every Season has some really nice neutrals to choose from, for a subdued look that doesn’t distract people from your face.
However, if you don’t like wearing eyemakeup, consider owning a pair of eyeglasses in one of your bolder colours. They are super for throwing on when you want to hide behind eyeglasses and not be bothered with mascara and eyeshadow. Mine are in a rather dark clear blue.
And of course, if you’re in one of the soft or light Seasons, your “bold” colours might look a little muted but on YOU they will look bold.
The downside of statement eyeglasses is that they can become dated and out of fashion.
3
Get over it and start wearing a little makeup
It's really not that hard.
In the video, I'm showing my simple less-than-three-minutes makeup routine, and trust me.
If I can do it, you can do it.
And as you grow older, the smoothing effect of foundation, the healthy glow of the right lipstick and the power of visible eyebrows is your secret weapon against feeling bland.
Where to go from here?
Check out podcast episode no. 23 and take the free course Choosing Lipstick
Well done for appearing without makeup even though you weren’t comfortable doing it. I have to say that your skin is so superb I found it hard to believe that you weren’t wearing any.
The thing I noticed when you wore the green shirt was how it reflected onto your hair and made it look dull and yellow.
This was an excellent video xx
I’m so glad you liked it! I find I use less and less makeup and I am perfectly happy about that.
This is such a helpful video, Jorunn! Thank you so much for making it!
Dear Heather. Thank you so much for your kind words. It’s a little bit out of my comfort zone to appear on videos without any makeup (and even in a colour that doesn’t bring out the best in my skin) but real life examples like this are important, and I’m so glad it was helpful for you.
After watching the video, I got some of the Trinny London De-Stress makeup and a Clinique Chubby Stick (I already had the Glossier Boy Brow product), and I absolutely LOVE them both! They are exactly the time-saving products I was looking for but didn’t yet know about. Yay!! And thank you!!
Oh Heather, how absolutely wonderful to read this! Yes, time efficient is a good motto when it comes to makeup, and products that makes you feel good when you use them is equally important.
I keep trying to turn over a new leaf and wear makeup! Hasn’t stuck yet ;-). I find lipstick doesn’t work without lip liner. Does that sound crazy? I hate the feel of anything on my skin (including sunscreen… oops…) So foundation is the thing I struggle with most. I’m trying to aim for tinted lip gloss, mascara and eyebrow pencil as my basics.
Hi Fiona, thanks for your comment! I guess I’m the other way around. I think lip liner is a hassle. What is it about lipstick that doesn’t work without lip liner, in your experience? Tinted lip gloss, mascara and eyebrow pencil sounds like perfect, simple makeup. The most important thing is to find out what works for you, and then use it.