Drop 5 Years in 5 Minutes

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been”

-Mark Twain

Another year has passed and I’m getting older.

Aging isn’t so bad, but unless you’re 16, you probably don’t want to look older.
(Ohh… the days when I longed to be older. How I miss the impatience of my youth!)

Here are some tips from an old(er) Instyle magazine issue (1/09).

* Eyes *
Give Your Eyes A Lift

So long dark circles and droopy lids. When you swap smoky shadows and sooty pencils for a softer palette, tired eyes take on a decidely youthful glow.

Rethink Your Concealer: Instead of applying under the entire eye, start at the inner socket, and tap a peach-based shade to a point just underneath the center of the pupil, blending well to cancel out blue shadows.

Don’t use concealer on outer corners; it can accentuate crows feet.

Skip The Shadow: Define your crease with a pencil instead, in a shade slightly darker than your skin tone- then smudge it. You’ll get the illusion of bigger eyes without the heavy look

Go Nude: Trace your lower lashline with a flesh-toned pencil. “It’s like 8 hours of sleep in a liner”

* Lips *

The perfect kisser is cushiony and plush with a whisper of color- not overly inflated or sharply defined

Lighten Up: Tiny shadows at the corners of your mouth can turn your smile upside down. Keep them under cover with a dot of concealer

Pencil In A Pout: Use a chubby tip in a neutral shade to trace the fullest version of your lips. Then blend with your fingertip to soften the edges

Go Shiny: A bit of gloss on the center of your lower lip and cupid’s bow gives the appearance of fullness. Try dusky pinks an dsoft toffee hues

* Cheeks *

Just because we weren’t born with killer bone structure doesn’t mean we can’t fake it. Create the illusion of chiseled cheekbones and give your face a lift

Start Soft: A Mousse primer smooths the skin’s surface to help the flushed, dewy look stay put

Add Contour: Use two tones of cream blush. Swirl a rosy hue on the apples, then blend a swoosh of bronze below the cheekbones. The result: Pretty definition and babylike fullness

* Skin *

Older complexions can look dull; youthful ones appear moist and even in texture. Look for formulas with light-diffusing particles and avoid powders, which can settle into fine lines and add decades

Keep It Sheer: Apply foundation only where needed, and choose a formula that can be layered for more coverage

Welcome Matte: “Nothing is more aging than overly powdered skin”. Opt for a mattifying primer instead

Stay Hydrated: Treat dry patches with a refined face oil.

Add Shine: Skin that seems to glisten naturally usually involves a little artificial sparkle. Apply luminizer to cheek, brow bones, and to the bridge of your nose

Slim Fast: Using a fluffy brush, blend powder in a shade two hues deeper than your skin just below your chin

*~*~* Is Your Makeup Aging You? *~*~*

Matte Lipstick accentuates age-lines, creating a puckered effect.

Yellow-Based Bronzer makes skin look sallow, not sun-kissed

Powder Blush rarely delivers a youthful glow (unless it’s loaded with shimmer)

Retro Eyeliner is cool, but not when you’re trying to look younger

Mascara on your lower lashes tends to cast unflattering undereye shadows, so skip it.

Here are my tips on how I stay young at heart:

* Have fun! People are too serious. Relax and enjoy the day.

* Spend time with kids. They’re fun, they enjoy the little things in life, and they’ll remind you of your childhood. Play!

(I like to bite my nieces on the cheek and tell them I’m stealing their youth… but I’m just weird…)

* Spend time with older people: You’ll instantly feel younger… because you are! Plus they can give you really good advice and reassure you that you’re still young =) But keep the “I’m so old” statements to a minimum or else you’ll just piss them off ;)

* Look at everything as a learning experience and an adventure. If you take the time to slow down and really notice what’s going on around you, you’ll see that there’s so much to do, so much to see… and that makes me feel young.

* Stay active. When I’m busy (which is most of the time), I don’t have time to feel old.

* Attempt to live a healthy lifestyle~ I always feel good when I’m eating better, sleeping more, and able to take care of myself. I always feel old when I gain weight and I’m tired.

* Live life in the fast lane. There’s a whole lotta world out there and I’m gonna experience as much of it as I can!