An Expert Guide to Makeup in your 40s by Bobbi Brown

I can’t stop thinking about the “Sephora kid” phenomenon, where preteens are buying anti-aging creams and even retinol. At first glance, it seems absurd. But we live in a culture that tells women that our power is in our beauty—then treats that beauty like it has an expiration date. At any age, unlearning the idea that showing signs of aging is inherently “bad” takes a lot of effort. Especially when you’re trying to find the balance between wanting to look and feel your best, and feel confident in your skin, no matter what. After all, the key to makeup in your 40s, or at any age, is learning how to bring out your natural glow.

“Regardless of their age, most women don’t want to look overly made up,” says Bobbi Brown, makeup artist and founder of Jones Road Beauty. “They want to look like themselves on their very best day. When a woman feels good in her skin and knows she looks her best, then she is confident and happy. In my experience, the two best beauty products you can have are confidence and happiness.”

Read on for Brown’s expert advice on how to feel confident in your skin, with or without makeup.

Featured image from our Wake Up Call with Catt Sadler.

Read our interview with Molly Sims.

Your Guide to Glowing In Your 40s

How do you navigate your relationship to beauty as you age? Some of it comes with deep reflection and looking to the wisdom of women who have come before you. Some of it also ncomes with redefining what aging gracefully means to you as your life changes—and your hormones, too.

“I think we need to embrace who we are at every age, flaws and all,” Brown says. Armed with knowledge about how skin changes, especially as you enter or navigate your 40s, you can demystify the aging journey and be proactive about what it means to take care of yourself, both inside and out.

Brown’s advice reminds us that beauty isn’t just about how we look, it’s about how we feel. Especially as we get older, beauty is about cultivating rituals that help us live as our best selves, which pays dividends in how we show up in the world.

How does your skin change in your 40s?

Our skin changes all the time. Depending on sleep quality, stress, or the glass of wine you had at dinner, your skin is a living organism, constantly in flux. “When I look in the mirror and I look really tired or my skin looks dull, the first thing I do is check myself on what I’ve been eating and drinking,” says Brown. “I start monitoring my sleep habits. If you look and feel tired, it’s probably because you ARE tired and dehydrated.”

Our skin becomes less resilient with age, making it harder for it to bounce back. Brown confirms, “As we age, our skin naturally gets drier. We start to lose collagen and elasticity, and some days, our skin might appear dull and a little less radiant than it did.” In turn, how your skin looks affects how your makeup looks.

What products enhance your glow, instead of covering it up?

The products you choose can either sabotage or support your skin. Audit your makeup to confirm that every product contains nourishing ingredients that boost your skin’s natural glow. “Make sure you’re using makeup that adds moisture to the skin,” says Brown.

Another tip from Brown: “Skip the heavy-coverage foundation and go for something lighter. Traditional makeup can look powdery and cakey on dry skin, sinking into fine lines,” she says.

Thanks to the new market of multitasking makeup products, you don’t have to choose between nourishing your skin and mastering a feel-good makeup routine. Brown’s favorite? “I love a multi-tasking product that is both skincare and makeup in one, and it’s why Miracle Balm is my number one go-to product that I use every day.”

What essentials make a good makeup routine for your 40s?

“As I’ve gotten older, I’m wearing less makeup than I ever have,” says Brown. “I don’t want to feel overly made up. I just want a quick and easy routine that makes me look better instantly.”

Who else can relate?

Leaning into rituals, from your morning routine to your makeup routine, is about making life easier. Channel the confidence and self-knowledge you’ve gained as you’ve gotten older into all areas of your life—including your approach to beauty. No matter what you hear about beauty as you get older, makeup in your 40s doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be energizing.

Here’s Brown’s routine for makeup in your 40s:

Step 1: Moisturize and Protect

The first step in any makeup routine should be proper skin prep, which only gets more important as we age. Our skin’s natural resilience is decreasing, so our skincare needs to make up for the difference.

Products with collagen and elastin help replenish our dwindling reserves, and then preventative ingredients like antioxidants and sunscreen help ensure we’re not accelerating our natural aging.

“Your makeup routine should always start with sunscreen—every day, even in the winter,” says Brown. “Sunscreen is a non-negotiable, and it should be the last step in your skincare routine, before you put any makeup on.”

Step 2: Complexion Coverage

We associate a radiant, glowy complexion with youth. But actually, it’s more about how you treat your skin than how old you are. The best steps to a clear, even complexion start with your lifestyle—especially getting enough beauty sleep.

But light coverage products can help fill in the gaps. Brown recommends finding a signature, light product that gives you “the right amount of coverage, tint, and moisture to get you through your busiest days looking and feeling your best.”

Step 3: Conceal, Lightly

Makeup in your 40s is about having a light touch. This means making peace with any imperfections that might peek through. So go easy on concealer products, using them strategically to add light to your face rather than overdoing it in an attempt to cover up all your so-called “flaws.”

Pro tip: Using your fingertips rather than brushes makes for a more seamless blend.

Brown likes concealer pencils, but a good, lightweight cream goes a long way. Her tip: “Conceal any dark circles under the eyes and neutralize any redness you might have around the nose or on your cheeks.”

Finish it off with a light bush of powder to prevent shine. Brown recommends “a quick dusting of a tinted face powder that instantly just evens out your skin tone.”

Step 4: Add Some Color

To establish a signature makeup look in your 40s, figure out what your essentials are. What makes you feel the most confident? A red lip? A bold eye? A wash of blush? Instead of doing everything, pare down to your signature accents. That’s the definition of chic.

“Try a multitasking tinted balm like Miracle Balm that you can use as both your blush and lip color,” says Brown. “Finally, I’ll add a coat or two of mascara, and I’m done. If you have an extra minute, use some eyeliner to line your upper lashes.”