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- Brighten your eyeliner Switch from a standard eyeliner shade to something brighter. ‘As we age, the whites of our eyes tend to yellow. Sapphire, emerald and plum brighten eye whites,’ says Louise Bingham, a makeup artist. Try Clarins Eye Pencil in Plum, Black Up Waterproof Smoky Khol Pencil in KS04 or Avon Glimmersticks Eye Liner in Majestic Plum.
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- Add shimmer to nude nails Nude nails are a great classic and, for dressing-up purposes, you needn’t ditch this look for something too vampy. Just a hint of shimmer takes nails from neutral to festive. Try OPI Nail Lacquer in At First Sight or layer any clear, glittery polish over your usual sheer shade.
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- Cut a fringe Call it bargain-basement Botox: a fringe can take years off your face. ‘Cutting a feathered, slanted fringe from a side parting and leaving a little hair to cover the forehead and one eye makes for a really sexy, flirty curtain and can work for almost any age,’ says Rod Grant, celebrity hairstylist at The Blue Door hair salon in Johannesburg.
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- Shift your brow arch As eyelids start to shift (yup, we mean brow gravity), the placement of the arch may need to shift too. ‘Your brows are the only feature on your face you can improve without surgery,’ says Karen Koen of Mooi Hair & Beauty Salon in Cape Town. ‘Having your brows professionally waxed and tinted can make a huge difference, as this opens up the eyes,’ she says. Another small tweak that gives big results is to add lash extensions, which means you don’t have to wear mascara.
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- Try nude gloss It’s a common misconception that women should switch to a red lipstick for instant glam. Red shades are rarely easy: they require precise application and many of us feel self-conscious when wearing them. A glam alternative is a high-shine nude gloss. ‘Try Yardley Stayfast Supershine Lipgloss in Perfect Pout or Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss in Peach.
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- . Pin up your hair An updo always looks stylish. Work some cream through your hair, then pull it back, twisting, and secure it with a pretty clip or an elastic. Or, for a different look, wet hair and apply mousse from roots to ends. Scrunch hair with your hands to give texture and pull into a low pony, leaving loose strands around your face.
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- Glow naturally A big (and common) mistake is to top makeup with a dusting of shimmer powder, particularly over blush. The result can look sadly robotic – and ageing – but there’s an easy fix. ‘Rather add a cream reflector under foundation on the cheekbones and brow for a natural-looking glow,’ says Cape Town makeup artist Algria Ferreira. Try Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone or M.A.C Strobe Cream .
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- Plump up lips A thin coat of gloss over lipstick creates the illusion of fuller lips. ‘Opt for stained lips with a gloss that’s not sticky,’ says Ferreira. ‘Try a cream stain such as Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge For Lips And Cheeks and finish off with a slick of gloss for a sexy summer pout.’ We like M.A.C Lipglass in Underage, Innoxa Ultra-Moist Plumping Lip Gloss and Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm .
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- Try liquid eyeliner ‘Liquid eyeliner is best for dramatic looks,’ says Bingham. ‘By using a waterproof black liner you can make your lash line look instantly fuller. Trace your liner along the inner rim of your eyes to make a statement,’ she says. This will give you luscious-looking lashes in no time. Try Sensai Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer or NYX Super Fat Eye Marker .
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- Don’t tease, volumise Teasing hair at the crown to add lift to a ponytail can damage hair follicles. ‘A gentler way to add heightis to apply an extra shot of volumiser at the roots of the crown just before you blow-dry your hair.’Try Lee Stafford DDouble Blow Volumizing Mousse . Then turn your head upside down, dry the area and finish with a shot of cold air to lock in volume before you flip your head back. Using a light hand over the crown, brush hair into a pony and secure it at the nape of the neck with a ribbon or clip.
