Makeup for maturing skin - hear from expert Rita Kenny

What made you decide to specialise in makeup for maturing women?

The first and only time I have had my makeup done for an event was back when I was 39 years old, I was going to a Cocktail Party. I went to one of the big dept stores to get my makeup done. It looked terrible, I didn't look or feel like myself. I spent $150 on products that I felt pressured into buying. All I can say is that I wasn't impressed. When I got home my husband agreed it looked really bad. I took all the makeup off and started again.

I decided from there that I wanted to learn makeup for more mature women. I felt like older women were missing out. So, at 39 I went back to TAFE and got a Cert II in Makeup Artistry. At this point I had discovered Rae Morris, she had  won Makeup Artist of the year 3 times in Australia. She was the same age as me and taught workshops on Mature Makeup. So, for my 40^th Birthday my husband sent me to Sydney to do a 11-hour workshop with her.  I learnt more from her in that one day than I did for the whole of my TAFE course. This was 10 years ago and that is how my journey began.

What is the difference between doing makeup on young skin vs. maturing skin?

There are so many differences between young skin and mature skin.

The major difference is the eyes. The eyes are one of the first areas to age. For example, you can't wear liquid eyeliner any more as the eyelid is no longer flat and smooth so it wont stay straight no matter how to try, it looks more like a barcode haha.

Mature skin can't handle shimmer eyeshadows and highlighters as this just emphasises the fine lines and makes then look worse. Young skin is like glass, it is smooth in texture and can handle most makeup styles.

Young skin has not yet developed sunspots or broken capillaries and their pores tend to be tighter. As for we age all of this changes for many of us.

Do you think it’s important to follow the latest trends in makeup or to find your own style?

My mother used to say, " Why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out?"

I have stuck to this motto most of my life.

I believe, find what makeup style is right for you and your personality. If it makes you feel good and confident you are on the right track. If you are attracted to one of the latest trends give it a go and see how it works for you. But I don't follow trends unless I feel it will improve my overall look.

What do you think of the use of colour in makeup vs. more natural tones?

Natural tones are fantastic for all makeup of course, but sometimes we want to spice it up with a bit of colour. The trick is the colours you use.

As we age our skin becomes a lot warmer naturally, we can embrace it with some fun warmer colours like terracotta, tangerine and coral. We are still having fun but with colour but using what will work for mature skin.

You have to careful with cool colours like - blues, greens and pinks, these contradict the warmer tones of mature skin. They can be very ageing.

What are your three top tips for makeup application on mature skin?

1. Make sure you have a good Kabuki or Buffer Brush for applying foundation or BB Cream. Mature skin needs to be buffered to create a smoother finish.
2. Having the correct shape eyebrows is crucial. Go to a proper eyebrow technician if you need help. Try not to have your eyebrows too dark as it can look quite harsh. You don't want to look angry .
3. Choose a coral shade lipstick with a lip gloss. It will make your lips look younger and plumper

With a few basic techniques you can achieve a more youthful look. It does take a bit of practice at the start. But once you have it down pat you won't believe how quick and easy it is. Practice, Practice, Practice.

BRAND NEW! ONLINE MAKEUP TUTORIALS!

We have created exclusive makeup tutorials for Connected Women. To accommodate for different skin tones we currently have fair skin, asian colouring, latino colouring and darker skin included. But all techniques and methods can be adapted to suit your skin!

The course is completely self directed and you can watch the videos at your own pace. Rita is also active in the course area to answer questions or help if you need support.

This course is a one-off free of $125 but it's just $95 if you buy before the end of June! We promise you will learn some incredible new skills to help you look your absolute best. As we add more content, that extra content is yours for free, for life!

Buy the course here and start accessing the content immediately: https://www.connectedwomen.com.au/spaces/10166947/content