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Over 40? Freshen your winter beauty routine and get your glow going! The leaves are gone, the days are a bit shorter....and you are beginning to notice changes in your skin and hair now that summer is long gone and winter is just around the corner. What can you do to make sure that your skin is glowing and that you have a fresh, youthful look to face the fall and winter weather? This question is of particular importance to women over 40, who have different skin and hair needs than younger women. Make-up and hair trends that may look fashionable on women in their 20s tend to have an aging effect on mature hair and skin. Follow these three suggestions to get a youthful glow this fall!

TIP #1: Pay attention to your HAIR

Freshen your color with subtle highlights, but stay within 2 shades lighter than your natural hair color. If you have gray hair, try a transparent gloss to add shine, and use a toner to remove gold tones. If you have thinning hair, try voluming products to add body. In general, layering can soften harsh lines that can be aging to mature skin, as opposed to blunt cuts. If you are stuck with a dated short hair style from the 80s or 90s, try visiting a new stylist and ask for a modern cut that has long over short layers. The wedged bob style (longer in front, shorter in back) sported by Victoria Beckham can be modified and is also quite flattering for those with double chins or lacking a firm jawline. Because summer can wreck havoc on the condition of your hair, it is important to use a reparative conditioner in the fall. Try a protein pack conditioner, or get an intensive conditioning treatment at the salon.

TIP #2: Pay attention to your SKIN

Find an exfoliator to reveal fresher, dewier skin. If you have sensitive skin, use weekly; otherwise, use 2-3 times weekly for smoother, more glowing skin. A retinol serum or cream used nightly will help with uneven skin tones and help minimize lines. If you have skin sensitivities, choose one formulated for sensitive skin. You can also try using retinol products every other day to build tolerance to them. Another essential product is using a daily moisturizer. Pick a firming moisturizer with sunscreen. This will help firm skin tone, providing both protection against future photo-aging, and providing both moisture and a smooth base for your make-up. Recent studies have shown that certain skin care lines available at the drug store or grocery store are equally as effective as more expensive, department store brands. To summarize: find an exfoliating cream, use a retinol moisturizer at night (there are some available even for sensitive skin), and apply a firming moisturizing cream with sunscreen first thing in the a.m.

TIP #3: Update your MAKE-UP

Remember, if you are over 40, LESS IS MORE. Younger women, especially teens, use make-up to look older. Yes, make-up applied intelligently can provide a more youthful look, but you need to pay attention to these specifics. If you are using a heavy cream base make-up, try a lighter gel designed for mature skin with photo-brightening pigments that attract light away from wrinkles. Try using base make-up on the t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), then mix a dab of base with your moisturizer and blend in to cheeks, jawline and around eyes for a lighter hand and more natural look. AVOID POWDER, which further ages the look of skin. A eyeshadow base can double as concealer if the correct tone is picked, and helps your eye makeup stay in place all day without creasing. Corrective oncealers should be applied lightly ON TOP of base. When choosing colors, stay away from harsh, dark lip colors, which draws attention to the jawline. You want attention to move upwards towards your eyes and away from neck and jawline. Stick with medium rose, peaches, brownie-pinks, golden pinks, or beiges for the freshest look. This fall sheer, matte finishes work the best - lose the goopy, shiny lip glosses. Eyeliner applied under the eye can draw attention to crows feet - avoid if you have heavy wrinkling in the eye area. Use black mascara with brown hair, but try brown, gray, or dark taupe if you have lighter hair color. Stick with browns, grays, or taupe for eyeliners as well, and use a creamy pencil that can be blended to remove harshness. Stay away from frosted, bright, and extreme or dark eyeshadows. Choose muted browns, plums, beige-golds, peach for eyelids, and shades of oyster/linen/fresh cream/pale rose for highlighting effects. Women of all ages can improve their appearance and freshen their look for fall.

 At The Papillon Closet, in addition to sourcing plus sized clothing, we want to provide you with beauty resources to help you begin your personal beauty renewal!  Click here for a free quarterly newsletter with the latest fashion, beauty, and health tips:  contactme@thepapilloncloset.com

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