Laugh lines mean you have spent a lifetime laughing. And that’s a good thing. Right?

A Harvard study showed that women don’t change their opinion of their looks as the years roll by. Sixteen percent who believed they were attractive at 18, still thought so at 65. The same went for the 72 percent who saw themselves as average in the looks department. Aging didn’t change their opinion.

Maybe this is because we feel we have the necessary dexterity with the makeup brush to keep our looks in line. This, of course, does not mean troweling on the layers, penciling on blue liner and painting our cheeks a hectic red. A light touch lets our natural beauty show through while enhancing it.

Carmindy, one of the makeover experts on The Learning Channel’s “What Not to Wear” and author of “The Five-Minute Face,” has been working with models, movie stars and celebrities, as well as regular women on the show, for 15 years.

In each episode of “WNTW,” she considers her client’s lifestyle. Is the makeover subject locked into a “natural” grad school student style, or the harried mom look, or does she need to brighten up for business, with drinks to follow?

These same principles apply if you are over 50 and rushing to the office, to volunteer for your favorite charity or to take care of an aging parent. You have to be you.

Carmindy emphasizes that for everyone at every age, sunscreen is a must. Try using a sunscreen product—preferably SPF 30 minimum—with some moisturizer.

Next, apply concealer to hide uneven eye circles and sun spots. The thick, heavy liquid concealers can settle into wrinkles. Carmindy uses a light-reflective “crayon” on her clients, worked in under the eyes so it bounces back light instead of showing dark pools, which can make you look tired.

On the show, Carmindy often grooms her client’s eyebrows, an easy way to make a woman look more polished. This is especially important as wiry gray hairs try to sneak into brows (think Andy Rooney). If your brows have thinned, you may need to fill in with a pencil. “I prefer a waterproof pencil,” Carmindy says. “The powder eyebrow filler can disappear after a
few hours.”

When using foundation, Carmindy favors a spray foundation which she lightly applies with a non-latex sponge. Follow this with blush. Carmindy prefers cream blush rather than a powder. “When you brush powder back and forth, you get way too much on,” she says. Over that, she applies a light dusting of translucent compact powder (not loose), just to set the makeup.

The eyes are next, and you don’t have to match shadow to your outfit. That is old school. Use waterproof eyeliner and draw on the lash line, then smudge with a cotton swab. Navy blue goes well with brown eyes, brown with blue eyes, and amethyst with green or hazel. Stay away from eyeshadows with “frosting” in them; they can create silvery creases in your eyelid. Mascara should be waterproof. (One of Carmindy’s makeup secrets: Use drugstore mineral oil to remove all makeup.)

As for lips, don’t fixate on the little vertical lines that can appear around your mouth. Just use a nude-toned lipliner to create a waxy barrier, then apply your favorite lipstick. The only caveat: Stay away from the long-lasting brands. “These are drying and always look cakey,” she confides. Rose lipstick is flattering to every skin shade, according to Carmindy.

To amp up your look for evening, add some darker eyeshadow and apply a darker lipstick— maybe even red, red, red!

Carmindy plans to debut her own line of makeup products for boomer-age women later
this year.

Inspired by her new book, “Living Beauty,” popular makeup mogul Bobbi Brown also has a makeup line for women over 50.

Brown advocates a bright, light-reflecting face that looks rested and attractive. She has created Brightening Lip Gloss in various shades, infused with “brightening” pearls. These are not the thick, super-creamy glosses sported by the Paris Hilton set, but glosses with a luminous sheen and a hint of color. Her new, lightweight under-eye coverage for women (and men!) is called Eye Brightener.

Brown recommends adjusting your skincare routines to the season. If you still have oily skin past age 50, try using a gentle, water-based gel cleanser.

Taking a cue from her grandmother who used to apply cosmetics with her finger from small “pots,” Brown has created Pot Rouge in a variety of colors for lips and cheeks. A silky coral blush compliments all skin tones, she says.

Both experts recommend regularly pruning your makeup kit ruthlessly and tossing broken or spoiled products. Brown says all you need to take with you when you leave the house for the day are concealer, foundation, two blush colors, and lipsticks.

Just because we think we still look pretty smashing doesn’t mean we can’t rethink our makeup techniques from time to time. And the best trick of all to catch attention? A fabulous smile! •

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