"First thing’s first"...you’re never too old for a little sparkle, so get that out of your head (have you seen Dolly Parton lately?!). Highlighters are all the rage lately and frankly, sometimes those of us with mature skin have more spots they’d rather not highlight, or maybe it brings up memories of big hair and wearing leotards with belts (what were we thinking?)

But when it comes to using a highlighter on mature skin, there are a few tricks you can use to make it work for you. Like all things beauty, the rules are there to learn them and break them, so feel free to experiment with these tips until you find your sweet spot.

"The kind of highlighter you use matters"

If your skin is on the dry side, using a liquid highlighter is your best bet. Powder highlighters can accentuate wrinkles and dryness and look cakey on larger pores (although there is a way to use them correctly, too, which we’ll talk about). Liquid highlighters can even add a little more coverage to your look and draw attention away from fine lines.

How and where to use a liquid highlighter on mature skin

Needless to say, a little goes a long way. Especially for a daytime look, you want to be sparing with the amount of product you use.

Dabbing just a dot of product on the highest point of your cheekbones just outside and below the corners of your eyes can be all you need to wake up your whole face. You’re the best judge of whether or not you should highlight any further down your cheekbones, but in general, you want to keep the product on the highest points of your face where it naturally reflects light.

You can also highlight along the top of your nose, beneath the brow bones and the inner corners of your eyes. A highlight at the very center of the cupid’s bow can also be flattering, but be careful if you have deeper lines in that area since they might look more pronounced with a highlighter.

However, it is okay to highlight in places where you might have some lines and wrinkles because the highlight can actually help blur lines if you don’t use so much product that it just sits on top of your skin. Again, you’re the best judge!

When you blend your highlighter, use a stippling (bouncing) motion with your finger, beauty blender, or makeup sponge. Rubbing the product or sliding it around with your fingers or tools won’t allow the product to melt in with your foundation, bronzer, or blush. Stippling helps your other products stay put while you blend. 

How and where to use a powder highlighter on mature skin 

It might sound like powder highlighter is off limits for mature skin, but that’s not the case. Yes, it can be a little trickier than a liquid highlighter as far as creating a natural look, but it totally depends on the texture of your skin.
With a powder highlighter, you can put it in all of the same spots as a liquid highlighter, but the application technique matters more.

 
When you use a powder highlighter on mature skin, you should dip your brush in the powder and tap it against a surface a few times to shake off all of the excess product before you use it. After shaking it off, instead of sliding the brush down your cheekbones or nose, you’ll tap the brush on the spots where you want the highlight.

Tapping rather than sliding the product gives you more control of how much coverage you’re getting. Start with one or two taps, and if it’s not enough, add a few more. When you slide your brush, not only are you sliding the product around underneath the highlighter, which can make it look cakey, you’re also building your coverage too quickly and with less control.

Have fun with it!!

Highlighters are a versatile product, so you can get creative with how you use it. Feel like wearing a shimmery eyeshadow? Use your highlighter. Want to define your decolletage on a special occasion? Go for it! It’s totally up to you. Whatever you do, don’t convince yourself that certain products aren’t for you just because you’re not a certain age. Beauty doesn’t discriminate! When you feel good, you look good!

Take a peek at Southern Magnolia Mineral Highlighters here!