When it comes to makeup that looks good on aging skin, few know the nuances better than celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn, the longtime celebrity face designer for Giorgio Armani Beauty and the man behind countless red-carpet faces. In the latest episode of The Beauty Authority, Quinn sat down to share his favorite tips for keeping makeup modern, fresh and flattering at every age.
1. Pay attention to texture and tone
“As our skin matures, texture and tone are the two things that change the most,” Quinn explains. He recommends leaning into products that bring back light and bounce. A touch of sheen or luminosity on the skin reflects light in a way that instantly reads youthful. The key, he says, is finding formulas that hydrate and flatter your environment—humid climates are more forgiving than arid ones, where extra moisture is essential.
2. Go easy on foundation
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt like you “aged overnight,” your foundation might be to blame. “Usually, it’s too dense of a foundation,” Quinn says. Heavy, matte bases can settle into lines and dull the skin. Instead, he prefers lightweight liquids or even just concealer in strategic areas. “The idea is not to mask the skin but to even out tone a little,” he says.
3. Use light for lift
Forget sculpting with heavy contour. For Quinn, it’s about playing with shadow and light. “When you apply techniques that catch the light in the right spots, it gives a natural lift,” he notes. Simple touches, like highlighting the high points of the face or brightening under the eyes, can create the illusion of structure without weighing skin down.
4. Rethink your eyeliner
One of the fastest ways Quinn updates a client’s look is with eyeliner. “Instead of trying to do a cat eye all the time, build it toward the outer lash line,” he advises. Soft shading at the lash base, a hint of shimmer on the inner corner and well-shaped brows all help open hooded or tired eyes. He also suggests finishing liner with a dab of concealer angled upward toward the brow for a subtle lift.
5. Modernize your lips
Dark ’90s lip shades may be trending again, but Quinn cautions against diving in headfirst. “A dark lip can make the lip look smaller if it’s not done right,” he says. His fix: Match liner to your natural lip color, not the lipstick shade. Cheat fullness at the outer corners rather than across the entire mouth, then add gloss in the center of your lips for dimension. A fine brush with concealer at the Cupid’s bow and outer edges sharpens the look without overdoing it.
6. Always work in good light
Lighting isn’t just for photoshoots, it’s essential when applying your own makeup. “It’s the shadows that you want to blast away,” Quinn explains. Sitting in front of a strong light source reveals exactly where to place product for the most flattering effect.
7. Invest in skin prep
Quinn spends more time massaging in skin care than applying base. “When you’re doing that, you’re bringing circulation back, and the skin comes alive. You don’t need as much concealer,” he says. His go-tos include oils under makeup, daily SPF, vitamin C and rich night creams. He’s also a fan of tools like red-light masks, lasers and under-eye patches to prime skin before makeup. “Less is more once the skin has that bounce back,” he says.
8. Edit your beauty drawer
An overlooked tip? Clear out your old stash. “If you don’t use it, three years from now it won’t even be valid,” Quinn warns. As the makeup guru points out, makeup formulas change, and so does your skin tone and hair color. He advises to keep products current to ensure your shades and textures are working with you, not against you.
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