Make up wonders

The latest issue of the French Elle magazine to lend in my mail box promises to make me look 10 years younger whilst remaining true to myself. I like that. On its cover, 1980s super model Rosemary McGrotha at 51 proves that curves and good hair age well and if Elle can help me achieve her looks, I'm happy.

After 14 years away from the billboards, looking after her son in Florida, she is back as the face of Vichy's Neovadiol GF cream.  Those face cream names always crack me up: pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo and creative spelling - Rides Correxion by Roc anyone?

Her uncomplicated and natural approach to aging contrasts with the comprehensive and well documented but rather neurotic pages compiled by Elle. The dossier is full of expensive recommendations and products, lest we forget that magazines aim to sell us stuff and mostly advertising pages. The magazine explores fillers, genetics, face creams, massages, food, cosmetic surgery, etc.  Their list of make-up tips stuck me as very useful and I would like to share it with you.

For a fresh complexion:

• Avoid all-over foundation; apply selectively where needed on your face
• Moisturising foundation or tinted moisturiser over thick coverage.
• Cream blush instead of powder
• Choose the right colour: counter the yellow or grey tinge of ageing skin and go for a lighter colour with beige, sand and biscuit undertone.
• Use a brush to apply the foundation/tinted moisturiser.

By Terry, Blush Veloute, £26.

Laura Mercier, tinted moisturiser, £32.

By Terry, Liquid foundation, £39

A voluptuous mouth:

• Choose a classic red, satin-like and moisturising lipstick over mat and dark colours. Elle recommends the new Guerlain product, full of exotic ingredients (Tiger herb!!?) - I haven't tried it but it seems magical.
• Avoid lipgloss that seeps into the fine lines around the mouth.
• Apply lipstick to the centre of the mouth and avoid the corners of the lips to avoid emphasis on the ageing droopy mouth.

 

Rouge G Le Brillant, Guerlain, $46 or €39

Bright eyes:

• Use an eye primer: to avoid buying another piece of kit, a cream concealer should be able to do the job of moisturising and smoothing the eye region.
• Highlight the arch of the eyebrow with a light coloured cream eyeshadow.
• Choose the right mascara to add length not volume.

Eclat de Teint, by Terry, £29

You might have noticed a lot of by Terry products on this page. I must say that I love them! It probably has a lot to do with their smell but I think they really work. Seeing a friend of a friend use by Terry's liquid foundation and paint her face fresher and smoother at each brush stroke in her pocket mirror, as we were having morning coffee comforted me in my choice: it works and she looked great.

To read more about Elle's anti-ageing recommendations: Dossiers-beaute

By Terry product is available at Space.NK: http://www.spacenk.co.uk