The Beautyblender Guide to Anti-Aging Makeup: 6 Things You Need to Know Now
The world of anti-aging makeup is wide and wonderful — and also overwhelming.
What’s the best anti-aging makeup to smooth wrinkles? Is there any way to stop redness? What part does SPF play?
There, there. Never fear! We’ve rounded up a few key ingredients that will ensure your anti-aging makeup GETS IT DONE.
Free radical 101
Before we jump in, we need to have a little refresher on free radicals. Most of the magic ingredients below are designed to fight free radicals, which are *totes* unstable molecules that damage your skin in all kinds of ways.
Free radicals:
— Come from pollution, toxins, dust, smoke and the sun, and they...
— Cause discoloration, broken blood vessels, unevenness, wrinkles and saggy skin.
In short, ew.
But don’t wrinkle your perfect forehead over them just yet! We’re going to fix you right up, starting with:
Light protection
Sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging, and that means anti-aging makeup *must* start with SPF. Look for a daily moisturizer that offers a minimum of SPF30 of “broad spectrum protection,” which means it will block UVA, UVB and HEV — or blue — light.
Phones, tablets, computers and TVs all emit blue light that damages skin and speeds up aging. And this just in: Experts think most of us spend at least HALF of our time staring at one of those things, which, just, WHAT?!? Pls send help.
B vitamins
One of the best anti-aging makeup secrets is vitamin B. Not only does this power-packed vitamin improve skin’s texture and moisture retention, but all that moisture then reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
At Beautyblender, we build in vitamin B3 using niacinamide, an ingredient in our Leveler™ Pore Minimizing Primer. It helps build a healthy skin barrier and improves elasticity, texture and tone. Over time, The Leveler can even combat redness and the appearance of pores, and since it comes in 2 shades — light-medium, tan-deep — it works on every skin tone. Plus, unlike other mattifying primers, the lightweight texture lets skin breathe, so you never feel suffocated.
Hyaluronic acid (HA)
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Hyaluronic acid is queen when it comes to hydration. One gram can hold 1.5 gallons of water, and HA is so smart that it will quench your skin’s thirst and stop right when it’s done. It’s also the best anti-aging makeup because it has antioxidant properties that fend off free radicals.
But here’s the sad sitch: As we age, our body doesn’t produce as many new skin cells or as much hyaluronic acid. That makes it easier for lines, wrinkles and rough patches to rear their ugly heads. Applying hyaluronic acid helps your skin fight back, plumping it up and dialing down the appearance of wrinkles, lines and sun damage.
And it’s easy to add HA to your day! At Beautyblender, it’s a key ingredient in both our BOUNCE Liquid Whip Foundation and our BOUNCE Airbrush Liquid Whip Concealer. So stock up and say BUH-BYE to thirsty skin.
Tetrapeptides
While we’re on the subject of BOUNCE, let’s talk tetrapetides, shall we? These tiny amino acids are renowned for moisturizing, reducing puffiness and brightening skin, especially around eyes. That’s why we use it in our BOUNCE Airbrush Liquid Whip Concealer. Every time you use Bounce to cover, conceal or brighten, you’re making your skin extra supple and creating a more youthful appearance over time.
Serum
Have we mentioned that we ❤️ moisture? The answer is yes, and you wish we’d shut up about it already, but when it comes to wrinkles, moisture is THE SECRET. Apologies if that's not a bigger reveal.
But really: Proper hydration keeps your skin from getting dry, and dryness is what most often allows wrinkles to take center stage. Not sure if you’re dehydrated?
Try the pinch test
1. Pinch a small amount of skin on your cheek, chest or the back of your hand.
2. Hold for a few seconds, and then let go.
3. If your skin snaps back, congrats — you’re hydrated!
4. If it takes a while to bounce back, you’re *probs* lacking a little in the hydration dept.
5. If you’re unsure, try it in a second location.
Regardless of your pinch-related results, here’s another fun fact: Moisturizer alone isn’t enough once you hit 40. As we age, we need to start with a serum to seal in moisture, and then put our makeup on top of it.
IOHO, the best anti-aging makeup primer is Opal Essence Serum. It has a truly transformative texture that helps makeup glide over skin without clinging to lines AND it’s packed with botanicals that help soothe skin. Even better: Opal Essence pulls double duty, brightening skin both immediately AND by building up its power over time. And why would you pick something that does one when you can have two?
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