Article by: Donna Hay from www.makeupbulletin.com

Susan Sarandon epitomises gloriously graceful beauty that we can only admire and look up to! No obvious collagen or botox can be seen on her, and she really remains a very sexy older lady! How does she do it? Here are some of her tips..

Well we have dug deep to bring you a four part series of expert advice to help YOU, our readers, remain beautiful – inside and out! This will be the first of 4 articles, and we will start off with skin and foundation. This is, after all, a vital part of looking your best! Next week will deal with lips and cheeks, the week thereafter will focus on eye make-up and brows and the last part of our four week symposium will deal exclusively on do’s and don’ts! So look for these updates each week!

But without further ado, let’s get into our first topic!

Even skin tone is vital, and that’s why we going to spend a bit of time on this one. A clean, clear canvas is vital for any masterpiece, and we strongly recommend looking after your skin by avoiding needless sun exposure, giving up smoking, always wearing an SPF – yes,  even in winter, and spending an extra minute or two in the evenings gently massaging your night cream into your face. Ageing is inevitable, but a bit of care and some preventative measures will go a long way in preventing extra wrinkles and/or pigmentation and in improving the texture and quality of you skin.

Patrick Holford, from his book; ‘The NEW optimum nutrition Bible’, says the following and I quote: “Imagine a balloon filled with water- taut and firm to the touch. Allow some of the water out and the balloon will shrink, and the rubber may even become a little shrivelled. Deprive a cell of water, and it will produce a similar result- in addition to the change in structure, the way it works will also be diminished. The process of removing water, or dehydration, leaves all the cells in our body gasping for replenishment, not least those in the skin, which are exposed to the harsh elements of the outside world – sun, cold, heating, air conditioning, and pollution. Without an adequate supply of water, your cells cannot rebuild your body, and waste products that stack up in the cells cannot be cleared. This turns into a vicious cycle whereby the cells cannot receive enough oxygen or nutrients to work or cleanse properly. Deep in your skin water is a crucial component, providing a basis for the healthy, soft, taut look of youthful skin.”

What we eat also has a good or bad effect on our skin, and in this book, Patrick Holford also recommends eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and then seeds nuts or cold pressed oils everyday. Flaxseed oil is particularly good for the skin! Available in every good health stores refrigerator, one can take a teaspoon every morning or even use it on your salads!
He also recommends limiting chemical additives and salt and also drinking less alcohol and caffeine! Mmmmm… something I will have to try to work on!
Also a bit of common sense goes a long way to. If a product burns or irritates your skin, avoid it! If you feel the sun penetrating your face, don a hat! Look after your face and skin as they are irreplaceable and as they say – “Prevention is better than a cure!”

1. Go easy on the foundation. Don’t try to cover wrinkles! It isn’t going to work and will simply highlight your wrinkles! Also steer clear of aging matte foundations, and opt for a tinted moisturising foundation instead! Skin tends to become drier as we age, therefore,  adding moisture will help your skin look plump and radiant! Oh yes, and don’t forget the SPF! We love MAC Fix + Spray. It contains cucumber and camomile extracts and is great to moisturise and ‘set’ a ready made up face. Mist gently over make-up or spritz liberally onto the skin after cleansing your face at night.

2. Powder will only adhere to wrinkles, so try to avoid powder. A make-up artist I know refuses to use powder on any-one over the age of 50! If you are worried about shiny skin, use a smidgeon of powder but only on the ‘T’ panel.  We don’t like a shiny nose or forehead either, but use sparingly.

3. Use a moisturizing light reflective concealer under the eye area. Dab it gently under the eye area with your ring finger for a gentle application. We love Yves Saint Laurent ‘Touch Eclat’ It brightens and lifts the under eye area instantly!