Newsletter

How your makeup bag changes with age

— by Alyson Walsh

19 May 2013 --- Linda Rodin --- Image by © Kristiina Wilson/Corbis Outline

Linda Rodin. Image by © Kristiina Wilson/Corbis Outline

‘I believe as one gets older, less makeup looks much better,’ beauty entrepreneur and model Linda Rodin told me recently. This was also the consensus I found when writing my book – which came as good news to a lifelong cosmetics coward with a low-maintenance beauty regime. I’m pleased that in my sixth decade, the zeitgeist has caught up with me, at last.

For the beauty chapter in my book Style Forever, I spoke to several experts, including: international makeup artist Ruby Hammer, esteemed journalists Tish Jett and Vicci Bentley and 49-year-old model Mak Gilchrist. When I collated their advice on the best beauty products, I had it in the back of my mind that I was going to add my own personal favourites, too. But with such a tight deadline, we simply ran out of time. And so, this is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while: here are a few of the bits and bobs found in my no-makeup makeup bag…

Benefit They're Real Mascara 2231443

About a year ago, I upgraded to Benefit’s They’re Real! mascara, and this is the best I’ve found (available HERE). Lashes look longer and thicker, and are separated by the specially designed spiky brush (be careful or that corneal abrasion could also be real!)

Benefit Instant Brow pencil

Now the eyebrows are thinning, I fill in the gaps with a brow pencil from Blink or Benefit (Instant Brow Pencil, available HERE).

rock_n_kohl_bbe_main

I’ve always been a child of the 60s and for special occasions (parties, gigs, book launches), I still like to add a little retro flick.  Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock and Kohl is great for a smudgy smoky eye, available HERE. Though I’m thinking of progressing to the quick Feline Flick Eyeliner Pen for a swifter swoosh, available HERE.

For cheeks, Laura Mercier’s Creme Cheek Colour (available HERE) or Clinique’s Chubby Stick Cheek Colour in Amp’d Up Apple (available HERE) stop me looking cadaverous. These days I take a little extra care with blending to avoid the Dot Cotton-effect:

Laura Mercier

Clinique Chubby Stick

Dot Cotton cheeks via Guardian

 

And, I also like Clinique’s Chubby Stick moisturising lip balm for a quick and easy whoosh of colour (available HERE).

When the book was finished, after a long lunch with friends, I waltzed into Space NK and came out with a celebratory Chantecaille lipstick (available HERE). At £30 it was the the most expensive item of makeup I’d ever bought but I was high on relief (and red wine), and made of natural beeswax with a lovely moist finish, it’s definitely the best lipstick I’ve ever used.

 

Chantecaiile lipstick

Chantecaiile lipstick

 

Read more about Linda Rodin and other beauty expert’s makeup essentials in my ‘How your makeup bag changes with age’ feature for the Guardian HERE.

What’s in your makeup bag?

 

Keep Reading

Iman celebrates turning 60 with Vanity Fair cover

‘I believe as one gets older, less makeup looks much better,’ beauty entrepreneur and model Linda Rodin told me recently. This was also the consensus I found when writing my book – w…