You tube is great for showing you how to do things. I'm no help with colors or brands.

One tip I learned on you tube about applying make up when you're over 50 is to use eye shadow in place of an eye pencil or liquid liner to outline the eye. I use the tip of the shadow sponge to apply it. The powder fills in creases better than the pencils and liquid liners and looks softer and more natural. Of course, I'm using a shade like a dark brown, charcoal or something like that, not blue or green.

Here is a link that might be useful: highlight and contour

I dont use highlighter myself but I would think you put it in areas that are shadowed. Apply a bit under the eyes, above the brow, in the creases of the jowls (along your nose) and under the chin.

I read that it needs to go in the creases of the jowl too, but I thought the jowl was under the jawbone. The contour/bronzer goes under the chin area. I saw one video where we imagine we have an oval face and all the contour goes outside of the imaginary line.

I can figure out how to use it probably, but I just don't know what kind to buy.

Chickadee, I read the same thing, but it's also okay to use a soft tip eyeliner pencil, then smudge it. That's what I do because I find it lasts longer than eyeshadow, especially when using a primer first.

I go through this makeup thing every Spring. Today I bought more nail polish, a liquid concealer that I just love, 2 different kinds of mascara, and a palette of eye shadow in colors I've never used before. I'm getting wild in my old age!

Did you all see in the nail polish topic where I bought fake toenails? I love them, they are so real looking!!

Do you really need to contour? As we age less is more especially in makeup.

Get yourself to a make-up counter at a major department store....

Contouring is an art, best NOT done without hands on (color matching) instruction.

ML

Other than for photography or in a really low light situation, contouring is usually overkill.

Get thee to a department store. I would recommend Bobbi Brown. Their look is fairly light handed. Which, unless your are a newscaster or a 20-something, is probably best.

The new issue of In Style magazine has a feature on best beauty bargains, FYI, which I sometimes find helpful. I haven't opened it yet, though! Just got it today.

I don't know anything about highlighting and contouring (though maybe I should!) -- I just put on foundation (actually a tinted moisturizer by Laura Mercier), blush, and concealer where needed, which takes about a minute. If I feel like investing another minute, I do subtle eye shadow and mascara (cheapo Maybelline mascara is my favorite!).

A country mile neighbor sells Mary Kay. Are MK's products good?

I agree about the contouring because I can see myself messing it up. lol.

I do want to highlight though but I don't know what brand to buy. That's what's missing from my face when I do put on full makeup, which isn't all that often.

Do any of you use highlights?

A general note, contour goes on areas you want to recede - hallows of the cheeks, jawline, neck, temples, certain areas of the nose. How much and where depends on face shape and what you're trying to achieve. Highlight goes on eyebrown bone, bridge of the nose, cheek bone, and cupids bow (one step to making lips appear fuller). The right colors are important as is blending.

Oakley - For a highlight I wouldn't buy anything shimmer/glitter. No specs of anything. A glow is what you're going for. With age, a cream would probably be best. I actually like to use Benefit's Erase Paste. It's a cream brightening 'camouflage' for under the eyes and face. It's a terrible eye concealer but it like to use it as a highlight. It's a flesh/peachy color. I believe our skin tones are similar. Mine is light/med. with yellow undertones.

Contour should always be matte. If you're looking for an inexpensive powder, check out NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in 720A Sunny. You should be able to find it at WalMart or you local drug store. It works with my skin if I'm not tan. Another suggestion, The Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer. I like ITCosmetics My Sculpted Face palette kit but there are colors in there you won't use so probably not practical. Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer has four matte colors in a package pan.

There's a ton out there just make sure the bronzer is matte, the highlight isn't shimmery, and everything is well blended.

You could always go to a makeup counter if you're uncertain. I'd head to Bobbi Brown or MAC.

This post was edited by sheesharee on Tue, Apr 16, 13 at 21:20

Interesting Shee, I just bought NYC nail polish and didn't pay attention to the other makeup!

I'm going to check into Benefit. What was confusing me is how you can buy white or peach/pink.

I read no shimmer at all, especially as we get older. Thanks for the tips!

Bare minerals had a powder highlight/contour kit I used to use. I am having trouble linking on th iPad for some reason this morning.

Boop, I'll check it out. I've been eyeing this Yves Saint Laurent highlighter for a couple of days now, but it's kind of pricey. It has great reviews (mostly) from several beauty websites.

Here is a link that might be useful: Highlighter

Look at these reviews on Sephora. A lot more expensive but I think I'm going to bite the bullet and order it from Amazon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Highighter & reviews

Shee you really know your stuff and give some good advice! Could you visit my MIL? LOL

I agree - less is more, really at any age when we're talking make-up. Make-up is to enhance. I don't contour or highlight.

I think as women age it's really important to pay attention to our skin, get a great haircut, groomed eyebrows, etc. Go light on make-up. No frosts/glitters, etc.

I do not go for colored eye shadows. My eyes are one of my best features and I use muted shades of taupe or charcoal with a lighter, fleshy toned shade. Eye pencil, yes, mascara, yes.

I love to see a brightish lip color on a mature woman. I think it can really brighten up a face. The trick is to use a lipstain or gloss type (nothing too goopy) so the color isn't too thick looking.

tina

This post was edited by tinam61 on Wed, Apr 17, 13 at 8:50

The key to doing any kind of highlighting or contouring is blending....if you look at the make up artists, they blend blend blend.

I would skip the contouring because it can be horrible if not done correctly. Even bronzing has to be done carefully as if not applied correctly, it can just look like your face is dirty.

I'd go to you tube and search for carmindy....there are a bunch of videos where she shows how to use bronzer and highlights as well as more and less make up depending on the occasion.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carmindy 5 minute face

I don't contour but I do highlight with a bronzer or luminizer. I just recently, like a year ago, started using BareMinerals and I've been so pleased with the coverage yet light feel.

I add highlights like Shee but also to the inside corner of my eyes. Makes them look wider and more awake.

However, I love shimmer. I think it adds a nice dewey look to my skin. As with everything, don't over do it.

I always wear taupe eyeshadow, but it's time for a change, but in the same color family.

When I want to be really dolled up, I use a tint of pink on my lids with a bit of taupe on top because it shows off my green eye's.

Kelly, I do the inside of my eye's too, which is one of the reasons I want the highlighter so the area will be brighter.. That's a dark area on our face, even if we don't have dark circles. One of the most overlooked areas while putting on makeup.

I watched a few videos already so I'm good to go!

Are you talking about a facial highlighter or eye lid highlighter? I have one that I adore as I can use it on my face, eyelid and also use part of it for a bronzer. I'm stuck in bed with a pulled back but tomorrow I'll get you get the info.

Here it is, I use the light in winter, dark in summer. It does everything. Read about it plus it has a glow which makes your skin look younger. In the light one I use the lighter shades for my cheekbones and the darker tones before I put the cheek color on.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Body Shop shimmer waves.

Ouch, yaya! Hope the back gets better.

Looks like the shimmer pretty much works like what I was wanting. (bad sentence structure but I just woke up. lol) It will highlight the face, lids, anywhere you want highlighted. Mine comes in a liquid though.