A Makeup Artist’s 3-Step Routine for Mature Skin Will Get You Out the Door in 5 Minutes Flat

Hydrating your skin is crucial at any age, but becomes extra important when dealing with mature skin. “As we get older, our body’s way of moisturizing the skin, which is by creating oils, tends to slow down, so the skin gets drier as you get older,” Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, previously told Well+Good.

Because of this, you’ll want to stack your routine with hydrating topicals, which help to strengthen the skin barrier and prevent dryness and flaking. Formulas with hyaluronic acid (like this one from Tatcha) are a great option. In addition to immediately hydrating and plumping skin, over time they can also improve skin elasticity and decrease roughness.

Pro tip? “Put moisturizer on not just on your face—put it on your neck, put it on your hands,” says Brown. “It feels better and looks better.”

Before using any other makeup, Brown recommends applying concealer to the red areas of your face—for example, under your eyes, around your nose, and on the corners of your mouth. Doing this step first will create a more even skin tone, and if you choose to apply foundation on top of it, it will allow the product to sit more smoothly. To find the right concealer for mature skin, pros recommend looking for creamy, hydrating formulas that won’t cake, crease, or settle into fine lines and wrinkles.

Add a luminous powder or highlighter to your cheekbones, brow bone, and the tip of your nose. This, says Brown, will brighten the face and draw attention to the areas that the sun would naturally highlight, giving your skin a healthy-looking glow. She recommends this highlighting “Miracle Balm” from her Jones Road line, and applies it to her face with her fingers before blending it in with a brush.