How To Look 10 Years Younger, Instantly
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There are some things in life that get better with age (wine, cheese, and George Clooney, to name a few). Generally speaking, however, we’d like our skin and hair to look as young as possible—or at least be an accurate reflection of how we feel on the inside. In our never-ending quest for the fountain of youth, we spoke with makeup artist Fiona Stiles and Joico celebrity colorist Denis de Souza (Kate Mara and Mila Kunis are his clients) and asked for their expert tips on how to fake a younger appearance. Lucky for us, they were more than happy to spill their secrets—take that, gravity.
Click through the slideshow above for eight makeup and hair tips to look younger, instantly!
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Tip #1: Luminize
“When it comes to skin, luminosity and dewiness signify youth,” Stiles says. She recommends employing a creamy luminizer or highlighter, like W3ll People’s Universalist Luminous Multi-Use Colorstick 1 ($35) or RMS’ Living Luminizer($38) to the bridge of your nose and tops of the cheekbones for fresh, dewy skin. - 2 of 23
Tip #2: Brown Over Black
Stiles recommends choosing brown instead of black when it comes to your eye makeup. “Generally, black makes your eyes look smaller,” she says. “Plums are also really pretty colors for any eye color—they’re very warm.” Instead of harsh lines, she suggests using a chocolate brown eyeliner with “a little twinkle.” Try MAC’s Eye Kohl ($16) in Teddy. - 3 of 23
Tip #3: Soften Your Brows
“In Asia, straight brows are a huge trend right now,” Stiles says. “After all, when you’re born, you have no arch.” She says that in the U.S., we like our arches high and dramatic—unfortunately, this can start to look cartoonish and severe once you get older. The solution? Soften your arch and fill your brows in lightly with a brow pencil that’s lighter than your hair color. If you have very light hair, Stiles says to use a tinted brow gel like Anastasia’s Tinted Brow Gel ($22). - 4 of 23
Tip #4: Cream Over Powder
When it comes to blush, choose cream formulas over powder—they blend seamlessly and settle into the skin without appearing caked-on. Surprisingly, Stiles says to avoid gel formulas if you have mature skin: “They look better on younger skin because they can be difficult to blend,” she explains. Her favorite blush? Shiseido’s Lumizing Satin Face Color ($30). - 5 of 23
Tip #4: Avoid Sparkle
Stiles advises that you avoid anything frosty or sparkly in the quest to look younger, because it can accentuate fine lines. Instead, opt for satin, dewy, or even matte finishes—they leave a chic, polished final effect. - 6 of 23
Tip #5: Go Lighter
When it comes to your hair, there’s one general rule of thumb in terms of looking younger: go lighter instead of darker. “The darker your hair, the harsher it will look against your skin,” de Souza says. “It will show all of your wrinkles and lines, especially anywhere near your face line or eye area, [since] this [area] always becomes a focal point with any hair color or cut.” Instead, he suggests going lighter to soften your face and make it appear more youthful. But don’t get carried away—he says to go no more than two shades lighter than your natural hair color to keep things looking natural. - 7 of 23
Tip #6: Go Warmer
De Souza recommends getting warm highlights around your face or a warmer base to promote a younger appearance. Choose honey, golden tones—he says they’ll complement your complexion and soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles. - 8 of 23
Tip #7: Get Glossy
One easy way to reverse time on your aging hair is a quick salon gloss. “It’s a great option when you’re looking to amp up the shine factor,” de Souza says. “It also keeps your color vibrant so that it doesn’t lose luster.” Between trips, keep your hair shiny and healthy by applying a hair mask at least once a week—he suggests Joico’s KPAK Intense Hydrator ($40). - 9 of 23
Tip #8: Mind Your Roots
One last tip: keep an eye on your roots. De Souza says that it’s important for his clients to get their roots touched up every four weeks: “Once the grays start showing, it will definitely age you and [draw attention away] from the great color you once had.” Try L’Oreal Paris’ Root Rescue ($8) to banish greys during salon visits.Keep clicking to shop the products in this story! - 10 of 23RMS Beauty Living Luminizer ($38)
- 11 of 23W3LL People Universalist Luminous Multi-Use Color Stick ($35)
- 12 of 23Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color ($30)
- 13 of 23Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22)
- 14 of 23MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy ($16)
- 15 of 23Joico KPAK Intense Hydrator ($40)
- 16 of 23L'Oréal Paris Root Rescue ($)
- 17 of 23Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel ($22)
- 18 of 23Joico KPAK Intense Hydrator ($40)
- 19 of 23L'Oréal Paris Root Rescue
- 20 of 23MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy ($16)
- 21 of 23RMS Beauty Living Luminizer ($38)
- 22 of 23Shiseido Luminizing Satin Face Color ($30)
- 23 of 23W3LL People Universalist Luminous Multi-Use Color Stick ($35)