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Under-eye concealer is one of the trickiest parts of doing makeup, especially as you get older. Even if you’ve done everything right and put on a light under-eye serum or cream, let it soak in for several minutes, then expertly applied the right shade of color corrector and then a concealer for mature skin, your masterpiece may fade within a few hours or start to get cakey. The usual advice to combat this problem is to finish with setting spray, or lock everything in with a light dusting of powder.
But most setting spray has alcohol as a main ingredient, and you don’t want to be spraying something drying like that on mature skin. And powder can easily backfire when it’s applied to an area with fine lines. But Tim Quinn, who has spent decades working with some very recognizable faces, has a novel solution to the problem.
Quinn spent nearly 20 years as a makeup artist with Giorgio Armani Beauty, and his clients have included Kerry Washington and Christie Brinkley. His alternative to setting spray is better for mature skin, and looks more natural too. Quinn relies on a surprising finishing technique that restores hydration, melts away cakey patches, and delivers a refreshed finish that lasts. Below, he reveals exactly what to use…
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The Finishing Step Quinn Uses Instead of Setting Spray for Women Over 50
Quinn tells Parade that instead of using setting spray, he swears by “a little trick I’ve been using for years, particularly on mature skin.” The big reveal?
“Rather than always finishing makeup with a setting spray, I sometimes prefer to use just a touch of oil.” Quinn isn’t saying the spray is totally off-limits, just that it isn’t the only way to help concealer last.
The under-eye area gets the lightest touch. “I’ll take a tiny amount of our HALO42 Anti-Aging Eye Oil and gently tap it around the eye area,” Quinn explains, “especially where concealer can sometimes settle or look a little dry.”
Related: 10 Best Under-Eye Concealers for Mature Skin, According to Skincare Experts
How To Apply Face Oil Over Makeup
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Face oil over makeup only works in small doses, and pressing, not rubbing, keeps your foundation where you put it. Also important to note: a pearl-sized amount is enough for the whole face.
Quinn warms the oil first instead of applying it directly. “I’ll take a small, pearl-sized amount, warm it between my palms and then gently press my hands over the face,” he tells Parade. “It really helps soften the appearance of any foundation or blush that may be sitting on the skin.”
The result, he says, brings everything together for a much more natural finish.
“The trick is using just enough,” Quinn explains. “You don’t want to look oily, you just want the skin to have that beautiful, healthy glow.”
Related: The 20 Best Drugstore Foundations for Mature Skin, Tested and Reviewed by Celebrity Makeup Artists
Why Texture Matters More Than Coverage on Mature Skin
The oil trick works because of how Quinn approaches the whole face. He aims for a finish somewhere between matte and dewy.
“As we get older, I think it’s especially important to pay attention to texture,” Quinn says. “Too much powder can make the skin look dry and flat, but too much shine isn’t necessarily flattering either.”
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That’s why his base starts light. “I always start with well-hydrated skin and then use foundation sparingly,” he says, “concentrating on the areas that actually need it.”
The goal is skin that still looks like skin. “At the end of the day, I want skin to look healthy, fresh and alive,” Quinn explains, “not like we’ve spent the morning trying to cover it up!”
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Source:
- Tim Quinn, celebrity makeup artist, longtime Giorgio Armani Beauty makeup artist and co-founder of Halo42 Skincare