Beauty Habits That Add on Years

We all have one: that friend who looks too good for her age. Even though you graduated from college the same year, her wrinkles and pores are invisible to the naked eye while you use moisturizer and eye cream like it’s going out of style. She’s also the one who -- not surprisingly -- looks rested and bright-eyed with healthy skin, even after the two of you stayed up too late the night before, sipping wine and munching popcorn. Here’s what she’ll never tell you: It’s not luck the luck of the genetic draw, it’s knowing the secrets of your makeup vanity. Read on for the antiaging beauty habits that help turn back the clock and give you healthy skin.

Old Habit: Pile on concealer.

Healthy Skin Secret: Moisturize first.

The skin surrounding your eyes is the thinnest, but it’s also the zone that tends to look dry quickest and easiest. If you use concealer sans eye cream, the wrinkles you’re trying to hide become more obvious as concealer settles into fine lines, according to Chicago makeup artist Taryn Kessler. A smarter way to keep eye skin healthy is to dab on a rich eye cream before applying concealer. “Eye cream and concealer go hand in hand. First, the eye cream hydrates really well, so the area is moist. Next, the concealer works to camouflage discoloration,” says Kessler.

Old Habit: Sprinkle on sparkle.

Healthy Skin Secret: Matte knows best.

If your tween daughter obsesses over it, chances are pretty high that you should skip it altogether. Sparkly, shimmer-flecked makeup looks beautiful on the under-30 crowd; for the rest of us, it only draws attention to our flaws, including fine lines, wrinkles and sallow skin. New York makeup artist Tamah Krinsky suggests sticking with matte makeup for eyes, cheeks and lips alike for healthy skin.

Old Habit: Brush on bronzer.

Healthy Skin Secret: Make yourself blush.

A morning-after glow is attainable at any age, regardless of how much you tossed and turned last night. Kessler suggests blush in lieu of bronzer, as sun-kissed skin is an instant ager. A tan -- whether it’s via the sun or a cosmetic product -- is associated with teens, so the older you are, the less believable it looks. Instead, fake healthy skin that's flushed with pink cream blush, applied to the apples of your cheeks, then blended upward slightly.

Old Habit: Line your lips.

Healthy Skin Secret: Go with a gloss.

As you age, the skin around your lips gets saggy, thanks to a loss in collagen and elastin. Boost the buoyancy of your pout with a moisturizing lipstick, topped with clear, shiny (not shimmery) gloss. Lose the liner, which only emphasizes skinny lips, making them look smaller, not bigger.

Old Habit: Conceal all sins.

Healthy Skin Secret: Less is more.

Foundation is fabulous for many things: concealing blemishes, evening out skin tone and serving as a canvas for blush, eye shadow, etc. That said, a thick layer instantly equals too much makeup and a look that’s far from youthful. To avoid this, apply your foundation with a flat makeup brush so the right amount of product glides on easily and delicately, without makeup overload. Krinsky recommends using a shade of foundation that matches the palm of your hand for the most natural, healthy skin.