BEAUTY

15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

The fastest way to turn back time is with these age-defying hair and make-up tricks.

15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Frame, set and match: “There’s nothing more youthful than thick, glossy brows,” says make-up artist Jose Bass. British brow queen Shavata agrees and adds, “For the more mature client, defined arches create a gentle lifting effect.” Use a sharp brow pencil in a shade paler than your natural colour to etch in individual hairs, and finish with brow gel for a youthful sheen.

15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Trick of the eye: They may be the windows to the soul, but your eyes can also betray you by showing the first signs of ageing. To help hold back the years, M.A.C Cosmetics’s Terry Barber recommends avoiding highly technical contouring as too much light and shade contrast can look harsh, as can severe textures like matts or heavy metals.
Try: Lancôme Ombre Hypnôse in Sable Enchanté, $42; Clarins Instant Light Eye Perfecting Base, $32.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Bat those lashes: While fluttery lashes are an instant youth boost, clumpy-looking mascara is ageing. “Many black mascaras have a greyish tinge, so make sure yours is blacker than black,” says cosmetics queen Bobbi Brown. “Never apply liner just along the bottom, either – it’ll draw the eyes downwards and make you look tired.” And, if you’re over 30, you need to be curling your lashes daily.
Bat away the years with Covergirl Flamed Out mascara in Very Black Blaze, $14.95 and Clinique Lash Building Primer, $31.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Spot on: If you’re feeling cheeky, add a sprinkling of freckles across the nose, positioning eachone as randomly as possible. Leading make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury refers to it as her backstage “youth stick”.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Lip service: Our mouths get smaller as we age, so invest in a lip liner to subtly exaggerate the lip line and help prevent feathering,” says expert make-up artist Mary Greenwell. “Don’t dull down. Youthful is a bit cheeky, and a slick of orange-red on a nude face gives a modern freshness,” adds Barber.
Plump and pout with these clever liners and colours: Dior Contour Transparent Lipliner, $44; Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture in Rouge Vermillion, $50.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Schoolgirl flush: A pop of blush is like switching on a light bulb. “It’s one of the most useful anti-ageing tools,” says make-up maestro Lisa Eldridge. “The trick is to keep it diffused so it never looks like it’s been applied to a certain area.” Eldridge suggests layering a rosy cream witha dot of blue-pink powder fora long-lasting 3D effect.
Keep it chic and sheer with these clever buys: Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in flushed, $26.95; Estée Lauder Pure Color Blush in Pink Ingenue, $60.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Style counsel: Organic, softer textures are the most flattering and youthful. “Stay on-trend with styles, but tailor them to avoid anything too severe,” says Nick Irwin, Tigi’s global creative director. “You can try adding a few soft curls to frame the face, creating subtle volume, or swapping a centre parting for a side parting.”
Choose products that help restore health and shine as they style: John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist, $15.99; Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam, $29.95.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Any lengths: “Going short once you reach a certain age is just not relevant anymore,” says stylist Luke Hersheson. “A shoulder-length bob lends itself to being a bit mumsy, so be bold and go longer or shorter.” Add shape to the face with a soft, grown-out fringe, but don’t go layer mad – it can make the hair look thinner. Ditch the appliances and add texture the caring way with Label.m Souffle, $37.95, and Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, $44.50.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Clever colour: The right colour technique can transform your appearance,” says Tracey Cunningham, Redken creative consultant. “Try a low-key ombre technique known as ‘illumination’ – with lighter tones applied freehand throughout the mid lengths and a few strands around the face to help fake volume and give a flattering glow.”
Add a glossy glow to your locks with Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Classic Shine Gloss Serum, $15.99, and Pureology Antisplit Blowdry, $34.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Keep it real: Hairstylist Peter Beckett warns against too much tonging or straightening as perfect curls and poker-straight locks can make your hairstyle look dated. It’s all about looking as natural as possible. Twist damp hair for subtle waves, and blow-dry rather than straighten for a sleeker look.
Swap strong lacquer for soft lustre with these buys: Tresemmé TresTwo spray, $7.99; L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray, $9.95.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Prime suspect: Make primer your secret weapon: it removes the need for excessive powder and offers a perfected finish with pores and fine lines smoothed away. Terry Barber suggests skipping foundation altogether and brushing a honey-toned mineral powder around the hairline to give the face a flattering halo.
Smooth over lines and pores with these clever perfectors: Tom Ford Illuminating Protective Primer, $95; Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Radiance-Boosting Primer, $55.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Ace your base: Skin becomes more sallow with age, so go fora yellow-based hue to warm up the complexion – too pale and you’re entering Miss Havisham territory. Heavy powder is also an instant ticket to looking older, so opt for breathable, light-reflecting formulas. “Focus on brightening and refining rather than blanket coverage,” says Eldridge.
Start as you mean to go on. Try Chanel Perfection Lumière, $86; Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment concealer, $18.95.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Hide and chic: It’s a cruel irony that the older we get the more we need to cover, but concealer can draw attention to crepey skin, so avoid thick, waxy formulas. “Certain areas become more shadowy, so adding radiance with a touch of light-diffusing concealer can take years off,” says Eldridge.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

All about the pout: “As we age, our lips lose volume and shape,” says cosmetic surgeon Dr Rita Rakus. But needle-phobes needn’t fret, as glosses enhanced with micro-fillers can cheat a youthful pout. Look out for peptides to boost collagen, as well as nourishing vitamin E to diminish the appearance of vertical lines.

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15 Ways To Look Younger In Five Minutes

Lighten up: Youthful skin is all about playing with soft light, so ditch the dusky bronzers and create that inner glow. We tend to lose fat in our faces as we age, so emphasise your bone structure (think plumped rather than chiselled). Bass recommends a highlighting pen with a flattering peach undertone for natural illumination.
Show off your best features with Benefit High Beam highlighter, $45, and ck one Color Skin Illuminator, $35.

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