As we age, many women feel there is more to conceal. From fine lines around the mouth and eyes to crow’s feet, many women use an arsenal of serums, primers, foundations, and finishing powders to banish the effects of aging, drier, and thinner skin.

While using makeup to cover signs of aging is important to some, maintaining skin suppleness and elasticity should always be the first defense. You can do so by consuming a fresh vitamin-rich diet, avoiding processed foods and refined sugar, staying hydrated, and quitting smoking. Follow these makeup hacks to make you look and feel your very best:

1. Use a good primer
When applying makeup, start with a good primer to make sure your makeup last for the whole day. Primer reduces pores and prepares your skin for makeup by creating a smooth canvas. It can be used in two ways; one is over a moisturizer and second is mixing a primer with foundation and applying it together.

2. Apply the right foundation
The recommended foundation for aging skin is a lightweight foundation, either a BB or CC cream. BB creams, for instance, are meant to hydrate and firm the skin with light coverage. Many contain protective SPF to reduce sun damage caused and oxidative stress. CC creams, on the other hand, are ideal for mature skin because they provide thicker coverage, even out the skin tone, and have a hydrating advantage while covering age spots. Both BB and CC creams come in a variety of shades and coverage.

3. Conceal dark patches
Concealer is applied on blemishes and dark under-eye circles. A little bit is enough to brighten up lack of sleep eyes without drawing attention to fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet

4. A bit of bronzer
Bronzer is the perfect way of giving mature skin a youthful boost. When buying a bronzer, you should make sure its particles are finely-milled so that it will not sit in creases and accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. Also, a non-shimming bronzers is also recommended for mature faces for the same reason.

5. Black mascara is best
Black mascara is advisable because it gives the best eye definition. Dark and defined ultra-black lashes that are well defined provide the best intensity. Whitening eye drops can also be used to make the natural eye color more vibrant.

6. Gloss or a nude lipstick
Mature lips should look full and hydrated. A wet-look gloss in a slightly darker shade than your nude lip will boost lip fullness.