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As a makeup artist, women in their forties and older often ask me for easy ways to look “put together” without spending much time or looking like they tried too hard.

We all have busy lives and schedules. Personally, I’d rather get a little extra sleep than spend a long time on my makeup.

Here are five simple steps for a fresh makeup look that won’t take a lot of time.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may receive small commissions that support this site. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Step One: Sunscreen That Looks Like Makeup

Don’t forget that sunscreen! Sun exposure not only can cause sun damage leading to those sun spots, but also can contribute to the breakdown of the skin’s firmness.

I love the CCC Cream from Cle Cosmetics because it has SPF 50 (SPF 30 in the two darkest shades), comes in 14 shades, has a dewy finish, and you can layer it and apply enough to truly get SPF coverage without looking cakey or made up. You can purchase samples if you’re unsure of your color match, and they offer light to medium coverage. I also love that I can use this product alone or with foundation for more coverage.

Another great option is Iris and Romeo, which comes in four shades, offers SPF 50 sun protection, and contains vitamin C, which aids in brighter skin, and niacinamide to even out the skin tone and smooth any texture issues.

For those who want a matte or natural skin finish, Drmtlgy has two universal shades: their original, which has a natural skin finish, and matte SPF 46, with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, brighten, and offer UVA/UVB protection. Both shades work for all skin tones, help even out skin tone, and play well with all types of foundation.

If you don’t have very dark circles, any of these products can help with undereye issues.

Step Two: Brows That Frame the Face Without Looking Harsh

Brows shape your eyes and face. Define them, but avoid making them too dark, as that can look harsh or make you appear tired.

If your brows already have a good shape to them, invest in a brow gel to give them a bit of color and shape, and keep them in place all day. Brow gel helps sparse brows look defined rather than fake-looking, and helps thicker brows stay in place.

Brow gel

Essence has a great budget-friendly option that contains fibers to make sparse brows look fuller.

Kosas has a great clean beauty option with 10 colors containing hair growth encouraging ingredients, castor oil, biotin, and panthenol.

Brow foundation

If you need a brow base, Trio Beauty has a great kit with 12 stencils and 10 shades of pomade that is smudge-proof, waterproof, and looks natural.

If you prefer using powder, Senna Cosmetics is the GOAT of this category and one of the first items I bought for my professional kit. Three color kits, each containing four stencils and a dual-sided brush. These brows will survive the most trying hot flash!

Both are easy to use. Place the stencil over the end of your brow closest to your nose, line it up, and fill it in.

Step Three: Eyeliner That Brightens the Eyes

I’m a big fan of eyeliner. In my opinion, it’s a great way to brighten and add interest to the eyes without using eye shadow.

Eyeliner works for any eye shape. I love eyeliners that aren’t your typical black or brown because you can use a colored liner to enhance your eye color, or smudge them out for a soft shadow look. Dark blue eyeliner can give you the same intensity as a black liner, make the white of your eyes look brighter, without the harshness that black liner can have after a certain age.

I also like to use liner on the upper waterline to define the eyes and make lashes look fuller.

If you have hooded eyes or oily eyelids, I recommend sticking with waterproof pencils. For an oily eyelid, wipe it down before using a pencil, then dust with a setting powder or a neutral-colored shadow. The powder will help to absorb any excess oil on the lid and help your liner last.

I love the Victoria Beckham liners because they go on with ease, are smudge-proof and waterproof with an ample amount of time to be able to smudge them if you desire before they set. The non-glitter shades are shades for your waterline. There are 22 shades available, and none contain microplastics. And unlike many long-wear liners, they do not dry out quickly. You just need to keep those caps on.

I also adore the Moira Shimmer liners. Moira has a ton of liner options, but these are my favorites because of their versatility. They are waterproof, and there are 20 options to choose from.

If you prefer non-waterproof liners, my favorites are NYX and Wayne Goss. Both glide on smoothly without being too creamy, so they don’t smudge everywhere. They offer flattering colors, and even though NYX has fewer options now, both brands still have a nice range of shades and finishes.

Step Four: Lash Curling and Smudge-Proof Mascara

Many women skip lash curling, but it can open up your eyes and make lashes look longer, even without mascara. I love mascara, but don’t like waterproof formulas. Luckily, we have other options out there that are smudge-proof and easy to remove.

Lash Curling

I don’t have a budget-friendly option for eyelash curlers. I have tried many, and these are the ones I go back to: Shu Uemura and Surratt Beauty. Both are Japanese technology, curl lashes with ease, work on different eye shapes, and they do not pinch!

The best way to curl lashes is to put a mirror below and look down because this naturally brings the lashes up. Curl and pump a few times, and voila, you have lifted lashes.

Mascara

I love tubing mascaras. If you aren’t familiar with them, they’re a newer technology where the mascara wraps around the lashes. These mascaras don’t smudge and come off with warm water. You’re not going to get flaking or gooey mess that doesn’t dry down or become clumpy.

Here are four mascaras I’ve used and recommend because they work. They all come in black and brown:

Milani, both lifts and curls. Plus, this mascara lasts more than 16 hours.

Tarte, also comes in four additional shades. This mascara lifts, curls, and lasts over 16 hours.

Victoria Beckham, also comes in two additional shades. This plant-based mascara is more of a lengthening option than a volumizing one.

Westman Atelier, builds very well and is also completely plant-based.

Step Five: Multi-Use Blush for Cheeks and Lips

I love multi-use products, and I think cream and liquid blushes look the most natural. As we get older, our cheeks and lips lose some of their natural color, so these products help bring back that youthful glow.

The multi-stick products, which also work on the lips, look effortlessly chic as lip enhancers, in my opinion.

Cle Cosmetics has an innovative powder-to-tint lip powder that turns into a liquid tint when you touch it to your lips or cheeks. Whether you get a sheer wash or a bolder color depends on how much you apply. Available in 6 shades, individually or in a mini try me set.

Milk Makeup offers 12 cream lip and cheek sticks in a variety of shades and finishes. These sticks pack a pop of color, so a little goes a long way!

If you prefer a liquid tint that glows on the cheeks and looks like gloss on the lips, you will love the Caliray Social Superbloom Lip & Cheek Tint. It’s buildable, long-wearing, and transfer-proof; available in four universally flattering shades.

I like to apply blush right off the center of the apples of the cheeks and blend up along the top of the cheekbone towards the temple for a youthful, lifting look.

Bonus Step: Color Correcting for a Natural Finish

I confess my routine is more of a 6-step one because I have some hyperpigmentation above my top lip, a few sun spots, and darkness under the eyes.

I use a color corrector instead of a concealer to neutralize dark areas and still keep a natural look.

I also prefer color-correcting products with light-reflecting or brightening effects so they melt into my tinted sunscreen.

Drmtlgy, e.l.f., and Becca color correctors all come in a range from light to deep, so there are options for all skin tones. The Drmtlgy product offers sunscreen and skincare, including niacinamide, which helps brighten dark areas.

Yes, even though these products are labeled for the under eyes, I use them anywhere on my face that needs neutralizing or color correction.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may receive small commissions that support this site. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Links to Products Featured

Step One: Sunscreen

Cle Cosmetics CCC Cream
Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin
Drmtlgy Universal Tinted Sunscreen

Step Two: Brows

Essence Make Me Brow Gel
Kosas Air Brow Gel
Brow Trio Stencil Kit
Senna Form-a-Brow

Step Three: Eyeliner

Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner
Moira Statement Shimmer Liner
NYX Slim Eye Pencil
Wayne Goss Essential Kohl Eye Pencil

Step Four: Lash Curling and Mascara

Shu Uemura Lash Curler
Surratt Lash Curler
Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Mascara
Tarte Tartlette Tubing Mascara
Victoria Beckham Future Lash Mascara
Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara

Step Five: MultiUse Blush for Cheeks and Lips

Cle Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder
Milk Makeup Lip and Cheek
Caliray Social Superbloom Lip and Cheek Tint

Bonus: Color Correcters

Drmtlgy Luminous Eye Corrector SPF41
e.l.f. Putty Color- Correcting Eye Brightener
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector