New York, NY – A renowned makeup artist is challenging outdated beauty routines, revealing how common practices can actually age the face. Erica Taylor, a 25-year veteran in the industry and influencer with over 1.1 million Instagram followers, argues that sticking to the same makeup regimen for years, regardless of facial changes, is counterproductive.
Taylor, who previously worked with industry leaders at MAC Cosmetics and is now a L'Oréal Paris League of Experts member, emphasizes the importance of adapting makeup techniques to reflect individual facial features and age. In a recent viral video, she contrasted traditional, potentially aging methods with modern, revitalizing approaches.
Transitioning from a focus on the face's structure, Taylor details key areas where updates are crucial. She demonstrates how certain contouring, eyebrow, and eyeliner methods visually lower or shorten the face, contrary to the desired effect.
Eyebrows: The once-popular sculpted and overly-thick eyebrow trends are now passé. Taylor advocates for a more subtle, natural-looking approach, emphasizing filling in brows with thinner strokes and lifting the ends upwards for a more youthful appearance. Avoid drawing the ends of the brows downwards, which creates a drooping effect.
Skin Prep: Proper skin preparation is essential. Taylor highlights the significance of moisturizing and using serums before applying makeup. This ensures better product adhesion, minimizing creasing and enhancing overall skin health.
Foundation: A light application of foundation, focusing on even skin tone, is sufficient. Using layered applications or overly thick foundation can appear unnatural. Tinted moisturizers can be a viable alternative.
Blush and Contour: Blush placement should be strategically targeted to the cheekbones' high points to achieve a lifted, youthful appearance. Taylor advises blending cream blush for a more seamless effect. She also critiques the "C-cut" contouring technique, which, in her opinion, has an unnatural, marionette-like effect. Modern contouring involves lifting, rather than cutting, the face.
Eyeliner: Avoiding the waterline and focusing on lengthening the eye through a subtle wing at the outer corner is recommended. Short or thick eyeliner can visually shorten the eye. Likewise, lifting the eyebrow, and extending the eyebrow line outwards, creates a lifted effect.
Lips: Defining the lips should be achieved by drawing the lip liner and lipstick slightly inward from the full lip line, avoiding full lip lines, which can visually age the appearance.
Taylor's insights provide a comprehensive guide to modernizing makeup techniques, enabling individuals to enhance their beauty routines and maintain a more youthful look.
