Think mastering old-age makeup is just for professionals? Think again! 

Old-age makeup comprises of decorating a performer’s facial features to represent that of an elderly person, or an older version of themselves. But what are the easiest ways to do this? In this article, we will highlight the best old-age makeup tips and tricks, and how you can age your face with ease. From applying an appropriate foundation, to more intricate details like wrinkles and sagging skin, we cover everything you need to know to achieve a convincing old-age look. 

Key Points:

• Step-by-step guide on applying foundation and setting it for a lasting old-age effect.
• Techniques to create realistic wrinkles and sagging skin using Mehron face supplies.
• How to blend and layer makeup for a natural, aged appearance.
• Product recommendations and advice for maintaining skin health while using old-age makeup.

Gathering Your Makeup Kit

Before we look at the key details regarding old-age makeup, be sure to prepare and assemble the right makeup tools and products. For a convincing transformation, you’ll need:

• A variety of makeup foundation palettes to match your skin tone.
• Eyeshadows in dark, medium, and light brown.
• A selection of makeup brush sets and sponges.
• Matte lipsticks in pink or nude shades.
• A light-coloured highlighter.

Each item plays an important role in crafting an authentic old-age appearance, ensuring that every detail from wrinkles to skin texture is realistically portrayed.

Applying The Base of Old-Age Makeup

The first step in crafting old-age makeup is applying a foundation. 

Start with a clean, dry face once you have properly primed and moisturised your skin; this will ensure the makeup adheres well and stays put. 

Next, apply a liquid foundation evenly across your face, using a makeup sponge for a smooth, blended look. This creates a balanced canvas, crucial for the detailed work to follow.

After the foundation has been added, set your makeup with a translucent powder. This not only helps the makeup last longer but also prevents it from creasing into lines as you add further layers.

Highlighting Key Facial Features

Highlighting and contouring are also important features in old-age makeup as they help emphasise the natural aging process of the face. 

For this, use a highlighter a few shades lighter than your skin tone to bring forward the high points of your face—like your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and your forehead. Apply with a sponge, blending gently for a natural glow.

Adding Shadows

Afterwards, introduce shadows to mimic the deepening of facial lines and wrinkles. 

Using a medium brown eyeshadow, softly go over areas that naturally recede with age, such as the hollows of your cheeks and the inner eye corners. This technique adds depth and dimension, making the old-age effects more pronounced.

Creating Realistic Wrinkles

To create believable wrinkles, start by outlining them with a dark brown eyeliner or eyeshadow. Focus on areas where skin naturally folds and creases with age, such as around the mouth and across the forehead. 

Lightly draw lines following these natural patterns, then blend slightly to avoid it being harsh—this will aid the appearance without making them looking overly dramatic.

For instance, deepen the nasolabial folds (lines from the nostrils to the corners of the mouth) and marionette lines (from the mouth corners down to the chin). These are key indicators of age and should be developed subtly but effectively.

Aging Your Eyes and Nose

Crow’s feet are common telltale signs of aging around the eyes, but are overall an essential feature for any old-age makeup look. 

Begin by squinting slightly to find the natural lines beside your eyes. Using a dark eyeshadow or eyeliner, trace these lines extending from the outer corners of your eyes outward. This mimics the natural aging effect. Ensure you blend these lines gently with a brush or your fingertips to integrate them seamlessly into your overall look.

Deepening Eye Features 

For eyes that truly reflect an older look, it’s crucial to develop the appearance of sunken eyes as much as possible. 

Apply a medium brown eyeshadow on the inner parts of the eyelids, making sure the shade is darker than the outer parts. This contrast creates the illusion of depth and age. 

Additionally, apply a light highlighter along the upper eyelids’ outer edges to enhance the drooping effect but be careful not to overlap the darkened areas you’ve already worked on.

Developing the Nose 

As we age, the nose can also appear more pronounced and sharper. 

To simulate this, use a small makeup brush to apply a dark eyeshadow along the sides of your nose, making it appear narrower and more defined. 

Draw lines from the inner corner of each eye down towards the sides of the nose and blend well. For more detailed aging effects, add lines from the nostrils down to the upper lip, mimicking the natural creases that deepen with age.

Creating Older Looking Lips

To simulate the fine lines that appear around the lips as we age, purse your lips and lightly draw small, subtle lines above and below the lips using a dark brown eyeliner or eyeshadow. 

These lines shouldn’t be too pronounced; after drawing, relax your lips and blend the lines softly to integrate them into the natural look of your lips.

Applying Lip Colour 

Choose a matte lipstick or liner in pink or nude shades, which complements older skin tones well. 

Carefully apply this colour within the natural lip lines to avoid an exaggerated look, which can detract from the aged appearance. The matte texture helps in avoiding unwanted shine, maintaining the authenticity of the old age makeup.

Creating Lip Wrinkles 

Finally, to add depth and texture to the lips, purse them again and apply a light highlighter to the raised areas. 

Use a soft makeup brush to dab the highlighter gently. This technique highlights the natural creases and adds a realistic wrinkled effect to the lips, completing the transformation into old age makeup. This approach is effective for both old man makeup and old lady makeup, providing a versatile base that can be adjusted according to specific character types.

In conclusion, old age makeup for men and women requires a lot of attention to detail, and elevating key features of the face more so than other makeup routines. With a particular focus on creating wrinkles, sunken eyes, and aged lips, these methods will ensure that you can depict the natural aging process realistically, whether for a theatrical role or a costume event. By following these steps, you can master old-age makeup and transform into an elderly persona with authenticity and ease.

Further reading:

Are wrinkles and other skin features causing a problem for you? Try these guides on how to hide them – 

• How to hide varicose veins on legs
• How to hide eye bags

FAQs

What are the key features to focus on when applying old age makeup?

Key features include creating wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, and changes in skin texture. Placing focus on the eyes, mouth, and forehead can help enhance the aged appearance.

What are some tips for making old age makeup look more natural?

Tips for a natural look include blending well, using colors that match the skin's undertone, layering textures subtly, and considering how aging affects the entire face, not just the skin.

Sources

Sk:n. (2011) Crow’s Feet: Causes and treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.sknclinics.co.uk/conditions/crows-feet [accessed 08/04/2025]