6 Free Makeup Tips To Look Years Younger

As a makeup artist who’s worked on some of the most iconic faces in fashion, Rose-Marie believes the secret to looking younger is actually found in restraint. Less makeup. More skin. Better placement. And an understanding of how light, hydration, and movement change as we age.

Below, Rose-Marie shares her most honest, no-cost makeup wisdom—the same principles she’s relied on for decades—from where to place blush and liner to why dewy skin will always beat heavy coverage.

What are your best free beauty tips for looking 10 years younger? 

• Wear less makeup. Trying to cover up your age with makeup actually ages you more. Conceal what needs help and leave the rest of your skin to glow.
• Moisture beats matte. Dewy, hydrated skin reads youthful; flat, powdery skin reads tired.
• Brows: feather, don’t stencil. Let them grow; fill with hair-like strokes where it’s sparse. A blocky brow pulls the eyes in and makes you look stern.
• Blush placement is everything. Never put your blush below the nostril line. It will pull down the whole face.
• Contour. Mature faces need light and lift, not hollows. Use strategic highlight on high points instead.
• Prioritize your lashes. Curling your lashes and lots of mascara. It instantly opens your eyes and brightens your face.
• Easy on the powders. Primarily talc/clay laden formulas as they dry out the skin and can look thick.

Should women over a certain age ditch eyeliner under the eyes or in the waterline to look younger? 

• “I love a sexy smudge. Go straight into the upper lash line with black liner, then soften and smudge it out with a brush or your finger.” - Rose-Marie Swift.
• Placement: Keep liner tight to the roots and flick the outer corners slightly up—never down—to lift the eye. Finish with black mascara (it brightens the whites of the eyes).
• Fine-tuning: Wiggle at the roots, then pull through. If lashes are sparse, skip the lower lashes so you don’t cast shadows.
• Don’t: Brown liner/mascara that muddies and dulls definition, or smoky shadow dropped too low under the eye.

Do you have any DIY beauty hacks you love that make women look younger?

• Hydrated Lips: Stay away from flat, ultra-matte formulas with no moisture—they age you instantly. Stick with hydrating tints, balmy stains, or a serum-style lipstick that feels like skincare.
• Be careful with powders: Only put powder where you have undesired oil—in your T-zone: Forehead, down your nose, and on your chin.
• Choose Hydrating Concealers: Concealing crepey skin can be a disaster if you overdo it. Avoid any drying agents and use a concealer that has moisturizing properties. Don’t take concealer right up under the lashes—that’s thin, delicate skin and too much will either look cakey or move as you wear it.

At the end of the day, Rose-Marie’s philosophy is simple: do less.

When makeup works with your skin instead of against it, everything looks softer, fresher, and more alive. A little moisture, thoughtful placement, and restraint go much further than layers of product ever will.

Because looking younger isn’t about erasing who you are—it’s about letting your skin, your features, and your confidence do the talking. For more personalized advice, book a free Artist Advice session.