Chances are, you aren’t wearing the same style clothing you wore 10 or 20 years ago. Your makeup, too, should change with your wardrobe, not only to stay in style but to take into account subtle changes your face undergoes as your skin matures.

For example, during the teens and early twenties-considered the acne-prone years-women need to choose the cosmetics least likely to provoke blemishes. Women between 20 and 40 have the most freedom of all-their skin is at its peak, and they can wear a little or as much makeup as they like.

But you can still look fashionably at 40 or 50 as you did at 20. You simply need to compensate for fine lines that appear; especially around the eyes-lines that didn’t exist when you were 20. Colorful, high-fashion makeup may look sensational n a woman on her 20’s or 30’s but too sophisticated on a 16-year-old and too artificial on a woman on her 60’s. By striking a reasonable balance, you can wear makeup to your advantage at any age.

Age 15+
Wear sheer, water-based, oil-free foundation. Use pale eye shadows and one coat of mascara. Don’t over pluck brows. Use powder blush for oily skin; other wise el blush for a natural glow. Wear translucent lipstick or tinted lip gloss.

Age 20+
Key foundation to skin type; apply lightly. Gear eye shadow to eye color, skin tone and mood. Change to black mascara. Wear conservative powder blush for business, more color for social occasions. Steer clear of garish lip color during the day or for business wear.

Age 30+
Apply foundation a bit more heavily. If wrinkles begin to appear, avoid metallic or frosted eye shadows, which highlight lines. Use more muted shades of blush; keep color away from any facial lines. Use lip liner to prevent lip color from bleeding into dry lines around mouth.

Age 40+
Choose oil based foundation for dry skin. Apply based lightly over wrinkles, to avoid accentuating lines. Use concealer cream over dark circles, pigmentations. Avoid brash, frosted or metallic shades of eye shadow if lids are puffy. Soften cheek color. Prevent lip color from feathering by using lip base; outline with pencil.

Age 50+
Avoid matte foundation. Avoid iridescent eye shadow or makeup, which emphasizes roughness, and lines. Play down puffy lids with gray or smoky shadow, not light shades (which accentuate brow) or reddish tints (which emphasize any redness around eyes). Avoid dark blue-red lipsticks, which are too harsh. Use fresh peach, soft red, warm pink or beigy-rose lip color.