All the smoothing serums and brightening peels and lifting creams in the world will only get you so far in the eternal quest for a fresh face (barring knives and needles) if your makeup sabotages the effort. So we asked a couple of pros to spill their secrets for faking a youthful appearance. Here are their tips for turning back time.

Moisturize

Avoid dry, cakey looking skin by applying skincare which will keep your skin hydrated, plump and younger looking all day.

Take it easy on the powder

Over the age of 30, face powder really can become the enemy if you apply too much and if you use a formulation which is dry and cakey

Too much powder will make skin look instantly older and makes wrinkles stand out. Just use a small amount to set your make-up – dust down the T-zone to remove shine and on the eyelids to stop eyeshadow creasing

Primed for perfection

Prepping the skin ensures a perfected canvas and helps makeup perform better. Look for a primer that offers instant anti-aging benefits, which  brightens and tightens the skin to mimic a youthful hydrated complexion.While it creates a smooth base.

A tad warmer

Skin grows more pallid with age, so if your wearing a matchy matchy foundation it can leave you looking pasty.Put a little life back into your skin by going a shade warmer.

Changing eyes

As we age, our eyes can change shape. Hooded eyelids and more wrinkled skin can make applying eye make-up a real challenge. Step away from bright coloured eyeshadows, which can make your make-up instantly look very Dynasty and Dallas. Avoid dark heavy colours, which can make hooded eyes appear too dark and smaller, too.

All you need is a ‘wash’ of natural, light coloured shadow on the eyelid and then apply eyeliner after to make eyes ‘pop’ and look instantly younger.

Embolden the brows

Full brows are synonymous with youth. Like thinning hair, sparse brows come with age, so they make you look older than you are.Use a brow powder to fill in patchy spots and make your arches look thicker. Or get your eyebrows tinted at your local Hello Darlin’ hair studio and spa

Lusher eyelashes

Because lashes lose volume and thickness over time, a lush set can automatically give you a younger appearance.

Punched up pout

The best anti-aging tip I can offer is don’t be afraid to stand out, add drama and brighten the entire face by painting lips with a strong berry shade. If you have lines around your lips, disguise them by tracing just outside your mouth with lip pencil before applying a matching lipstick.