You Asked, He Answered: Nathan Johnson On Keeping Fine Lines Covered

Roxy asked...
Nathan Johnson, you are the bomb! I have a question for you. As one gets older (but I'll never tell!) is less often more with makeup? I am having trouble with "setting" powder being too obtrusive, especially around the fine lines of the eyes. Sometimes I avoid the powder altogether there. What am I doing wrong? Please help!

Roxy! Thanks for the compliment. YOU are an angel!

First off, you are not doing anything wrong. Your question is tricky and at the same time, it's a common complaint for most women of a certain age. With liquid or cream foundation, setting powder is necessary. You have to use it; if you don't your makeup will run, crease and never become one with your skin.

There are a few things that may be at fault. We'll look at them one by one. I have a feeling that trying one or more of these tricks will remedy the problem.

First of all, regardless of your age, when it comes to foundation and setting powders, less is ALWAYS more.

I cannot impress upon you enough the importance of wearing only the level of coverage that you need. If you have chosen a texture of foundation that is too heavy, when you set it, it is going to look even heavier. Believe it or not, the obtrusiveness of your powder may be because of your foundation or concealer. Have you tried liquid or tinted moisturizer? Use only what you need to create the illusion of perfection.

If you find the texture of foundation you are using is right, then the setting powder is the culprit. Talc powders can grab onto the foundation and force everything into the fine lines, giving you the look of an ancient paper mache mask (I'm being dramatic!). And the problem only gets worse when worse when your skin's oil starts to come through the makeup.

There is one sure-fire way to conquer this. Use Cover FX setting powder. It is mica-based and 100% talc free. When you rub it between your fingers, the powder feels like silk. It has been blasted 1,000 times per particle and has absolutely no texture. No texture means no settling into fine lines. Put a touch on the end of a fluffy brush and lightly tap it onto your skin. The foundation will grab only what it needs. The formulation is 100% mineral based, non-drying to the skin and the reflectivity of the mica picks up the light and makes the skin look even more luminous. Is that not awesome?

Roxy, solve the problem by following these steps and I have no doubt you will look gorgeous and creaseless all day long.