As well as being an inspirational woman of 67 (as she rightly declares, ‘I refuse to be invisible, and why should I have to be?’), Val Garland is a ferocious talent. She is the make-up visionary behind countless fashion shows and Vogue covers and has a client list that includes Helen Mirren, Lady Gaga, Andie MacDowell and Kate Moss.
Thanks to her Instagram tutorials, we non-celebrities can also now access her refreshing realness (she often appears bare-faced) and transformative tips and tricks.
Here’s the best of Garland’s wisdom, in her own words:
Val Garland at work backstage at Cannes Film Festival
Feed the skin – and wait The biggest issue we have to address at this age is dryness. As a more mature person myself, I can tell you the key is layering skincare. First, I prep my skin by giving it a mini massage with Weleda Skin Food (1 £19.26, weleda.co.uk, now available in 100ml to celebrate its 100th anniversary), which helps to plump fine lines. Then I go and have a cup of tea. You need to allow time for the product to seep into your skin for your make-up to sit well.
Your paramount make-up product is a concealer You want one that moves with the skin rather than sits in the creases, goes cakey and makes you look haggard. Opt for a product that’s lighter and has a fluid texture – usually one that comes with a wand. I like Suqqu Radiant Cream Concealer (2 £35, uk.suqqu.com) and By Terry Hyaluronic Serum Concealer (£39, byterry.com). Pat in concealer with your ring finger – I apply it before my foundation, leave it to sink in, then do a quick touch-up after.
Switch up your foundation There’s now a much wider selection of foundations out there for more mature women, so do start experimenting with new formulas. It’s really worth looking at lighter coverage ‘tints’ that have built-in skincare. Remember that, with base, it’s not about camouflage, it’s about blurring. The Ordinary Serum Foundation (3 £6.40, theordinary.com) is very good, as is the new Mac Studio Radiance Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation (£34, maccosmetics.co.uk). Blend your foundation in all over and then use a small brush to touch out any individual blemishes.
Val’s handy Instagram tutorials share make-up advice for all ages
A brush changes everything With foundation, you don’t want to just whack it on as the product will deposit in your wrinkles. The Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush (4 £52, hourglasscosmetics.co.uk) is very good for base, but Kiko brushes (from £8.49, kikocosmetics.com) work well, too. For eyeliner brushes, I go to an art shop.
Rethink your blusher and bronzer placement As you mature, everything drops and your face gets heavier at the bottom. You are looking to create an inverted triangle, to give the illusion of your cheekbones being the widest point. So instead of applying bronzer or blusher in the hollows that sit under your cheekbones, place it on your cheekbones.
Applying eyeliner as you get older is challenging I find eyelids get greasier as you mature, so use a light powder first to help stop smudging. I love By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder (£42, byterry.com). Then you need a waterproof pencil. It’s so difficult to find a good one. I like Mac Colour Excess Gel Eyeliner Eye Pencil (£24, maccosmetics.co.uk). For a liquid line, try Sephora 12H Intense Ink Felt Liner (5 £13.99, sephora.co.uk), but use a cotton bud to soften the edge as hard lines are unflattering. Don’t pull up your eyes to apply liner – when you go back to your resting face, the liner will look all wrong.
Mega lashes look too much They’re too Tammy Faye Bakker. Instead work to create definition in the lash line. As we age our lashes become sparse, so it can look gappy in this area. Counteract this by getting mascara right in at the roots. I love a drug-store mascara. Max Factor does great ones. L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara (6 £11.99, boots.com) is fab, too.
Make your brow ‘tails’ dip 30 degrees, not 45 degrees It’s unflattering to sharply angle the bottom edge of your eyebrow. To create density, I use powder palette Suqqu 3D Control Eyebrow (£40, uk.suqqu.com), then a brow pen to give fullness where hairs are sparse: Glossier Brow Flick (£18, uk.glossier.com) and 19/99 Graphite Brow Pencil (7, £22, spacenk.com) are fantastic.
A bold lip calls for primer Pat a primer around the lips to stop your colour feathering. I like Clinique Even Better Pore Defying Primer (£32, clinique.com). I’ve always loved Mac Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Russian Red (8 £25, johnlewis.com), but these days I put lip oil over the top. I think satin textures are more flattering than matte on mature faces.
Use a brow pencil to boost lips (yes, really!) Draw a little horizontal line just under the bottom lip and blend well. I often use moisturiser as a highlighter. The sparkle in the latter can sit in lines. So the last thing I do before I go out is pat on Weleda Skin Food (see before) on my cheekbones.
Finally, a bowl of ice is a brilliant beauty tool Splash your face with cold water to give your skin a wake-up call.