Q: What are your top makeup tricks for mature skin?
On the cusp of her 55th birthday, Gucci has a makeup ritual that works down to a science. “For me, It’s really about using a lighter hand and the right products these days,” she says. “That and really knowing my face.” Still, there’s one universal truth she swears by when working with women like Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, and Cate Blanchett on set. “It’s all about the skin,” she says emphatically. “Put time into prepping it, choose creamier textures for your complexion products, and go for a touch of highlight for luminosity.”
Once you’ve got that going for you, says Gucci, “everything else is easy” whether it’s a new blush color or a touch of contour for subtle dimension and depth. Here, she shares her top five makeup tips for nailing your best skin yet.
1. Two Foundation Shades are Better Than One
Light coverage becomes that much more fundamental after 40. A good foundation that lets real skin shine through while neutralizing hyperpigmentation, redness, and shadows is makeup bag essential no.1.
On set and in everyday life, Gucci swears by two foundation shades (rather than one) for the most natural look. “You want to use a slightly lighter tone in the center of the face,” she says of blending her first shade of Vital Skin Foundation Stick across the t-zone, cheeks, and chin. The lush squalane and camellia seed oil-infused stick formula melts seamlessly into skin and never settles into lines.
She follows with a very subtly warmer foundation shade along the hairline and perimeter of the face. “Those little variations and nuances maintain the authenticity of real skin,” she says, rather than blanketing it in one uniform color.
2. Go for Creamy Textures & Calming Actives
The skin’s natural moisture levels drop with age-related hormonal changes and slower cell turnover—so switching to creamier, more hydrating makeup formulas is essential. Gucci always spends time prepping the skin with a good serum before makeup; she loves the synergistic impact of the Skin Activator, Eye Activator, and Suprême C serums to calm and hydrate, plus a quick circulation-boosting facial massage when she has time for it.
After sweeping on Vital Skin Foundation only where she needs it, she finishes with a dewy highlight to wake things up and catch the light along the cheekbones, eyelids, the cupid’s bow. Right now, she’s loving the ultra-delicate quality of Liquid Super Loaded in Peau de Rosé (below) brightens with its translucent pink pearl while infusing skin with extra antioxidants and radiance.
For a glassier finish that’s quick and easy, she sweeps on Lit Up Highlight straight from the stick. A touch of Baby Cheeks blush stick on the apples brings a final pop of nourishing, blendable color. “It’s all about adding back the natural luminosity of ultra-healthy, beautiful skin.”
3. Contour is Your Friend
As the face loses pillowy volume, it can begin to look one-dimensional. A little soft sculpting is Gucci's everyday go-to for subtly amplified cheekbones and refined bone structure. "Contouring is as much a part of my own daily routine as brushing my teeth," she admits with a laugh of the inspiration for Face Trace Contour Stick (below). The creamy, effortless, and foolproof formula looks authentic on even the fairest of skin tones.
On days when she needs “a little extra something,”Gucci swirls her Blender Brush into a Super Loaded Tinted Highlight (in Peau de Peche) and sweeps it upward along her cheek for polished color and definition. "Boom, instant features!"
4. The Best Powder is Fluffy & Featherweight
Given Gucci’s devotion to creamy complexion formulas, it may seem surprising that a good powder tops her list of tricks for mature skin. But the most innovative formulas of the moment are nothing like their chalky dry predecessors.
When creating Vital Skin Pressed Skincare Powder, Gucci challenged the labs to infuse each little gold compact with micro milled skincare actives like probiotics, Vitamin C, and quinoa seed extract, then developed an ultra-hydrating and blurring finish that somehow leaves skin radiant but not shiny. A quick sweep, only where you need it, takes down excess oil around the nasolabial folds, under the eyes, and on the forehead—while boosting the wear of your makeup.
5. Say Yes to Lip Liner
“After 40, most women have less pigment and definition to their lips, especially along that upper border," says Gucci. "I'm a perfect example." A few extra seconds and a creamy lip liner restore it in a snap: Using a lip pencil that's a close match to her natural lip tone—like Lip Shape in Cou Cou (below)—she traces the border of her lips, then gently taps over top with a fingertip to diffuse any visible edges. "I take my time, especially around the Cupid's bow," she says. Next, she dabs a similar lipstick shade (for example, Piqué) at the center of her lips. And voila, she says—nothing less than an instant gamechanger.
