People tell me I look older when I wear makeup. How can I avoid this?

It's not the amount of makeup but the application that is always the problem.

I often use more makeup for a natural look than for a glammy, evening look. Even skin tone, balanced eyes and lips and colours appropriate for your eye, hair and attire should all be considered. Tinted moisturizers are fine if you are pre-pubescent or have flawless skin - but how many of us fall into that category?

Brow shaping is number two on the hit parade of impeccable, natural makeup. Do your brows look balanced with your hair thickness and colour? - great, then just groom them. If not, fill in with eyeshadow and eyeliner sealant rather than pencil (too waxy and melts in the heat). Taupe colour works best for most people, but the darker or lighter your skin colour and hair colour is then use an appropriate colour two shades lighter than your hair.

Clear eyes are next on the list and an eyelid that is powdered with a shadow a couple of shades darker than your skin tone will achieve this. You can also use a colour a couple of shades lighter on the inside corners of the eyes to brighten them naturally. If you want to glam it up then use that taupe to strengthen along the lash line and eye crease.

Next it's the lashes... depending on their length, texture and colour, either mascara or false natural looking lashes do wonders - in a dark brown - NOT BLACK (except for black or brown skinned gals). And top them up with a very thin line of dark brown powdered eyeshadow above the upper lashes, and for more mature eyes on the inside part of the upper lid. THE ONLY GALS THAT SHOULD WEAR BLACK LINER ARE BLACK OR DARK SKINNED BEAUTIES. Black on most Caucasians is NOT, I repeat NOT natural or beautiful in daylight. However for glammy glam events or dark lighting, haul out the black - if you must.

Lips... if I had a loonie for every time I read or heard somebody say thin or older lips shouldn't wear dark reds, I'd be rich. What matters is proper application by rebalancing the lip line, using a kissproof lip colour product and knowing how to three-dimensionally draw in the lips so they pop and give the illusion of being fuller and thicker. Light colours without weight behind them or overly bright colours on the wrong skin tone creates a clown look. Blush's undertone should be in the same family as the lipcolour and ensemble in order to harmonize.

Bottom line - good application with appropriate colours and textures will only enhance a healthy, robust personality and keep your communication tools (eyes and lips) the centre of your presentation. Then magic happens.