A good skin care ritual starts with a revitalizing mask to exfoliate dead surface cells. Depending on your skin type, masks vary from dry to oily skin. And, because skin changes with menopause, you may need to adjust the moisturizer in your skin care routine. Scrutiny in the mirror may also reveal those dreaded age spots. Dermatologists can help lighten the spot, but more will appear as we age. Sun, often the culprit the age spots, caught up with me. Be certain to look closely in that mirror now, because a makeup line forming a boundary along the jaw is sign of aging. By blending foundation underneath jawbone and onto neck, we can avoid this age-amplifier. Go easy, too, on the layered look; makeup that is thick enough to scrape off is a dead give-away of the desperate aging woman.

Remember, aging skin has its own set of special needs. While makeup is supposed to enhance your appearance, if not applied properly on aging skin it will have the exact opposite effect. Check out the following anti-aging makeup tricks:

1. Apply mascara and liner only to upper lashes, to eliminate under eye smudging, which can make you look tired. As you age, you start to notice the skin around the eye taking on its own set of wrinkles. While they aren't particularly noticeable to others, they are actually enhanced by wearing eye makeup.

2. To really open up droopy eyes, use one coat of a curl-enhancing mascara in addition to your eyelash curler.

3. Skip mascara altogether by having eyelashes professionally tinted.

4. A well-shaped brow gives your whole face a lift. A monthly visit to an eyebrow groomer makes it easy for you to get a perfect arch - without having to help it along with eyebrow powder every morning.

5. Cover blotchiness with a creamy foundation stick, and then use it to conceal under eye darkness and prime eyelids for shadow.

6. The new gel eye-lining pencils help color glide onto the base of lashes, so you won't end up with a harsh, dated line.

7. To minimize fine facial lines, shower in the morning instead of at night. Humidity hydrates the skin, moisturizer traps it, and the temporary "plumping" can last throughout the day.

8. The right shade of taupe or cocoa powder can perform triple duty - use it as a shadow, to fill in eyebrows, and to line eyelashes.

9. A creamy lipstick or one of the new chubby cheek-and-lip crayons can double as blush - and add moisture to dry skin. Enliven lips with soft, vibrant tones, such as berry, rose, or apricot. These brighter hues will add a splash of color and make lips look larger. Then dab gloss (clear or in a complementary shade) in the center of your lower lip to reflect light and create the illusion of fullness.

10. When in doubt, choose light colors of powder over dark. Paler shades of blush and eye shadow are easier to apply and take less time to blend. Blush makes aging skin look younger. Whether pinks, mauves, or peaches are your perfect shades, create a rosy glow by applying blush liberally to the apples of your cheeks. Start at the cheekbones and work back toward the hairline. Be sure to blend the blush well, as no one looks younger with clown cheeks. Adding color to the skin helps aging women look less fatigued and even happier. You may need to reapply your blush once or more throughout the day to keep this look fresh.

Note: Eight glasses of water a day keeps skin firm-looking and youthful; just as a plant droops without water, so our skin withers.

This article has been provided by Women Fitness (http://www.womenfitness.net )