Skin tone and hair colour changes mean that 35 plus women can really benefit from taking a fresh look at their make-up every now and then. Mineral foundations bounce light away from lines and wrinkles, giving a youthful, soft focus glow to the skin.

Don’t necessarily choose makeup that matches exactly to clothing. Instead choose shades which pick out a hint of a colour or have a complementary tone. For example with a green top choose creamy gold, copper and peach toned makeup.

Instead of dark toned eyeliners that can absorb light and make the eyes look smaller, try applying a soft line of shimmer eye shadow instead. It reflects light so your look is lighter and softer around the eyes.

Maintain definition to the brows as you age. When the odd grey hairs appear don’t pluck them out, have them tinted or use a coloured brow gel to keep them in place.

As the skin ages and becomes thinner, small blood vessels are more apparent and cheeks may appear pinker. Choose a peach toned blusher rather than pink or red toned ones to prevent an overly flushed look.

Lipstick bleed lines are common in older women. Apply a mineral base over the lip line then use a lip pencil over the whole lips to help minimise this. If lines are deep about the upper lip, try a touch of light reflective concealer to throw the light out rather than create shadows.

Strong lip and eye makeup can contrast too much as hair colour fades with age. But don’t go too pale or you can look washed out. Most colours will look good if applied correctly on the right part of the eye, in the right tone.

The best advice for anyone who wants to avoid getting stuck in a makeup rut is to book a lesson with a professional and try some different products.

LAURA WALKER JANE IREDALE