How to Keep Makeup From Settling Into Laugh Lines

Though mature skin can look uneven and red, using foundation to hide such imperfections can make skin appear older -- settling into laugh lines and other wrinkles. Creamy foundations and concealers generally work better on aging skin than do powdery foundations. But it's still essential to prep the skin by filling in lines and wrinkles, before applying makeup. Moisture is the key to making skin appear younger and more vibrant.

Wash and pat dry your face as usual. Apply moisturizer liberally to your face, focusing on the laugh lines. Use three to five times more moisturizer than you normally use. Moisturizer helps create a barrier between your skin and your makeup -- one that the makeup can sit on top of, without settling into laugh lines.

Apply a makeup primer -- a product used by makeup artists to smooth, hydrate and even-out skin tone. It also keeps makeup from settling into lines and wrinkles, and creates a smooth base on which to apply foundation. High quality makeup primers contain silica, which fills in lines and wrinkles for smooth, even skin.

Apply a foundation specifically formulated for dry skin. Such foundations often contain sunblock or moisturizers to keep skin looking fresh, unlike powdery foundations that settle into lines and wrinkles. If you are under 40 and simply want to reduce the look of laugh lines, use a tinted moisturizer to even-out your skin tone.