Lesley Manville, 70, shows why the ‘youth triangle’ makeup trick looks ageless and chic

Some of the loveliest mature makeup looks are also the simplest – a little luminosity, softly-defined eyes and a flattering gleam on the lips The ever-elegant Lesley Manville, 70, made a beautiful case for this approach at the recent British Museum Ball in London, showing how the right balance of light can create an immediately youthful look.

Lesley looked incredible on the night, pairing softly waved hair with a striking red dress that complemented her lipstick. But it was the Mrs Harris Goes to Paris star’s glowing complexion that really caught our attention.

Her look illustrates how carefully placed light and colour can create the illusion of lift – an approach that draws on what makeup artists call the ‘triangle of youth’. So, what does that mean, and how can we take inspiration for our own makeup routines?

What is the ‘triangle of youth’?

The term describes the balance of fullness across the upper face. A younger face is naturally wider higher up, tapering to a narrower chin. However this youthful ‘triangle’ can slowly invert with age, as gravity pulls the face downwards, cheeks lose fullness, and jowls form.

‘As we age, we can experience changes in skin elasticity and volume that can soften this triangle structure. As a result, the lower face can appear heavier,’ explains makeup artist Anushka Patel, co-creator of et al.

However, makeup can help to address this shift, and create a flattering youthful look. ‘With clever highlights and colour placement, makeup can help recreate this sense of balance,’ says Anushka.

That doesn’t mean you need to start sculpting your face with heavy contour. As Lesley’s look demonstrates, a luminous base and carefully placed cheek colour can create a beautifully fresh finish. And just look at where the light falls on her face – the wider-spaced soft shimmer beneath her brow bone and on her cheeks creates a visual ‘triangle’ with her glossy lips.

Start with a light, luminous base

Before reaching for your foundation, give your skincare a little attention. Makeup artist Katrin O’Reardon sees preparation as an essential part of the finished look. ‘I truly believe that good makeup starts with good skincare and you can really tell the difference when someone has taken the time to look after their skin ahead of makeup application.’ When it comes to coverage, her advice is to keep the texture light. ‘To begin with, it's important to lean towards lighter-weight textures for your base - heavier, matte products will tend to sit in fine lines and exaggerate them.’

Choose a soft glow over obvious shimmer

The appeal of Lesley’s makeup is how softly the light catches her skin. Anushka points out, ‘Rather than using glitter or an overtly shimmery highlight, the glow comes from products with a naturally luminous finish.’ Her advice is to be selective about where you add extra shine. ‘The biggest mistake is using too much shimmer or placing it on areas where it can emphasise texture. Keep the finish refined, the placement intentional and the layers light; the aim is to enhance your features, not disguise them.’

Put your blusher a little higher

Placement can be just as important as the shade you choose. Rather than concentrating all your colour on the apples of your cheeks, try blending it a little higher and out towards the temples. ‘Applying blusher higher on the cheeks and blending upwards towards the temples creates a lifted effect, while subtle highlights on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and centre forehead brighten the face,’ says Anushka.

Katrin also favours creamy textures for this approach. ‘Using cream products over heavy powders with a slightly higher placement on the cheekbones will help create an upward lift to the face and bounce back the light, think fresh and glowing from a walk in the autumnal air.’

Use concealer where you need brightness

‘Your concealers should ideally be hydrating and luminous for the best effect; placement is key too, aiming more for colour correction and lift (directly under the inner eye where it's darkest, and at the edges to lift the corners),’ says Katrin. Think of concealer as a finishing touch to your base, with placement guided by where you need it most.

Keep eyes softly defined and add colour to lips

The same gentle approach carries through to Lesley’s eye makeup, where warm colour and softly blended edges add definition. ‘The use of soft, warm tones around her eyes creates a new lifted shape to the viewer and the soft, blurred edges ensure there's no harsh finish to the look,’ says Katrin. Her brighter lip colour provides the finishing touch – and a reminder that a subtle base leaves plenty of room for a bolder lipstick. ‘Slightly overlining the lips and using a bold pop of colour is great as it gives the impression of full, hydrated lips too.’

Key takeaway?

While the name promises youthfulness, the real appeal is in celebrating your features. Think delicate, light-catching touches that bring freshness to your makeup and feel effortlessly chic at any age.