Nobody can blame you for wanting to avoid plastic surgery or Botox in an effort to look as young as you feel. The fountain of youth can be found through something much simpler -- your makeup. What you choose to put on your face -- or not, can make a dramatic difference. To prove it, here are eight simple makeup tips on how to use makeup to erase years from your face.

1. Always start with a good moisturizer. This will help soften any fine lines and allow makeup to go on smoothly and evenly.

2. Use softer shades of eye shadow. Shimmery or frosted shadows can get into creases around the eyes and make them look heavy and droopy.

3. Avoid heavy lipsticks and liners. Darker shades only draw attention to the lines around the mouth and thinning lips. Instead, opt for a softer lip gloss in a pink or berry shade which will make lips look fuller.

4. Balance the color on your face. Too much is never a good thing, so if you have color on your eyes, choose a neutral blush and lip.

5. Avoid a heavy foundation. It can cake onto your skin and into any lines, making your face look heavy and your wrinkles appear deeper.

6. Fill in your brows. As we age, our eyebrows can become thinner and gray. Choose a good eyebrow pencil that is one shade darker than your hair and follow your natural line.

7. Line your eyes with a dark brown eyeliner. Defining your eyes can make them appear less tired. Just be careful not to overdo it with a heavy, liquid liner. Choose a pencil or powder and line the entire eye, top and bottom.

8. When in doubt, go with the "less is more" philosophy. Too much makeup can look unnatural and call attention to the aging of your skin. If you're short on time, mascara, eyeliner and lip gloss will get you out the door.

Want more proof? See how the right makeup can make you look 10 years younger in these old vs. young makeup photos.