How to Correctly Apply Eye Makeup for Older Skin

As we get older, the skin around our eyes is the first place to show the signs of ageing. And fine lines and wrinkles start to form. But getting older is not a bad thing. With it comes more wisdom, experience, maturity and self-confidence that you didn’t have in your 20’s. When done right, makeup is a great way to enhance your natural beauty even more and make you look and feel fabulous and full of even more self-confidence. Here are my top tips for eye makeup for older skin to really enhance your beautiful eyes that are so full of wisdom. Which will also brighten your complexion and give you an uplifted, radiant and refreshed look.

EYESHADOW TIPS

Tip #1: Avoid overly shimmery or glittery eyeshadow

These types of finish will just settle in any fine lines and wrinkles and emphasise them even further. However, a little shimmer is okay. For example, eyeshadows with a satin finish are a great choice of eye makeup for older skin. And they can look really flattering when applied all over the eyelid.

Matte eyeshadows are another good choice, especially for very mature skin or very hooded eyes. They’ll help to give the appearance of larger eyelids too.

Tip #2: Only ever apply shimmer or satin shades on the eyelids

Never apply them in the crease or under the eyes. In fact, this doesn’t just apply to eye makeup for older skin. I’d advise this for young or mature skin.

Applying shimmer or satin shades in the crease is very unflattering, especially if you have hooded eyes. This will just emphasise this even more and drag the eye down even further.

Be careful of applying shimmer under the eyes too. It can emphasise any fine lines, wrinkles or bags under your eyes even further.

It’s better to apply a matte shade in the crease as you want to give the illusion of having a crease and to add some definition to the eye.

EYELINER TIPS

Eyeliner is an amazing product and it’s actually one of my favourite type of makeup product. Yet it’s one that many people shy away from, especially if they have mature skin. Whilst there are some do’s and dont’s of eyeliner, it’s still a product that’s absolutely suitable eye makeup for older skin too when applied correctly.

Benefits of wearing eyeliner

Eyeliner makes your eyelashes look thicker which will really open up the eye area and make you look more awake and refreshed. Not to mention how it can really frame your eyes by making them look bigger as well as give the appearance of a thicker lashline too (who doesn’t want that!).

But if it’s not done right, it can actually make you look older!  Here are the do’s and dont’s of eyeliner for older skin.

Tip #3: Avoid black eyeliner

The first thing to do is to ditch your black eyeliner! It’s not doing you any favours whatsoever! And again, this is something I recommend for all age groups. The reason is that it can look very harsh on the majority of skin tones. Black eyeliner will make your complexion look older, tired and even dull. Tip number 5 below also relates to this and is something to avoid.

Tip #4: DO choose softer shades of eyeliner

Opt instead for shades such as brown, dark grey or plum as they give a much softer appearance and look very flattering on most skin tones. They’re also more daytime appropriate. And they can really enhance your eye colour too. For example, plum is a great shade for enhancing green eyes. Couleur Caramel has some gorgeous matte eyeshadows in these shades that are just gorgeous and perfect to use as eyeliners.

Tip #5: DON’T apply eyeliner all the way across your lower lashline

If you only implement 1 of these tips, make sure it’s this one! As this is the number 1 way to age your skin in an instant! It’s something I see a lot of women doing, especially with black eyeliner.

And as I’ve already mentioned, it’s best to avoid black eyeliner altogether. But if you really can’t part with your black eyeliner, then at the very least, DO NOT apply it on your lower lashline! It will only age your complexion, make you look more tired and make your eyes look smaller too.

However, it’s okay to line your lower lash line a little. But only to about 1/3 or maximum 1/2 way across. And keep things very soft. For example, by using an eyeshadow instead of an eyeliner pencil. I talk more about this in tip number 7 below.

Tip #6: Avoid liquid eyeliner

Liquid eyeliner can look too harsh, especially in black. It can also be quite hard to apply if you have hooded eyes or if the skin on your eyelids is crepey and loose. Keep everything very soft and almost smokey as it’s much more flattering.

Tip #7: DO use eyeshadow as an eyeliner

A key element of correctly applying eye makeup for older skin is to keep everything soft. And a great way to do this is to apply an eyeshadow along your lash line using a fine eyeliner brush like the one I mentioned in this blog post about makeup brushes.

Use a shade such as the ones I mentioned above (brown, dark grey, plum) along the upper lashline. With these shades and technique, it will give a much softer and very flattering effect than using a liquid eyeliner.

Depending on the size of your eyes, you can line them either halfway or all the way along your upper lashline. If you do line them all the way across, make sure to keep things softer on the inner corner than the outer corner. This gives a much more natural and youthful look.

Tip #8: Be careful with eyeliner pencils

Even pencil eyeliners can look quite harsh sometimes. Especially if they’re not very soft. If you do use an eyeliner pencil, you can soften the line with an eyeliner brush to give more of a softer, smudged effect. This is really flattering and will define your eyes beautifully too.

EYEBROW TIPS

The eyes are the window to the soul. The eyebrows are the curtains. And harsh looking eyebrows will make even the youngest of women look aged in an instant! So just like eyeliner, you want to keep everything soft and natural-looking with your eyebrows too.

Tip #9: Opt for powder instead of an eyebrow pencil

Eyebrow pencils are often too harsh and unnatural looking. So instead, use eyebrow powder. They give a much softer, more natural look to the brows. I really love the eyebrow powders by ZAO Organic Makeup. They come in 3 shades and they’re great at defining the eyebrows in a beautiful, natural way.

Eyebrows that look too dark are also very ageing. So make sure to choose a shade that’s close to your natural brow colour (not necessarily the same as your hair colour). Apply gently throughout your brows using an angled brush.

If you have thin eyebrows, don’t be afraid to make them look a little thicker. But don’t go overboard either as otherwise, it will look too fake.

I really hope you found these tips helpful. And be sure to also read my top face makeup tips for mature skin too.

If you need more personalised advice, a customised routine and eye makeup for older skin shade recommendations that will enhance your eye colour and complexion, I’d absolutely love to help you. You can find out more about my 1-1 personalised makeup lessons here.