Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are continuing to enjoy plenty of yummy leftovers! Here’s a pic of my family and me from Thursday that I’m so very thankful for.
Now that we are in full-blown holiday mode and the parties and gatherings are in full swing, we need to accentuate our makeup looks, and the area I like to play up the most is the EYES. And since our eyes are the first things people notice and focus on when we are communicating with one another, enhancing them is key! Today, I’m sharing 6 eyeliner tips for aging eyes.
And as we age, our skin loses elasticity, becomes more delicate, and overall our eye beds seem to appear much smaller. This can pose a slight challenge when it comes to applying eye makeup…especially EYELINER. Many of the techniques we used in our youth may no longer be suitable for aging eyes.
However, this does NOT mean you should give up on using eyeliner altogether! Quite the opposite. Note my with and without eyeliner photo below as an example of why you should give eyeliner a chance.
When used correctly, it can 100% benefit your overall eye bed and help you to achieve a youthful, more awake, and polished loo
7 Eyeliner Tips For Aging Eyes
1. Create a Transfer Proof Base
I always apply an eyelid primer before starting any eye makeup to keep my shadow and eyeliner in place. I prefer one that also color corrects my eyelids. This Morphe Priming cream eyeshadow costs $10 and works just like my favorite MAC Cosmetics paint pots that cost $28. You should try it if you want your eyeshadow and eyeliner to last longer and look more vibrant. I use the shade “Debut” which is a soft pink color similar to MAC’s “Painterly” shade. I warm up the product on my finger and then spread a thin layer across my entire eyelid down to my lash line.
2. Choose a Soft Eyeliner Pencil Over Liquid
A soft eyeliner pencil works better when you apply makeup to sensitive skin. This type of pencil moves smoothly across your eyelid without pulling or dragging at the delicate area. The result looks more natural & gentle compared to liquid liner which can appear too strong or dramatic. Choose a waterproof version or one labeled as long-wearing so your eyeliner remains in place throughout the entire day without smudging or fading.
3. Choose a Lighter Shade of Eyeliner
As we get older our eyelashes often become thinner and using dark black eyeliner can make this more noticeable. A better choice is to use lighter eyeliner colors like deep brown or charcoal gray or try more interesting options such as plum or sapphire blue. These colors will still make your eyes stand out without being too harsh. The brands I talked about earlier all have these different shades available. Urban Decay has the best pencil collection though because they offer the most colors & finishes. Whatever shade you want Urban Decay probably has it.
4. Smudge Your Eyeliner
Don’t just apply your eyeliner and call it done. Take it one step further and smudge your eyeliner after you put it on. This creates a softer and more natural appearance that looks great. Get yourself a quality small eyeliner brush like the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Liner brush for $43 that I’ve used for years. These brushes last a long time and are worth the money. If you prefer something cheaper try the Morphe M362 pointed liner brush for $7. After you draw your line take the liner brush right away & go over the top of it using small back & forth motions to blend the edges. This creates a subtle smoky look that makes your eyes stand out. For an even better result add a matching eyeshadow to the liner brush which will set and soften the liner more & can even extend it into a small wing. This simple step makes a noticeable and beautiful difference.
5. Use Eyeliner Sparingly
# Eyeliner Tips for Mature Eyes When applying eyeliner to aging eyes you should remember that less is more. Using too much product or drawing thick lines can make your eyes appear heavy and tired. The best approach is to apply a thin line along your lash line. Start by focusing on the outer corners of your eyes and gradually make the line thinner as you move toward the inner corner near the tear duct. This technique creates a more flattering appearance than using a uniform thick line across your entire lid. You should also tightline your upper lash line. This technique involves filling in the space between your upper lashes on the underside of your lash line. Tightlining eliminates the visible skin tone in that area & creates a darker more defined look as shown in the example above.
6. Avoid Applying Dark Eyeliner On The Waterline
If you want to make your eye bed look smaller you should apply dark eyeliner along the lower inner waterline. However most people notice their eye beds getting smaller with age & actually want the opposite effect to make their eyes look bigger. To achieve this you should use a white or nude eyeliner on the lower inner waterline instead of a dark color.
# Rewritten Text This technique will make the whites of your eyes look more open and alert. For the inner waterline I recommend the Tarte Fake Awake Waterline Liner at $24 because it is designed to be safe for contact lens wearers. If you want a more affordable option you can try the Flower Beauty “moonstone” liner for $9 on Amazon or the Revolution Beauty Streamline Waterline liners for $6. The second picture above shows the bright white shade from Revolution Beauty. ## 7. Use Eyeshadow Instead of Eyeliner On Lower Lash Line
Do you leave the lower lash line bare or add something to it? That is the question. I think you should add some color there but skip the traditional eyeliner. Instead use an eyeliner brush with a light or medium powder eyeshadow. When you apply a small amount of shadow about three quarters of the way along the lower lash line it creates a subtle frame under your eyes that looks nice.
Eyeliner Tips for Aging Eyes
In conclusion, the best eyeliner practices for aging eyes involve using soft pencils, lighter shades, and smudging techniques to create a natural and youthful look. With these tips, you can enhance your eyes and look your best at any age.
If you want to buy new eyeliner for yourself or get makeup gifts for someone special you can look at my previous Sephora Sales Event post. Some of the products I talked about are now on sale. You can also try this Halo Eye Makeup look tutorial to practice your eyeliner skills.
