6 Eyeliner Tips for Aging Eyes
Eyes are the window to the soul. And they are one of my favorite things to play up when it comes to applying makeup! Our eyes are the first things people notice and focus on when we are communicating with one another. So 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 all together! Quite the opposite. Note my with and without eyeliner photo below as an example as to 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 look.
Here are some of the best eyeliner practices + products to consider…
TL;DR
Today, Jennifer is sharing 6 eyeliner tips for aging eyes
All of Jennifer's product suggestions are shoppable via text- and image-widgets
6 Eyeliner Tips For Aging Eyes
1. Create a Transfer Proof Base
I never start an eye makeup look without applying an eyelid primer to make shadow and eyeliner STAY PUT. One of the best-selling and most effective eyelid primers of all time, is the NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof lid primer, $26. Give it a try if you want to extend the wear of your eyeshadow and eyeliner and maximize color intensity.
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2. Choose a Soft Eyeliner Pencil Over Liquid
Using a soft eyeliner pencil will make it easier to apply eyeliner to delicate skin. A soft pencil will glide on smoothly without tugging or pulling. It will also not look as harsh as a liquid liner. Look for a waterproof or long-wearing formulas to ensure that your eyeliner stays put all day.
My favorite formulas right now in different categories are:
Prestige
- GXVE Beauty 24 Hr Gel Waterproof Eyeliner, $20 (I’m wearing navy shade “Sapphire Skies” in this post)
- Urban Decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil, $25
Drugstore
3. Choose a Lighter Shade of Eyeliner
As we age, our eyelashes tend to thin out, and dark black eyeliner can accentuate this. Instead, opt for a lighter shade of eyeliner, such as a deep brown and charcoal gray, OR more fun shades like plum or sapphire blue.
These shades will still define your eyes without overwhelming them. All of the above brands I mentioned offer a variety of these shades. The Urban Decay pencil collection wins for having the most shade offerings and finishes however. If you can dream a color, the UD pencils win!
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4. Smudge Your Eyeliner
Smudging your eyeliner after application will give it a softer, more natural look you’ll love. Get yourself a really good tiny eyeliner brush like my go-to Bobbi Brown Ulta Fine Liner brush, $34, that I’ve owned for years!! These brushes hold up and are wonderful investments.
Once you’ve drawn your line, then immediately take the liner brush and go right on top of it, and do tiny sweeps back and forth to blend out the edges.
This will create a subtle, smoky effect that will enhance your eyes. For extra credit, add a matching eyeshadow onto the liner brush which will secure and soften the liner even more. I promise, this small step makes a big and lovely impact.
5. Use Eyeliner Sparingly
Less is more when it comes to eyeliner for aging eyes. Applying too much or too thick of a liner can make your eyes look heavy and tired. Instead, apply a thin line of eyeliner along the lash line, focusing mostly on the outer corners of the eyes and your line should get thinner as you head in toward the tear duct. A thin line that varies in thickness is a more pleasant look than one thick block line!
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6. Avoid Applying Dark Eyeliner On The Waterline
The waterline is the inner rim of the eye, and applying a dark-colored eyeliner directly to it can make your eyes look smaller and more tired. Instead, apply a white or nude shade of eyeliner just along the lower inner waterline.
This will make the whites of your eyes appear more open and alert. My choice for this liner is Tarte Fake Awake Waterline Liner, $22. (claims to be safe for contact lenses wearers as well)
In conclusion, the best eyeliner practices for aging eyes involve using soft pencils, lighter shades, and smudging techniques to create a natural, youthful look. With these tips, you can enhance your eyes and look your best at any age.
PS
If you missed my previous blog post here on SAACA, it was about how to once and for all, apply false eyelashes! Read best practices and lash styles here for aging eyes HERE. This is another great way to enhance the eye bed.
P.S.S. Here are the rest of my look details! I am in love with the newest Buxom Cosmetics Full On Plumping Lip Cream in shade, “Dolly Glamourtini”, $21, which I’m wearing here. Its gorgeous shimmer-free mauve pink lip cream is perfect for spring! My Amazon initial necklace, $15, is available in silver, gold, and rose gold. I wear it often!
And if you love plaid button-ups like I do (they’re great for layering in the spring and summer over a tank top!) the Rails Hunter button-ups, $168, have over 51 available colors of plaid!
In Case You Missed It
This morning, Beth shared her all-time favorite color and how to wear it. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Thank you for the eyeliner tips. I will try these. My biggest challenge as I age is that the ends of my eyebrows have become coarse and are going in all directions. The middle and inner brows are smooth but the hair is longer and some gray is starting to show. I would love a plan to improve the looks of my eyebrows and know you are the person to help. Thank you.