A few simple swaps and changes and your eye makeup can go from uninspiring to sensational. Your eye makeup application may benefit from a few changes as the years go by — that’s because our features change a bit too when we age. You may have noticed more overlapping skin on your lids as your eyes become more hooded with time, or more puffiness and discoloration both below your eyes and on your lids.
There’s nothing a great makeup routine can’t tackle, but first you’ll need to know the tricks that can get you there. Try these eight game-changing makeup tricks that women over 40 should know to look their absolute best.
Lighter Shades on the Lid
If you’ve always layered darker browns or gray shades on your lid but feel those hues are making your eyes look more closed, abide by the old “less is more” saying and try sticking with very light shadows instead. Applying a light peach or cream to your lid brightens it without making your lid look heavy.
Tightlining
Similarly to how very dark eyeshadow shades can close up and shrink the lid too much, applying dark and thick bands of eyeliner around the eye can also make eyes look smaller. Tightlining your eyes by placing a gel eyeliner on the upper waterline (and lower if you want definition there) emphasizes your lashes and eyes, but doesn’t compromise on lid space.
Cream Eyeshadows Are Your New BFFs
We have nothing against powered eyeshadows, but if your lids suffer from dryness, which can become more common as skin changes with age, switching to cream eyeshadows can make for a more pigmented, blendable experience. You can apply a cream shadow with your fingers and blend away for a beautiful and hydrating wash of color.
Eyeshadow Primer
Every eye makeup routine should start with a good primer. Primer helps even out your skin tone and blur away discoloration or redness on the lid. It also creates a barrier between your skin and eye shadow so that your makeup is less prone to streaking and fading.
Use Brown or Gray Eyeliner Instead of Black
If you’re used to using black eyeliner, but feel it looks harsh lately, the simple switch is to use a brown or gray liner instead. These softer colors bring more lightness to your eyes and look more natural in daylight.
Define Your Brows
Your eyebrows set the stage for your makeup — and frame your face. The harsh, overdrawn brows of a few years ago are no longer in fashion, but one thing e took away from that trend is that a strong brow makes a difference. Fill in sparse areas of your brows with a brow pencil that is 1-2 shades lighter than your natural brow color and brush them in place.
Look Down When Applying Mascara
Are you still looking straight ahead at the mirror when applying your mascara? Try tilting your eyes downward and brushing mascara upwards through your lashes without looking up. You’ll be amazed at how much lengthier they’ll appear.
Add a Bit of Shimmer to Your Lid
Adding just a slight bit of shimmery eyeshadow to the middle of your lid can give your eye color a pop and open up your lids. Choose shimmery shades that complement your eye color, such as blue for brown eyes, champagne for blue eyes, purple for green eyes, and burgundy for hazel eyes.
