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Eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow are indispensable allies in the quest for a perfect makeup finish.
These versatile tools are essential for crafting everything from dramatic, winged eyeliner and voluminous lashes to a gentle yet impactful lift. Especially pivotal for those over 50, these beauty enhancers play a significant role in achieving a radiant, luminous gaze.
To unlock the secrets of radiant, wide-awake eyes, we turned to professional makeup artists who revealed seven timeless and effortlessly simple techniques for mastering these key beauty essentials.
Read on for suggestions and insight from Mandie Brice, professional makeup artist and beauty expert, Natasha Moor, pro MUA and founder of Natasha Moor Cosmetics, Jenny Stokes, beauty expert and founder/ CEO of MinimalJapan, Kerrin Jackson, celebrity, film and television makeup artist and creator of The Makeup Refinery blog and Gargi Patel, celebrity makeup artist at Vashanti Cosmetics.
MUAs Share 7 Flattering & Simple Eye Makeup Hacks For Women Over 50
1. Apply Eyeliner Solely to the Top Lid
Eyeliner instantly has the power to open up your eyes and lift them at any age, Brice explains, and for women over 50, this is especially true when it is only applied to the top lid with a minimalist approach. "How the eyeliner is applied makes a big difference," she says, while explaining how mature beauties can be careful not to make a common mistake with eyeliner.
"Often, people will apply it in a very heavy fashion all the way around the eye, which can make the person look tired, and the eyes look heavy," she points out.
2. Try A Shiny Dot Of Highlighter In The Inner Corner Of Your Eye
Instead, Brice recommends "a light touch, and just the outer two thirds of the eye on top, and skipping eyeliner altogether on the bottom."
Another fun tip she shares for a more lifted look is to add a shiny dot of highlighter to the inner corner of your eye. "Using a brightening highlighter in the inner corner can really wake up someone's eyes as well," she says.
3. Use the 'Wiggle & Lift' Mascara Technique
As it turns out, creating the illusion of an eye lift using just your mascara is as simple as nailing Moor’s go-to technique. She explains that after you’ve curled your lashes, you should "look down and apply mascara as close to your waterline as possible" for your top and bottom lashes. "Wiggle the wand and lift. Repeat," she adds.
It’s important to note that you should also ensure you’re choosing a mascara with the right kind of wand, as Moor suggests a slightly tapered one. Using this wand, she says you should "lift the lashes on the inner and outer corners of your eyes to give the illusion of a lifted face," as this "helps your face to look more chiseled as it lifts the eye." Voila!
4. Contour Hooded Eyes Like You Would Your Cheekbones
While you may typically associate contour makeup with accentuating the cheekbones, it's important to note that the same principle can be applied to enhancing the appearance of the eyes. "To put it simply, the contour trick means creating the illusion of depth on a part of your eyelid that doesn’t naturally have depth. ie. your hooded eyelid," Jackson explains.
"By using the right product and the right brush," she adds, "you can very quickly and easily create this look on your own hooded eyelids." According to Jackson, contouring your hooded eyelids can aid in achieving a youthful appearance through enhancing the definition and form of your eye shape.
5. Use One Minimal Eyeshadow Shade, Slightly Darker Than Your Eyelid
Additionally, it can help in reducing the impact of loose skin that often leads to the formation of hooded eyelids. "By using a shade that’s slightly darker than the skin on your eyelid, you can help make that skin recede," Jackson notes. If you tend to opt for a more natural makeup approach and shy away from the heavy, glamorous looks often associated with the Kardashian family, rest assured that this particular look is suitable for a professional work environment.
"In recent times has been popularized by the likes of Kim Kardashian, and taken to the extreme by way of social media, but applying it in a very subtle and natural way, can really help to create the illusion of ‘lift’ and depth on your eyelids," Jackson explains.
6. Try A Nude Shadow For The Daytime And A Darker Shade For Night
To enhance your eyes during the daytime this summer, Stokes suggests adding a nude eyeshadow. For the nighttime, a slightly darker color is the way to go. “Sweep a nude eyeshadow for day makeup, and for nights, apply a slightly darker shade to the crease to add definition to the eyes,” Stokes says.
“Avoid using eyeliner and don’t apply eyeshadow to your brow bone as this can add years to your face.” She continues: “Apply the darkest shade in your eye palette to the lower lid just below the lashes and soften the look with a makeup brush.
7. Always Prime Your Eyelids Before Applying Shadow
Before even applying eyeshadow at all, Patel explains that it is essential to use a primer on your eyelids. This, she says, will prevent smudging and smearing throughout the day as primers are designed to lock in your eyeliner in place. "The goal is to always keep the eyeliner in places you want it to stay," she says.
In order to prevent looking older with a smudged look, Patel stresses that you should always "start with preparation of the eye area." Using a good primer "suitable for the eye area," she explains, will "help to keep not only your eyeliner in place, but also your eyeshadow." She shares that your primer "should also hydrate the eye area so liquid eyeliners will not dry out, causing pieces to land in places that will not give a clean look."
The Bottom Line
Overall, Stokes concludes that eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara “can emphasize your best features and when done right, it can take years off your face.”
She acknowledges that “eye makeup can feel quite tricky” at first, “especially if you have areas you need to correct, but with these hacks, you’ll be applying eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara like a pro.”
