This article has been updated to include more expert insight.
Eyeliner, mascara and eyebrow-filling products are versatile tools that serve a multitude of purposes in creating a flawless makeup look. They are especially crucial in achieving anti-aging beauty by enhancing the eyes with a classic winged liner, sky-high lashes or a subtle oomph.
To help women over 50 capture a youthful, radiant and wide-awake look, we consulted professional makeup artists who shared three quick, easy and timeless hacks for mastering the application of these essential beauty tools.
Read on for suggestions and insight from Mandie Brice, professional makeup artist and beauty expert and Natasha Moor, pro MUA and founder of Natasha Moor Cosmetics.
MUAs Share 3 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. Instead, she 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.
2. Use Cream or Powder To Fill in Your Eyebrows
If you often fill your brows with a pencil product, Brice notes that a cream or powder is often more flattering. "Eyebrows are actually more science than art, if you want a natural look, because you can use geometry to find where specific points are and then fill them in," she says.
"You can use a makeup brush to hold against your nose straight up, and that's where the inside of your brows should go," she advises. She then suggests "tilting it toward your ear at a 45 degree angle, and you can find where the tail of the brow should end."
Next, Brice says to "go through the center of your eye and that's where the point should be where the brow angles down." She stresses that "it is better to use a cream or powder than a pencil, because it blends easier and looks more natural."
In addition, Brice also shares that she "starts with refining the tail," and then uses "what cream is left on my brush to fill in the more sparse hairs at the front of my brow, as that usually requires less product." Another general tip she recommends is "using a shade lighter than you think you need, or lighter than your hair."
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!
