Eyeshadow is one of the most enjoyable and adaptable tools that you can add to your makeup routine to try out new styles and make your eyes pop. However, while the right shade can make you look awake and refreshed, incorrect application can have the opposite effect.
As we age, it is helpful to know how to apply makeup in a way that enhances your natural beauty rather than detracting from it. To help with this, we consulted professional makeup artists to share their expert advice on the most common mistakes made with eyeshadow that highlight “thinning” skin, and tips for a “naturally lifted” look instead.
Avoid These 3 Eyeshadow Mistakes That Emphasize ‘Thinning’ Skin and Age Your Look—Tips for a ‘Lifted’ Appearance
1. Adding Too Much Shimmer
Eyeshadows that are overly glittery or shimmery may unintentionally draw more attention to wrinkles, potentially making them more noticeable instead of concealing them. “Eyeshadows with any amount of shimmer or luminosity should be avoided in the crease because not only do they accentuate the thinning texture of the skin as we age, but when light reflects from the crease, it can make the eyes look puffy and the shape appear distorted,” celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin explains.
“It's always better to use a matte color in your socket line to create shading that helps eyes to look smoothly shaped and bigger.” She emphasizes that opting for matte colors over glittery ones will highlight your eyes while subtly minimizing any signs of aging.
2. Applying White Shadow Beneath The Brow Bone
Traditionally, using white eyeshadow under the brow bone has been considered a way to brighten the eyes and give a more lifted look. However, Patinkin cautions that this technique might actually emphasize fine lines. "White or opalescent eyeshadow under the arch of the brow is a very dated look and as with shimmery shadows in your socket line, can make your brow area look puffy," she points out.
She stresses that "it's better to opt either for a matte shadow or a slightly satiny shadow in one shade lighter than your own skin tone which will give you a more naturally lifted look." Furthermore, using white on the inner corners of your eyes can be more effective in making your eyes appear larger and giving you a more awake and alert look.
3. Forgetting Primer Beforehand
Lastly, before even applying eyeshadow at all, Gargi Patel, celebrity makeup artist at Vashanti Cosmetics, 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 shadow in place."
The goal is to always keep the eyeshadow 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."
The Bottom Line
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 concludes 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."
