When it comes to makeup over 40, there are plenty of great products and helpful ways to enhance your best features. If your goal is to bring attention away from wrinkles, we checked in with professional makeup artists and experts to learn more about three common, easy eyeshadow mistakes that may inadvertently make someone look older. Of course, they also shared ways to enhance your peepers in 2024 instead!
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Mandie Brice, celebrity makeup artist, author and beauty expert, Kerrin Jackson, celebrity, film and television makeup artist and creator of The Makeup Refinery blog, Alyssia Chang, professional makeup artist and founder of Prevail Beauty, and Destiny McGill, celebrity makeup artist and Day Spa Owner of Lavish Life Studio.
Mistake #1— Not Fully Prepping The Eyes
Before even taking any eye product to your lids, Brice stresses that you need to make sure the skin is washed, moisturized, and ultimately— clean— for the best possible look. "Skin prep is also a huge part of it," she says, so ensuring that you are "at minimum, cleansing and moisturizing can also help makeup look better as well."
As we age, the skin around our eyes "tends to produce less moisture, and dry skin shows texture and wrinkles more," she explains, so keeping the area moisturized and hydrated will help your makeup look more vibrant, dewy and radiant.
Chang concurs, and warns that not fully taking off eye makeup over time can lead to build-up and faster wrinkling as well.
"This can make your skin age and look much older than you actually are," she notes. Chang stresses that it's always important to "use a good makeup remover and take the time to gently remove all traces" of eyeshadow before going to bed."
#2— Using Glittery, Sparkly Eyeshadows
While there's nothing wrong with a little shimmer to emphasize your peepers, Brice warns that ultra-glistening or shimmering eyeshadows can draw attention to wrinkles. "Sparkles can set into wrinkles and exaggerate them," she explains.
Brice adds that "sometimes sparkles and dark colors can make lines and wrinkles more drastic, so I tell people to proceed with caution when using those."
McGill agrees, and adds that "glittery or shimmery eye shadows really settle into the wrinkles and draw attention to them." Instead, she recommends "choosing a matte, neutral eyeshadow." Will do!
3. Opting For Red Eyeshadow
One eye makeup color Jackson suggests skipping if you want to look younger or more awake is a red, scarlet or crimson one. "Red eyeshadows can add years to your face simply by making your eyes look tired, irritated and generally giving a look of being unwell," she explains.
There is "very little" that is flattering about a red eyeshadow, Jackson stresses, and she always recommends "avoiding red on the eyes altogether."
"I generally avoid red eyeshadow because it is such a tricky shade to get right on the eyes," Jackson continues. This, she says, is purely because of the "color of our blood," which is red, of course. "What happens when we cry, or have an allergic reaction to something, rub our eyes, or get a bruise? Our skin and eyes go red," she continues.
This, she says, is why using a red eyeshadow can inadvertently look like "you have been crying, have allergies or something unpleasant altogether is going on. It’s not a very appealing or flattering look."
In addition, any red shadows with sparkles can look uncomplimentary on aging skin, as well. As seen on Euphoria, BeautyTok and elsewhere, "metallics are back," Jackson says, and "for us over 40s, that may not be such good news anymore." A shimmery red eyeshadow, she adds, can be "particularly cruel to even the most slightly textured skin."
Due to the light-reflecting flakes or ingredients in many shimmer products, this kind of eyeshadow can "end up highlighting every wrinkle, line or textured surface you usually spend your makeup time trying to soften," Jackson warns.
As a celebrity makeup artist, she says she ultimately "avoids metallic eyeshadows on older skin because shimmers and metallics are so harsh on textured and wrinkled complexions."
They can "cause lines and wrinkles to look more pronounced" than they actually are, she continues. Jackson goes on to note that the best bet is to "avoid these products and stick with neutral mattes instead."
"If you must use a shimmer eye shadow, try a cream-based product that you can blend in softly," she concludes. This will be "far more flattering and flexible on your skin" than a powdery metallic or shimmery eyeshadow. Got it!
