5 Eyeliner Tips for Mature Eyes

Age really is just a number, which is why more and more people are taking steps to continue looking fabulous for decades longer than ever before. Want to look fantastic at 40? Sexy at 60? The sky’s the limit!

Why stop taking care of yourself once you hit a certain age when you can look and feel your best for as long as possible — we’re looking at you, Iris Apfel (may she rest in peace). It’s all about finding ways to update your routine to work with, instead of against, the skin you’re in at any moment in time.

For example, knowing how to get your makeup to work for you is crucial — the same tips and tricks you used in your 20s won’t always get you the same results when you’re in your 40s. To help, we’ve compiled five tips to make the most of eyeliner for mature eyes.

Why Do “Mature Eyes” Look Different?

Before we can talk about how to update your eyeliner routine, it’s important to understand why we have to change it.

The skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest skin on the entire body. When our skin starts to change with age (usually due to a lack of collagen, the protein in our skin that gives it that plump, healthy, youthful look), the lack of fat stores around the eyes makes those changes visible far more quickly than they are in any other part of the body.

What are some signs of maturing skin around the eyes? The ones you’ll see most often include:

Dark circles (especially in the under-eye area)
Crow’s feet (those lines around the outer corners of your eyes)
Thin, sagging eyelids with “crepey” skin
Under-eye puffiness

Remember, the aging process happens to all of us. While there are things that you can do — hydration, retinol, cosmetic treatments, etc. — to minimize their appearance or slow down the speed at which they show up, embracing your skin exactly as it is is even more important.

How Do I Use Eyeliner on Mature Eyes?

Here’s the info you’re really here for, though — our eyeliner tips for mature eyes. Get ready to take notes; we’re about to hit you with some serious game-changers.

1. Give Yourself a Solid, Smudge-Proof Base

Foundation, eyeshadow, eyeliner — anything that goes on or around your eyes should always go on top of a quality primer or base. However, not every eye primer works for every face.

People with more mature skin need to choose products with increased hydration, which helps smooth and firm the skin while also lengthening the time your makeup (like eyeshadow and eyeliner) can stay on your skin. Plus, the wrong primer can age your eyes prematurely, creating fine lines and wrinkles you haven’t truly earned.

Make sure to let your primer dry thoroughly before applying your eye makeup, as well, as it can help make it even more effective. If you’re applying a foundation (or, better yet, a tinted moisturizer), apply it after your eye makeup.

It helps to even out your skin tone and clean up and fine-tune your eye makeup. Trust us on this one.

2. Use White on Your Waterline

Using eyeliner on your waterline is usually a no-no, especially on more mature skin (as it tends to make your eyes look smaller and more tired). However, there’s one big expectation to that rule — white eyeliner.

Using white eyeliner on your lower lash line helps open up your eyes and make you look more awake. If your eyes are more close-set, applying white eyeliner in the inner corners can help make them appear further apart.

Want to make your eyes look even brighter and wider? Apply a little bit of highlighter or a light-colored eyeshadow just under your brow bone and in the corner of your eyes.

3. Don’t Hold Your Eyelids Taut When Applying Eyeliner

If your eyes are starting to look a little older — especially if they’re getting less firm and a little crepey — it’s tempting to grab them and hold them tight to make it easier to apply your eyeliner. Unfortunately, although it can make it easier to apply, it doesn’t give you a clear idea of what it will look like on your natural eyes.

Instead, apply your eyeliner without it. You can always go back over it if it looks patchy or uneven when you’re done.

4. Always Take Your Makeup Off at the End of the Night

Regardless of whether you love to rock a black cat eye or a blue graphic eyeliner, there’s one fact that remains the same — it’s crucial that you always take your makeup off before you hit the sack.

But why? Surely, it can’t be that bad to crash with your makeup on, right? Wrong!

Leaving your makeup on is problematic for a variety of reasons. It can clog your pores (and make breakouts more likely) and cause your natural eyelashes to become brittle and even break off.

While the best course of action is to create an entire skincare routine to keep your skin healthy, youthful, and hydrated, even taking a few seconds to use a non-comedogenic makeup wipe can be helpful. For best results, start with a cleanser that works with your skin type, follow up with serums targeted to your specific skin care needs, and always finish with a moisturizer (and sunscreen).

If you’re wearing lashes, there are a few ways to take your makeup off without removing your lashes — you don’t have to disregard your skincare routine just because you’ve got DIY lashes on. As long as you’re careful, you can make your lashes last as long as possible and also keep your skin looking and feeling top-notch.

5. Use Lashes for a Liner Look

There’s a way to get a liner look without using the liner. New Lashify I-Line™ Gossamer® Lashes give you the winged-liner vibe by creating a lengthy lash line that flares at the end, giving your eyes an elongated shape without makeup.

The result is longer, more noticeable lashes without a chance of smudging and a look you can depend on to last for days. These perfectly angled Gossamer lashes work perfectly for all eye shapes but are especially helpful for users with hooded lids.

Haven’t experimented with eyelashes before? No problem! Check out our Control lash kit. You can choose your kit color, lash style (amplify, bold, or curl), and wand style (regular or petit) — beginners can even use our award-winning DIFY (do it for yourself) kits, although it may take a few tries to really nail the technique.

Every Control Kit includes:

Two sets of Gossamer lashes. Pick two from our Curl, Amplify, or Bold collections. You can also use them to create fully customized looks using Lash Maps.

Fuse Control® Wand. Ergonomically designed specifically for Gossamer application, you’ll never have to use a pair of tweezers again, at least not for your lashes.

One set of Wandoms®. Because Lashify Bonds don’t fully cure, they become tacky during application. Wandoms keep everything clean and frustration-free, so your Gossamers don’t stick to your Fuse Control Wand.

Whisper Light Bond™. Dual-sided and never clumpy, this popular Bond will help your Gossamers stay intact for days.

Glass Finishing Coat. The perfect sealer for getting long wear out of your lashes. You don’t have to seal your Gossamers, but if you do, Glass is a great solution.

Samples. You’ll get a sample of Pre Cleanse and Melt Away in each Control Kit. Pre Cleanse is our Japanese Cleansing Water that helps remove dirt and oil from your lashes and lids. It’s powerful yet gentle enough to be used as an all-over facial cleanser. Melt Away is our dual-phase, oil-based makeup remover that helps you easily slide your Gossamer lashes off of your natural lashes without damaging them.

If you need some help, check out our education support page. Practice a few times at home before you debut your new look to the public, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it!

We even have video tutorials if you prefer to be shown how to do it instead of reading about it. Don’t be intimidated — these lashes aren’t difficult and are well worth a little learning curve.

To Sum It All Up

Wanting to explore more ways to use eyeliner for mature eyes? The key is to let go and not be afraid to try new things. Whether you’re in your 30s, 50s, 70s, or beyond, you’re never too old to learn how to feel good in your own skin.

Lashify is here for you, with ways to boost your lash game and help you discover ways to look and feel your best — regardless of your age on paper. Frame that amazing bold, new eyeliner look with the right lashes and be a showstopper every time.

Sources:

Biochemistry, Collagen Synthesis | PubMed

Infraorbital Dark Circles: A Review of the Pathogenesis, Evaluation and Treatment | PubMed

10 skin care habits that can worsen acne | AAD

Skin hydration: a review on its molecular mechanisms | PubMed