Expert-Approved Eyeshadow Hacks for Aging Eyes
Expert-Approved Eyeshadows for Aging Eyes
Keep your look crease-free all day long with these simple tricks.
As we age, dry skin is often caused by a combination of sun damage (so make sure to wear your sunscreen) and less cell turnover. When you apply your makeup, especially around your eyes, you might notice products getting caught in your creases and that former tried-and-true formulas no longer look as good as they used to. Although the issue is frustrating, it's easy to fix. (And without spending the hassle of plastic surgery.) You likely just need to update your makeup bag with products geared for mature skin. Here, beauty experts reveal their tips and tricks on the best makeup for aging eyes.
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1. Pump Up the Moisture
"Good makeup starts with good skincare," says makeup artist Mandie Brice. A healthy and hydrated complexion is a crucial step in optimal makeup application, especially as skin ages and needs more moisture. Apply a moisturizing cream like the belief Moisturizing Eye Bomb ($48, Sephora) to your eyelids and under eyes before your makeup. Brice says this cream is perfect for during the day as it dissolves instantly into the skin. At night Brice recommends Dr. Hauschka's Eye Balm ($55, DermStore), "It is so thick, creamy, and hydrating!"
2. Give Shadow Staying Power
Priming your eyelids is a useful trick to help shadow stick any age, but especially as we get older. "As we age, our eyelids can tend to become a bit more hooded—making it harder for the shadow to wear all day without creasing," says Jeniece Trizzino, a beauty expert with Deck of Scarlet. An eyeshadow primer provides the extra assurance that your shadow will stay in place; try out the top-rated Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($24, Sephora).
3. Skip Powdery Formulas
The formula and finish of your eyeshadow are critical to consider as you age. Brice suggests a matte finish shadow, as ones that are glittery and shimmery often settle into fine lines and wrinkles and accentuate them.
Instead of powder shadows, which can also sink into wrinkles, opt for cream shadows and eyeshadow sticks. A good cream shadow is more hydrating and may also blend better, Brice says. Swipe on the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick ($30, Sephora) to achieve your look and get the best of both a cream shadow and eyeshadow stick in one.
And when it comes to shadow color? "I don't think there should be any rules when it comes to shadow shades," Trizzino says. "But nudes, soft roses, taupes, and pale browns are traditionally the most flattering colors and can help eyes look wider and brighter." Brice agrees, saying that more mature women benefit from neutral tones to avoid highlighting wrinkles.
4. Make Eyes Look More Awake
Even your eyeliner and mascara can benefit from a change-up. They're the finishing touches to your eye makeup, after all. Trizzino says a 24-hour eyeliner is your best bet to keep it at your lash line without transferring to the upper section of your lid (and ruining your shadow). For a softer look, a cream pencil looks excellent; for a bit more drama, nothing beats a liquid liner.
"Finally, a good mascara will change your life… and your eyes," Trizzino says. She recommends a smudge-proof and transfer-proof formula that has some curling power to help make your eyes look bigger and more open. Your mascara doesn't have to be expensive; reviewers rave about the Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara ($5, Ulta) for making their lashes longer and thicker.
Remember, aging skin doesn't mean you have to shy away from the products you love. With these expert tips, your eye makeup will go the distance and look amazing, of course, all day long.
