Style Stop
By Linda Peavy
Ageless Eye Makeup in a Snap
Women spend more time on eye makeup than any other feature!
From creams to serums to mascara, a little eye makeup can make a big difference in our appearance. As the skin around our eyes ages, skin becomes more fragile. Be extra careful to treat it with kindness.
Here are 10 dos and don’ts for truly ageless eye makeup:
DO stick to rich, hydrating formulas of eye shadow. Overly dry and outdated powder ones can draw attention to fine lines.
Top pick: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick
Tip: DO know your eye shape. Makeup should be applied differently based on your eye shape, and you can find yours at ipsy.com/blog/what-is-my-eye-shape.
- DO use a primer! Just like when painting a house, a primer is necessary to ensure makeup lasts all day and won’t fall into and accentuate any skin imperfections.
Top pick: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging. It also makes a fabulous primer before lipstick!
Tip: DO apply eye makeup before any other makeup. No matter how carefully you apply it, chances are, you’ll have to clean up a little mess, whether it’s shadow fallout or an eyeliner oops, so it’s always best to start your makeup application with your eyes to avoid unnecessary concealer touch-ups, foundation, etc.
- DO take care of your brows! As we mature, brows tend to grow sparser and thinner and can be quickly filled in with brow pencils, pomades and other tricks.
Tip: Be careful to leave adequate brow hair to frame the face by not overly tweezing and waxing.
Top Pick: L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Brow Magnifying Pencil with Vitamin E
- DO treat your lashes. Like your brows, lashes become thinner and sparser as we age.
Tip: Growth serums like Latisse and Peter Thomas Roth’s Lashes to Die For Turbo Conditioning Lash Enhancer have been shown to thicken, lengthen, and darken lashes over time.
Top Pick: Latisse
- DO apply concealer under your eyes to cover any dark circles. Choose one that’s 1-2 shades lighter than your skin for a bright, youthful glow, applying it in the shape of a V from just under your eyes down to the tops of your cheeks, then blend it into your skin.
Top pick: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Illumination Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer
DON’Ts
- DON’T hold your eyelid up when applying makeup. While this is tempting on a hooded eye, it’s pointless because you eventually have to let the lid fall back down (I hope), and all your hard work will be hidden.
Tip: DON’T wear heavy glitter shades as they can enhance the lines. Subtle shimmer is best. Ageless eye makeup doesn’t mean overbearing eye makeup.
Top Pick: Pat McGrath Mothership II: Sublime
- DON’T match your eyeshadow to your eyes! Using the same color shadow as your eyes causes a battle for attention. Use complementary colors that enhance your natural beauty. For a cheat sheet, go to the Vogue article, How to Choose Eyeshadow Colors Based on Eye Colors.
- DON’T go overboard with eyeliner. Creamy pencils are better than startling liquids and can be easily blended for a soft, sultry look.
Top Pick: Pat McGrath Legendary Wear Velvet Kohl Eyeliner
- DON’T forget to use the right tools! Would you use a hammer to try to replace a screw? Of course not! Just like any other job, applying makeup requires the proper tools, especially regarding the eyes. Different brushes are for applying and blending and will make all the difference in the world. Don’t panic; most are labeled, so you know exactly which brush to use and when. For our makeup brush tutorial, read our post How to Use Makeup Brushes to Easily Apply Makeup.
Top pick: SEPHORA COLLECTION Deluxe Brush Set
Tip: Clean your brushes and other tools! Even healthy eyes can be hotbeds of bacteria transferred to brushes with every use.
Top pick: Beauty Blender Cleanser Solid Unscented Sponge & Brush Cleanser
- DON’T forget to take your makeup off! Are you ever tempted to go to bed without washing your face? Nooooo! Your eyes move and blink continuously throughout the night, causing makeup to seep into your eyes, which may irritate you. You will also have one messy pillowcase in the morning!
Top pick: Neutrogena Compostable Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes
What’s your favorite go-to product that showcases ageless eye makeup? Tell us in the comments section below!
