Makeup tips and tricks for mature eyes are the key to staying on trend and looking younger. As we age, our skin tends to sag slightly, causing a disconnect between our tried and true method of applying makeup: it just won’t sit properly!

This doesn’t mean for one second that we are out for the count; all it means is that we need to update our methods of application and maybe try a few new tricks. Makeup can be a fun way to express yourself, but it’s easy to fall into some common mistakes.

My guide will help you avoid these makeup mistakes on mature eyes and look your best!

Makeup Mistakes On Mature Eyes

I am so excited to share with you my tips for avoiding eye makeup mistakes on mature skin and getting your eye makeup perfect every single day!

1. Not wearing an eyeshadow primer
2. Not knowing the colour theory to follow
3. Following your natural eye line
4. Not perfecting your eyebrows
5. Not knowing what to do with your lashes

Whether you want to give yourself an immediate eyelift, get your colors correct, or learn new eye makeup methods, keep reading!

1. Not wearing an eyeshadow primer

With aging skin, eye makeup might wrinkle a couple hours after application. An eyeshadow primer will help your makeup last all day.

A primer makes the skin sticky, which makes our makeup stick to it like glue and keeps it from bending and wrinkling. It also intensifies eyeshadow, emphasizing your eyes.

In application, all you need is a very small amount applied to the eyelids. This is just a small thing that you can do every day that makes a massive difference. Say hello to an all-day-long finish!

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2. Not knowing the colour theory to follow

In basic colour theory, dark colours reduce, and light colours expand. For example, if you wanted to make a small room appear larger, you would paint the room white. Fashion, design, and cosmetics follow this rule.

One mistake that is very easy to make is applying dark colours in spots we should be accentuating and making bigger, and inversely, applying light colours in spots we should be drawing attention to.

Now, where should we be applying? The spot directly above our eyes (the eyelid) is some of the most important real estate for our eye makeup. Making this area appear bigger can help us look more youthful and make our eyes pop.

We should be applying a lighter colour here. Just above this, where the eyelid folds into the bone, is an area that can droop slightly as we get older. The skin here is generally less taught, so a darker colour should be used here to recede.

In the example below, on the left-hand side, I have applied my eye makeup the correct way and on the right, I have applied it incorrectly so you can see exactly what I am talking about.

3. Following your natural eye line

One of the biggest makeup mistakes we can make with our mature eyes is to follow our natural eye line when applying eyeliner. This seems counterintuitive, though as we get older, the skin around our eyes can drop downward.

When we were younger and our skin was tighter, following our natural line worked perfectly because there was a natural flick-up. Now, we have to get a little creative to cater to mature skin.

When applying eyeliner, follow your natural line until the last lash. Once we get to the last lash, we give it a slight flick-up, as in the example below.

This helps give our eyes an instant lift!

Another thing to keep in mind here is that our eyeliner will generally be a darker shade than our eye shadow. Sticking to colour theory, make sure your line is not too thick and dark, as this will make the eyelid appear smaller and your eyes droopier.

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4. Not perfecting your eyebrows

Following our natural eyebrow shape is the fourth worst cosmetic blunder for adult eyes. Many of us have uneven eyebrows.

To create the illusion that they are, we need to follow a simple tip that will make a huge difference.

We must measure increments along our eyebrows to adapt them to our faces. An eyebrow pencil works.

To measure, place your eyebrow pencil at the corner of your nose and the inner corner of your eye. Mark your eyebrow.

For the second measurement, place the eyebrow pencil at the corner of your nose and along the outermost corner of your eye. Place a dot here along your eyebrow line.

The third measurement is from the corner of your nose to the centre of your pupil. Mark the dot on your eyebrow and this will indicate the peak.

Where these three dots sit indicates the start and end points of where your eyebrows should be. There will be a defined start, middle and end point. Quite often, these dots will not match up exactly with your eyebrow. This is OK! Fill in the gaps.

Make sure you don’t go too heavy with filling in your eyebrows here and aim to maintain a natural look.

Looking for a flawless makeup look? Start by avoiding these common makeup mistakes on mature eyes!

5. Not knowing what to do with your lashes

The fifth and final tip for applying makeup to mature eyes may seem unnecessary, but it can make a world of difference. Don’t let these makeup mistakes ruin your look!

For many women, curling their lashes seems redundant. It’s a lot of hassle for seemingly no payoff, though trust me when I say this is not the case.

Curling your lashes acts to add further lift to mature eyes, which is exactly what we are after. The more our eyes are lifted, the more youthful they will seem.

To curl your lashes, take your eyelash curler and clamp your top lash gently. What I like to do now is tilt the curler slightly in towards your nose and then very gently pump for 10 seconds. This will give your lashes the longest-lasting curl.

Now, moving on to mascara. Applying in a downward motion will make your lashes droop slightly and hang, drawing the eye downward. What we should be aiming for is an upward motion.

Take your mascara wand and apply from up and underneath the eyebrow. What I like to do is apply in a zig-zag motion, which helps to add further lift to the lashes.

Closing Thoughts

Mature skin makeup requires slightly different techniques. These new techniques don’t need to be radical changes; just small shifts can ultimately improve your whole look!

Want to up your makeup game? Avoid these biggest makeup mistakes on mature eyes and you’ll be on your way to a stunning, flawless look.

I would love to hear how you go with these new techniques and if you have any questions at all.

Published on December 2, 2020

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