Droopy eyelids are a natural part of the aging process, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them. Makeup has the power to instantly lift aging eyes and help you create a more youthful, refreshed look.
So, if you’re looking for the ultimate makeup technique to enhance your natural beauty and achieve a youthful, lifted eye look, you’re in the right place!
Today, I’ll share a transformative method I personally learned from Rae Morris, one of the world’s leading makeup artists. Techniques from celebrity makeup artists like her have shaped the skills of many aspiring professionals in the beauty industry.
This technique, called “Eye Phi,” is specifically designed for mature skin and works beautifully with wrinkles and natural contours, making it the perfect choice for women over 50.
This is the best makeup tips for droopy eyelids that will lift your eyes and enhance your natural beauty. You’ll learn how to use eye makeup for droopy eyes to create a lifted, youthful appearance with saggy eyelids makeup tips, makeup tricks, and expert techniques.
Let’s explore the steps and science behind this incredible method.
What are Droopy Eyelids?
Droopy eyelids, medically known as ptosis, occur when the upper eyelid sags or falls, partially or completely covering the eye. This condition can be a result of various factors, including aging, genetics, or underlying medical issues.
Droopy eyelids can significantly affect the appearance of your eyes, making them look tired, aged, or even asymmetrical. This can impact not only your look but also your confidence.
Knowing what causes droopy eyes is the first thing you need to do to learn how to use makeup to fix and improve them.
Causes of Droopy Eyelids
Several factors can contribute to the development of droopy eyelids:
- Aging: As we age, the muscles and tendons that support our eyelids can weaken, leading to drooping. This is a natural part of the aging process.
- Genetics: Some individuals are born with droopy eyelids due to genetic factors. If your parents or grandparents had droopy eyelids, you might be more likely to develop them as well.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or stroke, can cause droopy eyelids. These conditions may affect the muscles or nerves that control the eyelids.
- Injury or Trauma: A blow to the eye or head can damage the muscles or nerves around the eyelid, leading to drooping.
- Neurological Disorders: Conditions like myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease can affect the muscles and nerves, causing droopy eyelids.
Knowing what causes your eyelids to droop can help you decide how to best use makeup to fix and improve the problem.
How to Determine if You Have Droopy Eyelids
If you want to know if you have droopy eyelids, look for the following signs:
- Drooping Upper Eyelid: The most obvious sign is when the upper eyelid sags or falls, partially or completely covering the eye.
- Asymmetrical Appearance: One eyelid may droop more than the other, creating an uneven or asymmetrical look.
- Tired or Aged Appearance: Droopy eyelids can make your eyes look tired or aged, even if you feel well-rested.
- Vision Problems: In severe cases, droopy eyelids can interfere with your vision, making it difficult to see clearly.
If you notice any of these signs, you may have droopy eyelids. Fortunately, with the right makeup techniques, you can enhance your eyes and create a more lifted, youthful appearance.
What Is Eye Phi?
“Eye Phi” is a technique that enhances the natural symmetry of your face while creating a lifted, youthful eye look. It’s based on the golden ratio (1:1.618), a proportion often found in nature, art, and even human facial structures.
When you apply your makeup with these proportions, you can accentuate your natural beauty and achieve a harmonious, refreshed appearance. This method is adaptable to various eye shapes, including droopy and hooded eyes, ensuring that makeup application enhances your natural features effectively.
I had the privilege of learning this technique directly from Rae Morris, and it has been a revelation, especially for mature eyes. This method works beautifully with wrinkles and the natural contours of the face, creating a lifted, polished look without emphasizing imperfections. It truly is the perfect technique for enhancing natural beauty at any age.
When it comes to lifting aging eyes or tackling droopy eyelids, Eye Phi will ensure that makeup application helps define your eyes while maintaining a harmonious balance with the rest of your features.
The Golden Ratio and Your Face
The golden ratio plays a significant role in what is perceived as beautiful. It is a concept that can help enhance your facial symmetry, which is essential when doing makeup for droopy eyes.
Knowing your eye shape is important in applying these principles effectively, as different eye shapes may require tailored techniques to achieve the desired look.
According to Eye Phi, there are specific points on the face where attention should be drawn to create a natural and balanced look. On the face, Eye Phi determines the ideal distance between your eyes, the width of your nose, and the proportions of your lips. Applying makeup using this principle can subtly enhance these features, giving the illusion of perfect symmetry and balance.
For droopy eyelids, this means emphasizing areas like the brow bone, the lash line, and the inner corner of the eyes. Makeup may help your eyes look brighter, more awake, and younger by focusing on these areas.
For those interested in the science behind this, a study published by PubMed Central explores the significance of the golden ratio in facial aesthetics and how it influences perceptions of beauty.
For the eyes, the golden ratio helps identify the most flattering placement for shadows, liners, and highlights, ensuring that everything works together to lift and open the eyes.
How to Prepare Your Eyes for Makeup
Prime Your Lids
Priming your lids is a crucial step in preparing your eyes for makeup, especially if you have droopy eyelids. A good primer creates a smooth surface for your eye makeup, ensuring it stays in place and looks flawless throughout the day.
Here’s how to prime your lids effectively:
- Choose the Right Primer: Select an eye primer that suits your skin type and addresses your specific needs, such as reducing the appearance of fine lines or enhancing the longevity of your eye makeup.
- Apply a Small Amount: Squeeze a small amount of primer onto your fingertip or a fluffy brush. A little goes a long way, so you don’t need much.
- Blend Evenly: Gently apply the primer to your upper eyelid, starting from the lash line and blending up to the crease. Make sure to cover the entire area evenly.
- Let it Set: Allow the primer to set for a few seconds before applying your eye makeup. This will help to create a smooth, even base that enhances the color and longevity of your eye shadows.
Priming your lids creates a smooth canvas for eye makeup, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and minimizing creasing and smearing. This step is especially important for those with droopy eyelids, as it ensures your makeup stays in place and looks fresh all day long.
READ ALSO: Perfect Eye Makeup For Mature Eyes
Step-by-Step Guide: Makeup for Women Over 50
Follow these steps to recreate the Eye Phi technique and achieve a lifted, youthful look:
1. Prepare Your Canvas
- Cleanse and moisturize your skin.
- Apply a lightweight eye cream to hydrate the delicate eye area.
- Use a primer on your lids to ensure a smooth base for eyeshadow and prevent creasing.
- For those with hooded eyes, ensure the primer is applied evenly across the upper eyelids to create a smooth base for makeup application.
2. Define Your Brows
- Shape your brows to follow their natural arch, but give them a slightly lifted tail. This creates an instant lifting effect.
- Fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder, keeping the strokes light and natural.
- Use a spoolie to blend the product for a polished look.
READ ALSO: How To Eyebrow Tutorial For Women With Mature Eyes
3. Map the Phi Lines
- Imagine a line extending diagonally from the outer corner of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. This is your Eye Phi guide.
- Mark this line lightly with your eyeliner or eyeshadow to guide your shadow placement.
4. Identify the Key Eyeliner or Shadow Points
- Locate the highest point of your upper eyelid—this is the natural peak where your eyelid curves the most.
- Find the lowest point of your lower eyelid—this is the spot where your lower lash line dips closest to your cheek.
- Draw an imaginary line connecting these two points. This line determines where your eyeliner should end, ensuring a harmonious and lifted effect.
5. Apply Transition Shadow
- Use a neutral matte shade slightly darker than your skin tone as your transition color.
- Blend it into the crease following the Phi line, extending slightly upward and outward to create the illusion of a lifted eye.
6. Deepen the Outer V
- Apply a deeper shade (such as taupe or soft brown) to the outer corner of your eye, focusing on the area along the Phi line.
- Blend upwards and outwards to elongate and lift the eyes.
7. Highlight Strategically
- Use a shimmer or satin finish shade to highlight the center of your lid and the inner corner of your eye.
- This brightens the eyes and draws attention to the golden points of the face.
8. Line with Precision
- Begin applying eyeliner from the center of your eyelid, aligning it with the highest point of your upper lid.
- Gradually thicken the line as you approach the outer corner, ending the liner at the imaginary line between the highest point of your upper lid and the lowest point of your lower lid.
- Wing the liner slightly upward along this guide for a subtle lift.
9. Curl and Coat Lashes
- Curl your lashes to open up the eyes.
- Apply two coats of lengthening and volumizing mascara, focusing on the outer lashes for a fanned-out effect.
10. Final Touches
- Clean up any fallout with a makeup wipe or concealer.
- Apply a brightening concealer under the eyes, blending outward for a seamless finish.
- Set your makeup with a light dusting of translucent powder.
READ ALSO: 10 Top Age-Defying Makeup Tips Over 50
Why Eye Phi Works
The Eye Phi technique works because it aligns your makeup application with the natural harmony of your face. Improving symmetry and paying attention to angles will give you a balanced look that makes your eyes look better and draws attention to your best features.
This technique is perfect for women over 50 who want to look refreshed and vibrant without appearing overdone. The goal is to focus on the outer corner of your eyes and avoid heavy shadows or makeup that may make your eyelids look heavier.
Instead, go for techniques that brighten the lash line and emphasize the crease shadow to create an illusion of depth, lifting your eyes upwards.
How to Lift Upper Eyelid with Makeup
One of the best makeup tricks for droopy eyelids is to play with eye shadow. Begin by applying a lighter shade on your eyelid to open up the lid space, making your eyes appear more awake.
For hooded eye makeup, using small blending brushes for precision and incorporating specific techniques can help enhance the appearance of hooded eyelids.
Use darker shadow shades along the crease to create depth and definition, but avoid applying too much product on the upper eyelid, which can weigh it down.
Next, focus on the outer edge of your eyelids to draw attention away from the droop. Applying a small amount of matte eye shadow at the outer corner of your eyes can help create the illusion of lifted eyes and add dimension to your overall eye makeup.
Droopy Eyelids Makeup: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare Your Eyelids
Start by applying an eye primer to create a smooth base for your eye makeup. This will ensure that your eye shadow stays in place and lasts longer.
When applying makeup on upper eyelids, especially for those with hooded eyes, it’s important to focus on techniques that enhance visibility and avoid heavy shadows that can make the eyelids look heavier.
2. Define the Brow Bone
Highlighting your brow bone can instantly lift your eyes. Use a light eye shadow or a highlighter to accentuate this area, creating the illusion of a raised brow.
3. Use a Matte Shade
Apply a matte eyeshadow in a neutral tone across your eyelid, from the inner corner to the outer corner. Avoid using shimmery shades here, as they can emphasize the droopy eyelids.
4. Add Depth with a Darker Shadow
To create a more open eye, apply a darker eye shadow in the natural crease. Focus on the outer corner of your eyelid and blend upwards to the brow bone. This technique helps lift aging eyes and adds depth to the crease.
5. Line the Upper Lash Line
Use a soft pencil eyeliner to gently line the upper lash line. Focus on the outer edge of the eye, as this will help lift the eye and create the appearance of a firmer eyelid.
6. Highlight the Inner Corner
Brighten up the inner corner of your eyes with a light, shimmering eye shadow. This will help to open up the eyes, making them look larger and more awake.
7. Apply Mascara
Finish the look by applying mascara to your lashes. Focus on the upper lashes, emphasizing the outer corners to create a cat-eye effect. This will enhance the eye opening effect and draw attention away from the droop.
Hooded Eye Makeup: Tailored Tips
For those with hooded droopy eyes, the technique to lift aging eyes requires a few modifications. The key is to create an illusion of depth and dimension while avoiding heavy shadows that could accentuate the hooded eyelids.
- Apply a soft matte shadow across the lid space, focusing on the outer corner to lift the eye.
- For hooded eye makeup, using small blending brushes and focusing on precision can help enhance the appearance of hooded eyelids.
- Use a darker color in the natural crease and brow bone to give the eyes a lifted look.
- Avoid applying eye makeup too low on the upper eyelid.
- Use eyeliner to define the upper waterline and add subtle definition to the upper lash line.
Saggy Eyelids Makeup Tips
If you have sagging eyelids, you may notice that your eyelids droop even more due to the skin’s natural loss of elasticity.
Here are a few additional sagging eyelids makeup tips to consider:
- Avoid heavy liner on the lower lash line. Instead, use a soft eyeliner to define the upper lash line and create the illusion of a lifted eye.
- When working with upper eyelids, especially for those with hooded eyes, it’s important to use techniques that enhance visibility and avoid heavy shadows that can make the eyelids look heavier.
- Focus on creating a high arch with your eyebrows. A well-defined brow can naturally lift your eyes and add to the overall youthful look.
- When applying eye shadow, focus on darker shades to contour the outer corner of your eyes and brighten the inner corner.
READ ALSO: Eye Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Makeup Tips for Droopy Eyes: Dos and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Use matte shadows for the eyelid and crease to avoid emphasizing sagging skin.
- Focus on the outer edge and upper lash line to define and lift the eyes.
- Use a pencil eyeliner for a softer, more natural look.
- Apply false eyelashes to the upper lash line to add volume and lift to the eyes.
Don’ts:
- Avoid heavy eye shadow on the lower lash line, which can weigh down your eyes.
- Don’t apply makeup too close to the inner corner, as this can make your eyes look smaller.
- Avoid using too much shimmer on the eyelids, as it can highlight sagging eyelids.
Final Thoughts
With the right makeup for droopy eyelids, you can make your aging eyes look younger and more raised. Using the Eye Phi technique and focusing on the brow bone, outer corner, and lash line, you can quickly make your eyes look younger and more refreshed.
If you want to look younger with lifted eye look, learning the Eye Phi technique is a must. It is also easy to get a beautiful makeup look if you know about the golden ratio and follow these steps.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Experiment with these steps to find what works best for your unique features. You’ll be amazed at how a few strategic changes can transform your appearance.
Let us know how the Eye Phi technique works for you! Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
♡ Love ♡,
Schellea.