This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
For mature beauties over 40, finding the right eyeliner can be tricky—and not just because of the sheer amount of products on the market. If used incorrectly, this makeup tool can sometimes make your eyes look sunken or emphasize wrinkles, which might not be the intention. To help navigate these pitfalls, we spoke to a professional makeup artist who shared two surprising eyeliner mistakes that often add years to someone’s look, plus tips on how to fix them.
We caught up with celebrity MUAs Gargi Patel and Andrea Claire for suggestions and insight fir avoiding eyeliner errors that can be aging, and how to use your favorite formula for a more flattering result.
2 Eyeliner Errors That Can Add Years To Your Look
Mistake #1. Not Using Primer Beforehand
Before even applying eyeliner at all, Patel explains that it is essential to use a primer on your eyelids.
This, she says, will prevent smudging and smearing as primers are designed to lock in your eyeliner in place."The goal is to always keep the eyeliner in places you want it to stay," she says.
Patel adds, "Let’s start with preparation of the eye area. Using a good primer suitable for the eye area will help to keep not only your eyeliner in place, but also your eyeshadow."
She also notes that your primer "should also hydrate the eye area so liquid eyeliners will not dry out, causing pieces to land in places that will not give a clean look."
2. Going Too Dark On The Lower Lash Line
One common eyeliner mistake that Claire sees women often make is "adding more darkness" when they already have dark eye circles, "especially with lining the lower lash line."
This, she notes, means that wrinkles, dark spots and other signs of aging can look even more prominent. The key is to only add a super-dark eyeliner shade (if you want to, as there are plenty of non-black, flattering ones out there) to the upper lash line.
3 Pro Tips For Mastering Eyeliner On Mature Skin
1. Stay On Your Upper Lash Line
If you "love your liner and have dark circles," she says, "keep your liner to the top lash line." A little trick that Claire uses "to counter darkness" is to apply a "nude liner to the lower waterline, which helps to open and brighten the eyes."
2. Find A Reliable Liquid Liner
Today, Patel says, we have pencils, pens, liquid liner, crayons, powdered, and compact eyeliner, meaning there are plenty of products to choose from (and experimenting with makeup at any age can be fun).
Liquid liner, she points out, "requires a steady hand, allowing little room for error." If this is your favorite, she says to "invest in a good liquid liner that does not flake."
3. Opt For A Pencil In Your Favorite Color
For a timeless pro tip, Patel says that "pencils are the easiest" to use, and "allow you to go from a light stroke to a bolder line." She also suggests that if you like to line your bottom lashes, "try to create a thinner line."
A heavier line, she warns, can melt, and "slip down to create raccoon eyes." This, she adds, "pertains to the upper eyelid, as well, especially if your lids tend to droop down." Good to know!
