The Best Eye Makeup Tips For Enhancing The Beauty Of Mature Skin

At any age, it's important for women to feel confident in their own skin. Whether you're making the decision to go completely makeup free in your more mature years, like Pamela Anderson or explore the world of makeup, what matters most is that you feel beautiful and good.

As much as we'd all love to stick with the same makeup look forever, this doesn't always work out in our favor. Cruise any makeup SubReddit and you'll encounter many women over 50 voicing concerns of struggling with sudden fine line creasing, cakey-ness, and shadow flaking they never experienced before. Though it's frustrating, it's not out of the ordinary. 

"Mature skin, especially around the eyes, tends to lose elasticity, become drier, and develop fine lines, which means that some techniques or shades used on younger skin might not be as flattering," explains Jocelyn Biga, celebrity makeup artist and beauty educator, whose extensive client list includes the likes of Kimora Lee Simmons and Nafessa Williams. This doesn't mean you have to give up wearing eyeshadow or mascara for good, though. By modifying your routine, you can still create a look that flatters your face and makes you feel great. 

Mature skin tends to struggle with dryness, so ensuring it's hydrated is the key important part of the overall makeup process. Biga advised using a small amount of eye cream like the Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum on the lids and on the under eyes before applying an eyeshadow primer. This will turn your lids into a smooth canvas for the product to glide on by minimizing the appearance of fine lines. It can also help prevent creasing throughout the day. Biga's favorites are Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer and Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Primer.

Black, liquid eyeliner is a mainstay in many makeup bags because of it's classic look. However, when applied in a thick layer, it can cause the eyes to look smaller, which can emphasize crepey skin around the lids and be aging.

To avoid this pitfall, Biga suggested swapping out dark and heavy eyeliners for a pencil product in a subtle shade like brown. "Neutral and soft shades complement mature skin better than overly bold or dark hues," she said. This will enhance your natural eye color and make your eyes look a bit larger. You'll also want to adjust your application. Instead of drawing on a thick, sharp line, Biga says to "smudge [...] for a natural definition." 

Mattifying makeup products can be helpful for making your eyeshadow last, but on mature skin, they can be extra dying. They're also known to further emphasize fine lines and wrinkles. Instead, try and stick with cream formula eyeshadows. Along with being easier to apply, these products will feel much more comfortable on dry lids and won't sink into textured areas or fine lines.

Biga added that excessively powdering the face is a makeup mistake you want to avoid at all costs. Instead, stick with cream-based products as they tend to "blend more seamlessly on mature skin." One option is Julep Eyeshadow 101 Creme-to-Powder Waterproof Stick, which comes in over 20 different matte and shimmer shades. "If necessary, use a finely milled, lightweight setting powder only on targeted areas," she exclusively told Women.com. Her suggested product for this technique is Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint.

Biga explained that it may not be a bad idea for those with mature skin to avoid waterproof formulas, as they can intensify dryness and removing such formulas can be quite the hassle. Remember, we want to avoid anything that's drying which is why she suggests using tubing mascara like the Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. Another thing she added in the avoids list was lines that are too thick and harsh when it comes to eyeliner. This has the tendency to make the eyes look smaller than they are. So, avoid any thick eyeliner pencils and "use a soft pencil or smudged liner for a lifted effect." Her go-to product is the Maybelline Master Precise Gel Eyeliner.