Beauty editor Suzanne Baum was told by a makeup artist that the way she was applying her black kohl eyeliner was doing her no favours. Here she shares her newfound secret to defining her eyes with this genius and more youthful eyeliner technique...
Are you over the age of 40 and still religiously applying black kohl eyeliner in your waterline? If so, be warned, it’s probably aging you!
That was me, until recently! Whilst my beauty routine has changed quite a bit over the years, I’d never really dropped the nineties black kohl eyeliner trend – a product that had been a staple in my makeup bag since my teens. It wasn’t until my trustworthy makeup artist and friend, Dani Levi, suggested I swap it for something lighter, and less dramatic, that she opened my eyes to the fact it wasn’t doing me any favours in my quest to look youthful. The harshness of the black kohl made my sometimes tired eyes look even smaller and drew attention to the fine lines that have slowly appeared at the corner of my lids.
Eyeliner tricks for older women
When it comes to wearing eyeliner as an older woman, I’ve learnt there’s quite a few tricks of the trade that you need to take on board. We want to lift and give our eyes definition, whilst achieving a youthful appearance that does not hone in on wrinkles and crepey lids. The skin around the eye area becomes more delicate as we age, so it’s important to avoid applying excessive pressure when lining your eyes, and choosing softer colours to enhance your features and give skin a younger appearance is super important. What I’ve also learnt is you can warm up your pencil by running across the inside of your wrist a few times if it is not coming out creamy enough. And start from the outer corner of your eye and work your way in with the eyeliner; a good tip if you have a shaky hand!
Expert advice on how to apply eyeliner on older women
Below, I spoke to makeup artist Dani about her advice on how to wear eyeliner when you are over 50, plus the best product recommendations for eyeliners that are worth looking out for.
“Dark eyeliners can be a total hit or miss and in some cases, they can add years on to you,” explains Dani, a London-based professional makeup artist. “Black liners will smoke a look out, but steer clear if you have little eyes or are tired as they will make the area appear a lot smaller.
“For hooded eyes I always refrain from using a liquid eyeliner. Not only will the eyeliner transfer onto your upper lid but it can close the eyes up and make them look much smaller. Instead of using liquid, try swapping to a brown kohl liner for a softer look. Apply the liner to the lash line only; this is called a ‘tight line’; and then use a brush to smudge it out so the look isn’t so harsh. This is a much easier way to apply your eyeliner and gives a more natural finish to your look.”
Experiment with shades
According to Dani, it is a good idea to spend time experimenting with what softer shades of brown suit your complexion best. And if brown does not do it for you, try using a lighter colour which can help make your eyes stand out.
“Brown shades might not be for everyone and if you are struggling with hooded or dark and tired eyes then try swapping to a nude eyeliner. If you are looking to brighten up the eyes I always suggest using a nude shade as not only does this open up the face but it’s also super soft and flattering. I love to apply the nude liner to the waterline as it really brightens the eyes and helps make them shine.”
As for other shades of eyeliners, Dani believes that older women can most definitely get away with using a pop of colour on the eyes. “I always find if you go more fun on the eyes, you can put less makeup on the skin as it takes any focus away from fine lines. I use navy a lot on my more mature clients as I find it’s super flattering.
“A lot of my clients struggle with eyeliner transferring throughout the day and smudging, so my best tip is to buy waterproof liners that won’t move.”
Dani's top five eyeliners for mature women
A long-wearing kohl eye pencil that glides on smoothly and is delicate on the skin.
A creamy smudge-free eyeliner that is infused with skin-loving ingredients.
A waterproof eyeliner that has lasting power and doesn’t budge!
A highly pigmented, gel-like eyeliner pencil with 12-hour wear.
This eyeliner is rich in colour and gives a silky smooth finish.
Dani Levi is a professional make-up artist in London who works with women, brides and celebrities. As well as the owner of her own make-up brand in her name, Dani recently opened a studio shop in Hertfordshire where she works out from, whilst continuing to freelance across the world.
Suzanne Baum is an award-winning beauty editor, with columns across numerous outlets, including the Metro, Women's Fitness, the Independent and Yahoo.
Having written about beauty for over 20 years, Suzanne regularly reports on the latest beauty news; from trialling out new beauty innovations and aesthetic treatments to writing on the best products for women and men. With a keen interest in mature skincare, Suzanne has written extensively on everything from the best products to use during the menopause to how to protect your skin from the sun. Having established an excellent working relationship with PR's and beauty experts, Suzanne is often the first to know about new innovations on the market and to report on them.