Eyes are one of the most attractive features of the face and often the highlight of any makeup look. As we grow older, with the onset of wrinkles and loose skin, we might need to get more creative with flattering eye make looks for older women. It is important to invest in products and makeup routines that make your eyes look bigger, brighter and more lifted. In a recent red-carpet look, Lesley Manville carried off a double eyeliner look and showed us how it can help achieve this exact effect and make your eyes look stunning!
What is double eyeliner?
The most common way to apply eyeliner is to line the upper lid of your eye just above your lashes. Using the best eyeliners for hooded eyes, you can create the effect of bigger and bolder eyes that stand out more. While a simple swatch can reduce the impact of hooded eyes, mastering the art of applying double eyeliner can further elevate your makeup looks.
In addition to the upper lid or waterline, a double eyeliner look involves applying eyeliner, kohl, kajal or eyeshadow along the bottom of your eyes as well, below your lower lashes. The choice of colours, intensity of pigment and manner of application determines the final look and the right combinations – for example, Lesley Manville’s look – can take years off your eyes.
How to get Lesley Manville’s eyeliner look?
Lesley Manville has used a dark shade of eyeliner to line her upper lid. Make sure you are starting off light and making it bold gradually. For a blended look, you can use a cotton bud to gently create a mild smoky effect. You can also line your upper waterline which will create the illusion of fuller lashes. You can do this by looking down and gently swiping the kohl or liner along your upper lid’s waterline.
Going heavy with the eyeliner on your lower lashes can make your eyes look weighed down and older. Lesley Manville’s look avoids this by using a lighter shade of eyeliner –a brownish-bronze – that makes her eyes look brighter and bigger. The metallic shade’s dull shine further adds to this effect.
Apply the liner along the entire lower waterline. But for below the lower lashes, make sure to apply gentle strokes starting from the outer corner of your eye and don’t bring it fully to the inner corner. This can be seen in Kate Middleton’s double eyeliner makeup look shown below as well. For a smokier finish, gently dab with a cotton bud to blend it out.
Another trick to make your eye look bigger and brighter while going for a double eyeliner look is to lightly line the lower waterline with a white eyeliner and using a lighter coloured eyeliner only below the lashes. Kate Middleton’s look as shown before follows these tips and is a simple one to recreate.
Best products to recreate Lesley Manville’s double eyeliner look
trinnylondon.com
The Trinny London Line2Define eyeliner tops our list of the best eyeliners for mature women and according to our tester, it is easy to use and lasts long. “The liner glides smoothly over the eyelid, then it sets so it cannot be smudged, plus it's waterproof. The retractable pencil gives a fine point without the need for sharpening,” she said.
Our tester was impressed with the packaging and overall product design too. There's a sharpener included in this dual-ended design, so you can get a precision line every time. There are six shades to choose from – black, brown, dark blue, dark green, bronze shimmer and champagne shimmer.
With this eyeliner you get tight lines for your upper lid and waterlines. The formula is creamy and blendable, which makes it possible to achieve a smoky look as well. You can choose a dark colour and a lighter one to recreate Lesley Manville’s look!
Pros
- High quality, everything from the packaging to the pen design and application
- Gorgeous range of colours to express your personality
- Fine on sensitive eyes
Cons
- Customers want a grey shade – by popular demand!
www.studio10beauty.com
Studio 10 I-lift Longwear Kajal Liner is a creamy eye liner pencil that gives you two shades in one – a dark colour along with a lighter/white shade for your lower waterline to create the illusion of bigger eyes like you see with Kate Middleton’s look. Our tester says, “It's long-lasting and double-ended, which means you can get creative with blending.”
“It glides on like a dream and it feels soft and gentle on my lower waterline. I was chopping onions and crying like a baby, even when I wiped my eyes with a tissue the liner stayed in place. I'm really pleased to discover this range as it didn't upset my sensitive eyes,” she added.
It is made for mature skin and contains antioxidants, vitamins and oil to condition your skin and protect your eyes as well.
Pros
- Is gentle on sensitive skin and eyes
- Built-in sharpener and soft-smudge tip
- Glides on well and won't drag on skin
- Withstands humidity so it's a good choice for summer
- You get two shades in one
Cons
- Customers comment that a lot of pencil is lost when trying to sharpen it
Cliniquewww.boots.com
The Clinique Quickliner for Eyes has the convenience of a twist up eyeliner, with no need to sharpen. It sets in a minute, allowing time to blend, before drying to a smudge-proof finish. A customer says it even stayed in place when swimming.
Whilst some customers had concerns over the design of the twist mechanism, others praised the design for keeping the eyeliner protected and at a consistent temperature. It also survived being dropped. If you're looking for an eyeliner to pop in your handbag, to apply after you've been to the gym, this is a good choice for portability.
There's a range of colours to choose from that are intended to define your eyes and enhance the iris, rather than highlight. Choose from sumptuous Dark Chocolate, True Khaki, Roast Coffee and more.
Pros
- Stays in place
- A lovely range of colours is available
- No need to sharpen
- Includes smudging tip
Cons
- Customers comment about flaws in the twist mechanism
Akhila Thomas is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and her areas of interest are beauty, fashion, food, wellness and lifestyle. She has previously written for magazines like Leftlion, Women’s Health and t’Art and worked extensively with art, culture, fashion and social media trends. She also likes to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.