Eyeliner Makeup: Tips For Women Over 40+

by: Linda Robison

See how eyeliner makeup can perk up tired looking eyes. I'll show you some quick easy tips especially for older women that looks classy and natural.

Eyeliner makeup TipsTips for eyeliner on older eyes.

Here's what you'll find on this page:

  • Personalized advice on eyeliner application for women over 40.
  • Expert makeup tips and insights from makeup artist Debra Rubin-Roberts.
  • Gel shadow alternatives to traditional eyeliner for a more natural appearance.
  • Tips to brighten tired eyes and make them look and whiter.
  • Recommendations for eyeliner colors and techniques to enhance your look.
  • Product suggestions for achieving the best results.

At what age should a woman stop wearing eyeliner?

At what age should a woman stop wearing eyeliner? 

I say Never!

I love wearing eyeliner and I still do, even though I'm over 60! The trick is finding unique tips to make it work for you. While many makeup artists offer "rules" about eyeliner for older women, I prefer a personalized approach that enhances our natural beauty.

woman with bright eyes

P.S. Don't miss this step-by-step eyeliner tutorial below on how to use eyeliner for brighter, whiter eyes.

Is there a wrong or right way to wear eyeliner?

Close up of eye wearing too much eyeliner. How to use pencil eyeliner.

Many blogs and YouTube videos suggest avoiding dark or heavy eyeliner for mature eyes—or skipping it entirely. But just because the rules have changed for women over 40 doesn’t mean we should forgo eyeliner altogether.

tips for eyeliner on upper lid

Concerned that eyeliner might make your eyes look smaller or highlight wrinkles? Before giving up, try these gel and pencil tips to make your eyes appear bigger, brighter, and livelier.

We're told it's wrong to wear black or dark eyeliner if we're over 40 or 50. Experts say it's too harsh, may accentuate lines and dark circles and make eyes seem small.

how to put on eyeliner on upper lidsHow to apply upper eyeliner.

So to remedy this try wearing a small amount of eyeliner on the inside of the upper lid. Here I'm applying a black eyeliner on the inside the upper eyelid rim, between the lashes, and sometimes right along the lash line.

But, I don't draw the liner all the way across my eye, just darken the outer corners.

Tips for Eyeliner on lower lid

Experts will tell you never apply dark liner to lower lids. It will exaggerate wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles and even make your eyes look smaller.

Showing how to apply eyeliner on lower eyelid. Best white eyeliner for waterline.How to do bottom eyeliner.

However, I found that applying a small amount of black liner to the outer 1/3 of the inner lower lid works well. The trick is to never draw the line all the way into the inner corners of the eyes.

Note: Got crinkly or crisscross lines under your eyes? Check out this review of the top under eye puffy serums. You'd be surprised which ones are the worst!

Want to wear eye makeup without eyeliner?

If you choose not to wear eyeliner, but still want to highlight your eyes, skip the pencils and crayons and opt for a gel shadow or neutral highlighter in a creamy champagne or golden-brown shade.

Like the one I'm using in the picture below.

Best eyeliner tips. Shimmery golden caramel Any Wear cream on upper and lower eyelids.How to wear bright eyeliner. Here I'm using an eye makeup that is creamy but goes on with the easy of a gel.

This color is Golden Carmel Brown. It can be used to highlight brows, eyelids, and cheeks. It's called the Any Wear Cream. It's waterproof, smudge proof and comes in several colors. 

And it comes with the thinnest brush I've ever seen, so I'm able to draw a thin line of dashes along the upper and lower eyes. Avoiding the harsh look of eyeliner makeup.

Let's explore some tips and expert advice from Debra Rubin-Roberts is an Award-winning makeup artist…

How to apply eyeliner shadow

Here, the owner of Mommy Makeup, Debra shows how to apply colored eyeliner and how to use it as an eyeshadow, lip color, and cheek color/highlighter.

What's nice about this color is that it accentuates the eyes without having to use dark eyeliner and brings a lift to the upper eye area! It's also a great eyeliner color for blondes.

eyeliner cream Golden Caramel Mommy MakeupMommy Makeup Any Wear Cream in Golden Caramel

It comes in 15 other gorgeous colors!

How to make eyes whiter

What makes your eyes look brighter and less tired?

According to Debra Rubin-Roberts, Award-Winning Makeup Artist: "Choosing the right eyeliner color can make all the difference, regardless of your eye color. Certain shades of green eyeliner, like hunter green, can make the whites of your eyes really pop!"

How to apply green eyeliner for brighter eyes

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How to wear white eyeliner over 50

Another eyeliner makeup trick for mature eyes that really works to brighten and open them up is applying a bit creamy white eyeliner inside or along the rim of the lower eyelids.

How to apply white eyeliner

Showing how to wear white eyeliner over 40. Best white eyeliner for waterlineAPPLY WHITE EYELINER TO WATERLINE

There are many ways to apply white eyeliner. Here is what I like to do...

Run a creamy white eyeliner pencil to the inner corners of your eyes only. You can apply inside the lower eyelid or right under the eyelash line. 

Note: Apply white eyeliner to only the inside 1/3 of the eyelid. Don't draw the eyeliner all the way out to the outside corners of the eye. I find it makes me look too washed out or tired.

Best white eyeliner for the waterline

Originally, I was using a cheap drugstore brand, wooded pencil eyeliner, but it was too white, it didn't last long, and irritated my eyes.

So I switched to Maybelline TattooStudio Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil. It's a hybrid of a gel and pencil that last all day and works very well on the waterline.

Note: I have a problem with white eyeliner irritating my eyes. It's been hard to find one that doesn't make my eyes swell or get watery. That's why I went with the Maybelline brand. Oddly enough, Maybelline eyeliners don't give me any trouble, even though they're not officially labeled as hypoallergenic.

Final eyeliner tips

Note: Do you have issues with your eyes that make wearing eyeliner difficult, like, wrinkles, poor vision, or contact lenses? Click here to read: How do I apply eyeliner on mature eyes to make my eyes look younger?

To get the best look for your eyes, play around and experiment with different types of eyeliner makeup to see what works for you.

And don't forget to give waterproof gel eyeliners a try.

Many women find them much easier to use than liquid eyeliners. Hopefully at the end of the day you’ll find the best combination of eyeliner makeup tips that'll make your eyes just pop!

Also, head over to Eye Makeup Tips for Aging Eyes for more helpful tips for younger looking eyes. Also, find some quick beauty hacks to make your eyes look less tired.

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