I’d say 90% of the time I work with an over 40 client, they say, “Can you just make me look not so TIRED?!” or, “I want you to make my eyes POP because they seem to disappear into my face!” I’d say that in order to not look so exhausted (because aren’t we all exhausted??), when it comes to doing makeup, the eyes are always my main focus.
So yes, our makeup bags can contain pro-aging powers! Of course it goes without saying that a consistent skincare routine is one of your major secret weapons when it comes to a more vibrant face. But you can also use makeup to really take a few years off, especially with the eye area.
Ahead, you’ll find a few really great tools and makeup tricks I’ve picked up through the years that work for almost every gal with aging eyes that are going a bit droopy or hooded. I guarantee, they’ll step up your makeup game—and help you look as young as you feel!
Keep scrolling to see your eye makeup checklist…
Eye Bed Prep
You’ll need: Clarins Total Eye Lift Concentrate, $92 + LUMIFY redness eye drops, $22.
It just makes sense to hydrate the crepey skin around the eyes first before any makeup is applied. This is one of only a handful of eye creams that I actually bother using, and it contains a visibly lifting and smoothing plant duo exclusive to Clarins.
Apply a few drops of it all around the eye bed, let them sit for a few seconds, then tap them into the surrounding skin with your middle or ring finger until it dries down and you feel a slight lift!
And also, whiten the whites of those eyes ladies! It’s just like I preach about whitening our teeth as we age – dull teeth and red or yellow eyes IMMEDIATELY ages you! So fix these two things first. No makeup skills required.
I just paid a visit to the eye doctor (you can watch my reel about this much needed trip + my new glasses on my Instagram here) and made sure it’s okay how much I use the Bausch + Lomb drops and she said 100% they’re wonderful and she uses them herself!
Prime & Paint
You’ll need: Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener, $28, Colourpop Stone Cold Fox palette, $35.
The first thing makeup wise, is to brighten and prime your upper and lower eyelids. Doing that with this Fenty eye brightener is an easy way to do so. And if you just hate concealer, using this product will brighten in a sheer way that could help you omit the concealer step if your dark circles aren’t too bad.
I apply it onto the entire upper lid as a primer and then a few dots underneath, just using my finger – I’m using color “crepe.”
Then when it comes to shadow, you ladies who have been here a while know I swear by this palette for its great mix of wearable neutrals, shimmers, and mattes. Apply a nude or ivory shape all over the lid, heavy under the brow bone for lift.
Then take your pick or warm or cool browns/taupes and highlight the outer corners of the eye bed in a sideways V fashion.This creates enough depth and dimension without overloading your eyebed with too much dark shadow.
Line Up
You’ll need : NYX Epic Wear Liner stick, shade “Berry Goth,” $9 + tarte Fake Awake pencil, shade “nude,” $24, BK Beauty precision liner brush, $15.
Want the key to really pretty eyeliner that looks smooth and straight? Apply your traditional pencil liner as usual. But then grab an eyeliner brush and a matching shadow shade (that closely matches your liner, I used a deep mauve shade from the Colourpop palette) then swipe the brush + shadow over the pencil, back and forth until the liner looks like a smooth line with no jagged peaks. It works so well!
Bonus points if you tightline the upper lash line with your pencil. I used a purple-ish shade, “Berry Goth” here, which honestly, this type of color looks good on all eye colors and is more fun than traditional brown or black.
Then grab your nude eyeliner, and swipe along the inner lower water line to further make the whites of the eyes appear wider and brighter. One of my very favorite eye makeup tricks.
Curl Up
You’ll need: Shiseido eyelash curler, $27 + Maybelline Falsies Surreal Mascara, $13.
It bears repeating. Curl your eyelashes, no matter how short. Give them the pushup bra effect. Then coat them in your favorite mascara. Simple as that. I am in awe of the volume that this latest Maybelline mascara can do for sad skimpy lashes!!
What Dark Circles?
You’ll need: Dior Backstage concealer, $32 + Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Talc -Free loose powder, $26.
If you have aging eyes, you’ll love love this Dior formula because of how hydrating and non-cakey it is, and the brush is so precise!! I’m wearing shade 3N. Apply it specifically where you see the hollows of your eyes (not below those) and then into the inner corner of the eye bed next to your nose.
Then further brighten and secure that creamy concealer in place with a few touches of loose powder. I do like the pale rose shade of the iconic Laura Mercier powder for adding on top of my concealer for fair to light-medium skin gals, and their honey shade for medium skin, and the medium deep for darker skin.
These two Real Techniques brushes are great for applying the concealer here, $6, and the loose setting powder brush, $9, in small areas.
Extra Credit
Take a small brush or a Q-tip, and dip in a pale shimmer shade of shadow or highlighter, and lightly tap it around the tear duct area for extra bright eyes!
Feel free to just try one or two of these tricks for more awake eyes. Anything helps! But for the full impact, do them all together and see how many compliments you get on your peepers!
The Rest of My Look Details
My lavender oversized Amazon henley sweatshirt, $36, covers the butt, which I like when wearing leggings! // The Spanx denim jean-ish leggings, are just the best and currently on sale, $60 // My Baublebar colorful semi precious stone beaded necklace with initial gets worn quite often and makes a thoughtful gift for her, $48// L’oreal Paradise Glow in Balm lipstick, $9, shade “Mulberry Bliss” is my new running out of the door shade!
If you didn’t catch last week’s post, Spring starts officially on March 20th, so let’s get excited because it’s all about 5 makeup things you should be adding to your spring mood board
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