AIBU to not be able to do eye makeup properly at the grand age of 43

[alittleisland]

Just that really. How on earth do people do such lovely eye makeup? I have eye makeup envy. I've been told that my eyes are my best feature and would love to be able to apply eye makeup nicely. I've watched Youtube videos and tried to copy - looks awful. I had a makeover once when I was 21 and they made my eyes look amazing. I want my eyes to look amazing now!

I'm the same. I just put colour over my lower lid exactly the same way as I did when I was a teenager. The only difference is the colour (it was electric blue back in the 80s).

I can't do it either if that's any comfort! I have a fair complexion and anything i do just like a mess.

So much practice, all the practice, then some more practice. It will look a bit shit to start with but you get the hang of technique, blending, what suits your face etc through practice.
And luck. Sometimes even now I’ll have to start over as it’s simply not going to plan!

Look up Wayne Goss on YouTube. He is a refreshing change from the big-eyebrows and plastic complexion brigade, and has lots of tips for different shape eyes, and 40+ women

I can't either. I have bought these eye majic things for special occasions though, they work really well (surprisingly!)

www.instant-beauty.co.uk/product/instant-eyeshadow-5-pair-pack/?attribute_choose-colour=Smokey+Eyes&utm_source=Google%20Shopping&utm_campaign=%20vx&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=648&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Nj5BRCZARIsABwxDKLX4q9pyMXcZctf4BULtu9SqTOGhLA4X_opqoVSSpVcDhUGJzmocOIaAstfEALw_wcB

And also tutorials, the above recommendation is a good start, and money on decent products and brushes

Here's a good tutorial from Wayne

Can't use eye liner properly ( I'm mid 50s) mascara runs ( even the more expensive 'non run 'one) and eye shadow rarely stays on. I'm hopeless with make up
I do use a light foundation and people say it looks natural , so I can do that ok!
Some people are just good at make up I think.

I'm the same OP. Liner & shadow look vile even when I follow tutorials. V excited re the eye majic though so thanks for that Valambtine. I actually don't think liner suits me ,it looks too much as I'm so pasty so I'm not bothered anymore re the 'winged' malarkey.

Practice and brushes.

I'm with you OP, I'm 40 and don't know how to apply anything other than eyeshadow to my actual eyelid only - I have droopy upper lids so tbh it kinda hides the eyeshadow I've put on to an extent. Other make up I wear consists only of mascara and lipstick. I watched a tutorial on YouTube ages ago and she may as well have been trying to teach me Mandarin, I didnt have a clue what she was going on about. Dont know what I'm doing with foundation, powder etc either.

Me too .I'm 60 and gave up trying years ago.

@Valambtine - ooh do they actually work and don't come off?!!
I often have to be very presentable without warning and it takes me ages to do my eyes

Also 43 and totally clueless. But also believe that less is more after 40: mascara, concealer under the eyes, bit of blush, lipstick, done.

@absolutelyknackeredcow

They do work

I can't swear they don't come off, I never noticed beyond the amazement of holding something on my eye for 4 seconds, sliding it outwards and it looking half decent. There are lots of reviews out there so might be worth checking?

I’m a makeup artist and I can tell you now most of the stuff on YouTube is utter bollocks (apart from Wayne Gods & Robert Welsh who are actually working makeup artists). Everybody thinks they have hooded eyes because of the misinformation on there (pet peeve of mine lol)

You should book in with a one-on-one lesson with a makeup artist who will show you specifically for your features

Goss not Gods lol

Probably not that helpful at the moment as the makeup counters aren't offering lessons and makeovers due to COVID. However, I found it the most useful way of learning how to do my makeup. I was terrible at eye makeup up until my mid 20s but in preparation for my wedding I decided that I was going to do my makeup myself (I'm pale and find that when anyone does my makeup, I look like an Oompa Loompa). I went to a couple of counters in Debenhams and they spend around 40 mins doing all of my make up and showing me how to do it. I now love doing my eye make up and often get comments about how nice it looks, which is a amazing to when I think back ten years! Rather than spend over £100 on a professional makeup artist for the wedding day, I spent the money on all the lovely products and practised. Never looked back and eyeshadow palettes are now my favourite beauty buy!

Me too. I don't wear eye shadow at all during the day, just mascara and sometimes a little bit of kohl pencil which I think actually looks ok, I quite like my eyes. I can do a bit of nude colour if I'm going out but anything dark or that lovely smoky eye look and I just look like I have a black eye. As for liquid eyeliner with that little flick at the edge - no chance. I had some makeup done at one of the counters in Boots and I liked it but I've never been able to recreate it. Never even tried false eyelashes which seem to be all the rage - think I would just look ridiculous . So you're not alone OP

My eyes don't hold any eyeshadow or liner because I have the world's oiliest eyelids. They just slide right off and leave panda rings on my bottom lids.

@blueshoes

My eyes don't hold any eyeshadow or liner because I have the world's oiliest eyelids. They just slide right off and leave panda rings on my bottom lids.

You need P.Louise primer. Will make your eyeshadow bomb proof.

No, you're not unique! The combination of clumsy hands and a very strong blinking reflex if anything gets within a mile of my eyes has made eye make up quite impossible for me - I gave up trying long ago.For the same reason, I wear glasses rather than contacts.

I am mid forties and hopeless with all makeup, despite watching tutorials and trying expensive products

Can you send a picture of your eyes and the products you have?

You need shadow primer if you have greasy or wrinkled lids. Without it nothing has a hope in hell of staying on