Eye make-up when you're in your 40s, what do people use?

[SydneyB]

I've got a bit stuck with eye make-up. I used to use eyeliner, top and bottom, but now it all ends up getting stuck in the lines under my eyes within minutes so I'm giving up on it. Eye shadow also ends up sliding into the lines. What do others use? I'm just using mascara now but I'd like to be able to add a bit more for going out/being smarter etc...

I'm bumping this for you, Syd, as it will be useful info for me when I get older

I am 40 and have suffered similar problems!
I now use bare minerals waterproof eyeliner andeyeshadow primer - no shifting all day.

Sure there are other ranges with similar things.

I usually use Urban Decay eyeliners and eyeshadow and Lancome Definicils mascara.

My mum is 56. She uses the maybelline tattoo eye shadow. Kind of creamy but doesnt slide off or crease. She has blue eyes and uses a brown which she can build up if she wants a more dramatic look. Then just mascara no eyeliner.

Benefit Lemon Aid is a good eyelid primer, no eyeshadow creases if you use it... or you can use it on its own to even out eyelid colour and just brighten up your eyes a bit.

I use mineral powder foundation on my face, and brush it all over my eyelids before I start as a "base". Works well. Or use a primer.

Black mascara and eyeliner is way too harsh in your 40s; brown or brown/black is more flattering.

Glittery/pearly eyeshadows tend to accentuate wrinkly eyelids, so look for something a little more matte.

look here
I'm addicted to her make up videos.....v helpful.

Ohh thanks this is all helpful stuff! I think I'm abandoning any kind of eyeliner on the bottom but will investigate some of those eye shadows.

drywhiteplease - have just spent the hour i should have been using to sort out clothes watching her vids! I like.

into my 50s now and feel your pain!

Definitely use a primer. Barbara Daly @ Tesco does a great eye primer and it's really cheap. After I've applied eyeshadow, I then rub a little bit of eye cream over the lines I've got between my nose and eye and up to the brow to remove the bits of shadow that have slid in there and emphasise the lines. Seriously, that helps.

re eyeliner, try applying it really close to your lower lash line, rather than a thicker line underneath the eyes, and apply to the top line from underneath (ie from inside your top lid). Not sure if I've explained that very well but saw it on a video once - it still gives you the definition but doesn't get stuck in the lines. Use a cotton bud and a little eyecream to remove any that's not where you want it.

I don't do eyeliner on my bottom lids as it accentuates any dark circles which have worsened with age.

I'm forty odd and I found the same thing as I have quite an oily T-zone (plus oily eyelids) and I'm a contact lens wearer too. I use Laura Mercier 'Linen' eye shadow base as an eye shadow as it's long lasting and gives a semi-matt finish and makes the eyelid even-toned. Then, in the day, I use a fine eye liner brush to brush a pale beige eyeshadow in a line around my eye just to give a hint of definition. If you wet the brush beforehand, the shaddow lasts longer and doens't transfer to your lid. Then I use a lengthening, volumising mascara (black/brown) on my lashes and I'm good to go. For night time I simply run Channel black cake liner lightly along my upper lashes for definition using a brush. I think as you get older less is definitely more . I've also started to use eyebrow gel too as my eyebrows have gone a bit bonkers and need taming

I've ditched black and brown eyeliner, too harsh. Gray, platinum, khaki perfect on me (love Chanel eye pencils), only line the outer half of the upper & lower lashline - this seems to work. Like others, find champagne, taupe and other light neutrals very flattering. A full-on smoky eye just makes me look battered.

A primer is a good idea. Urban Decay works but feels too thick, Artdeco is my favorite.

That video was bloody depressing; Lisa rambling on and on aboutas you get older you lose eye contour, get crazy eyebrows, sparse lashes, lose lip contour ...

Rimmel has a new taupe eyeliner which is good for subtle definition on the lower lash line. Upper I use dark brown/grey along the lash line.

Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is good- matte neutral shades, nice creamy texture.

Definitely agree with 'less is more'. Every now & again I try a smoky eye, but it makes me look tired & ooooold.

Some Laura Mercier shadows are very soft & flattering: topaz, sable and sandstone

I use an eye shadow by MAC called " brun" with one of their special. Thin, flat brushed to sweep along lash line.......softer than black liner and you can intensify it by wetting the brush.

im 41 and am lucky i suppose in that i have no wrinkles yet - my face has a fair bit of padding!

i still use eyeliner on my eyes but i smudge it.

the best eye shadow for slightly older skin are creams - i use a max factor one -
this one
which i apply and then blend with a brush. it stays put and doesnt crease.

i use it as eyeliner too and use a brush to brush and soften it. its brilliant. and not that pricey either.

Now that looks good Vicar

M&S Autograph eye shadows are very good - I use a taupe colour with a lancome mid brown eyelinger on top lashes and underneath. I also always use an eyebrow pencil.

Mascara is max factor at the moment which is just as good as the more expensive ones I've tried.

Frugal - I can't do a smokey eye either

for a Smokey eye all you need is a crease brush. perfect blending every time and super fast.

I used to use a lot. Loved it. But now I find with my (practically) beer bottle glasses - everything shows up - mascara is like deadly tarantulas. I also find it hard now to even see what I am doing without my glasses. I tried those glasses you wear to put on make up but they were a dead loss. Plus my eyes water so much all the time. I now stick to rather boring brown shades (I used to go mad with colour:(

I olike the Collection 2000 smoky eyes it plus the Benefit brown shades one as well as their grey one. Basically just a smoky eye with pencil liner, a bit of mascara sometimes.. I also like Benefits cream shadows. However, as long as my eyebrows are 'done' I am happy.

I use a liquid eyeliner - top lid only, khaki is good but I'm using mostly purple at the moment, but would still use black sometimes too. I prefer black mascara too, but take the point that black can sometimes be a bit harsher.
A primer would help with the colour going into creases - I use bobbi brown shadows and they seem pretty good at staying put.
I would avoid eyeliner under the eye now and use a decent concealer/brightener under the eye instead - I've just got a new one from Clinique which gives a nice effect.
Tidy eyebrows, pencil in any gaps, but not too 'scouse brow'.