Pencil or liquid eyeliner for older ladies

[citygirl1961]

Sorry for the all the posts but I am new here and think the advice on here is brilliant.

I like liquid eyeliner because it stays put all day but wonder if it looks too harsh for my age (I am 52), my friend is older than me and wears liquid and it looks OK on her.

Impossible to say with put seeing it - some young people don't suit liquid eyeliner. I don't think age per se is a reason to stop using it. You need a reliable friend to give you an honest opinion

If you put the liner practically on the lash line and don't do a flick I think it's fine. Just avoid the gap between the lashes and the liner that is all too easy to do.
Personally I use a pencil and smudger to give a softer line ..but I have greasy lids and it doens't last long tbh.
Have you tried tight lining under the top lashes?
I/m 52 in a few weeks

Thin gel line for me, I'm 47. Also, the Bourjois Intuitive liner pen, it has three tiny prongs and you push it right into the base of your lashes from underneath, makes it look more solid without having a thick line.

It really depends on your own eyes, but as a generalisation I would say that liquid liner can look a bit harsh... The softness of a kohl pencil might be more complimentary? Likewise, you can get a whole range of shades in eye pencils - and you'll definitely find one that suits you, but with liquid liner they're usually just dark black - which can be quite harsh (again, it depends on your colourings).

I'm 44 and wouldn't wear liquid eyeliner tbh. I like to use a brown eyeshadow with a dampened brush, or for eyeliner I like Lancome or Urban Decay. Having said that, I bought a cheapo No 7 brown one last week in an emergency and it's not bad at all for a smudgy look.

I find gel eyeliner to be more precise than pencil, without the boldness and harshness of liquid.

In theory, of course you can - I still use it at nearly 48 (and still do a flick sometimes!) and think it looks great, as I have seen it look on others of various ages.

Depending on your colouring you can also get it in other colours apart from black - I have green hazel eyes and wear black or purple.

However, at the moment, I'm loving the Kate Moss branded Rimmel gel liners and eye shadow sticks (which I use as liners) - the colours are gorgeous.

I wear smudgy pencil but that's just because I have tired looking eyes. I would wear liquid if I could pull it off :)

I sometimes use a thin brush and use powder eyeshadow too.

Maybe do one eye of each and compare in mirror or ask a brutally honest friend?

I can't wear eyeliner on top of my eyes, it closes them up somehow. I sometimes 'push' eyeshadow with a flat line brush into the top rootline. Underneath I use a dark eyeshadow and an angled brush.

Personally I think pencil is more flattering for us over 40's.

There is only two rules with eyeliner.

1. wear the sort you can do well.
2. look in a mirror a few hours later, does it still look reasonable.

Your very black liquid liner might have looked great at 8am, but if it's a cracked mess in your 3pm meeting it's time to think about saving it for the evening.

I bought the Rimmel Kate Moss green gel one today, haven't tried it yet. I usually use a dark brown Maybelline one, I did have a black but left the lid a bit loose and it dried up. It's a lot easier with along handled slanty flat brush than the little one they come with.

How funny, I just invested in a black liquid eyeliner only today, and was worrying it was too "young" for me. I'm 47.

The flicky bits on the outer edge don't work when you have crepey eyelids. I also worry that it looks better on brown eyes than blue, a bit less harsh.

Ah well, it was only Barry M; not a massive investment.

I'm 48. I came on this thread to recommend the Bourjois Intuitive liner pen. It really works well for me too. I push it up through my upper lashes from below. It not only stops the harsh lined look but it doesn't print onto my browbone either, which is something I'm getting as everything starts to sag.

Cutted - I think it was you who converted me to that Bourjois pen, I came on here saying it was crap and then found out I'd been doing it wrong (from above). I've just bought my second one :)

I am 54 and use the Bobbi Brown gel liner, either with a brush or in the felt pen thingy. I use a thin line of it really close to the lashes and have lots more compliments with this than I ever had with pencils

I'm 52 and second the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner. I use a khaki green or a brown. I smudge it out to soften it. It makes everything look more defined and awake.

Another vote for the Bobbi Brown gel liner, applied with the Bobbi Brown eye liner brush. I'm almost 48, it's never occurred to me or anyone else that I'm too old for it My eyes need some definition and this makes them stand out and look more awake.

I'm 48 and only started wearing eye liner 2 months ago (yes, I discovered make up very very late!)
I use the Bobbi Brown with the brush too. I've had quite a few compliments.

i really like the felt tip liners - i find them smoother than the liquid and less chances of smudging. I do like kohl liners too especially for day-to-day