Should you wear eyeliner after 50?

[peaceanddove]

Looking for ways to update my makeup and keep it looking flattering and fresh. I've always used a black or dark grey eyeliner on my top eyelid, but have been reading that it's not recommended for more mature women as it can make your eyes look smaller.

What do you think?

Umm. I didn't really start wearing it until I was almost 60. I wear brown usually but Boujouris are discontinuing supplying the UK so that is a blow.

I started wearing eyeliner at 16, I’m 55 now and I’ll wear it forever. I like a softer light brown or green now though, I like Charlotte Tilbury and Lancome. Still like to rock a bit of black on nights out.

I'm fifty one and wear it on my upper lid on thr lash line. I've also heard the it's ageing thing but to be honest, i look better with it, my lashes look thicker.

I'm mid 50s and wear eyeliner on my upper lids only, and only on the outer third to half of the lid. Putting it on the inner half really doesn't flatter me, although my eyes are large and round. Maybe you could try different shapes to see what works best for your eye shape, OP? I prefer grey, brown, green or aubergine liner, as black is just too bold for my colouring. I use eyeliner pencil and mascara most days. I've tried gel liners (nice, but yes, they go hard and dry), pencils and pens. I like pencils the best, as I can soften and smudge it easily (which suits me better than a precise line).

@Swearwolf is the shade of your Urban Decay eyeliner called Mildew?

I’m older than you and I still wear it. I usually wear a softer colour though and often find a dark eyeshadow more flattering. I use a liner brush or my small rubber smudge brush.

....or is it Stash.

I've been looking for the perfect green eyeliner for years!

And I'm 50 and love my eyeliner hoard.

@hazeyjane MAC tarnish is a beautiful green

There are eyeliners that are in colours other than black?
Well fuck me sideways, every day's a school day on MN!

I have a Bobby Brown Ivy eyeliner that doesn’t smudge or result in a heavy Egyptian princess look. I only use it because chemo trashed my eyelashes and they’re now uneven. It’s not a particularly dramatic look as I wear glasses, but gives a degree of balance and semblance of having lashes.

@hazeyjane no, it's Stash. It's lovely!

I'm 52, and wear it every day.

But I prefer the smudged pencil look, rather than the hard flicky line, and I never wear black, usually brown/bronze, navy, olive or aubergine. I apply along the upper lid, plus a little under the lower outer lashes, then smudge with a pointy brush. It just gives a bit more definition.

I do think thick black eyeliner all around the eyes does not look very flattering whatever the age, but more so with greying hair.

I like it. I wear it. although I would like to get a taupe gel eyeliner instead of black. Or a purple one. Black looks a bit startling (on me)

I use gel eyeliner (in my 60s). Easy to use and not harsh.

I'm 55 and wear eyeliner - I look better with it on. I love the Revlon Colorstay ones - they used to do a gorgeous green but that seems to have been discontinued I have grey and brown. It's the only eyeliner that doesn't budge on me.

I'm 57 and it looks great. I use a subtle brown liquid liner but don't do a big cats eye just a slim line. If I'm doing the bottom I'll just do the outer edge with a pencil and blend it. You don't want any big heavy lines. It makes my eyes look bigger and more attractive.

55, and I wouldn't go out without lined eyes, top and waterline and along the bottom. I use a charcoal Revlon Colorstay pencil. I've always used charcoal/graphite colours and shied away from black. Never used liquid liner as they smudge all over me.

59 and I’ve used it since about 18. I have very hooded deep set eyes and there’s no upper lid visible so liner is useless there and flicks would look mad.

I use MAC gel in dark brown on the outer half of lower lid. Just about everything I use smudges though and I’ve not found one liner that doesn’t. Do any of you have a recommendation for a powder that is budge proof?

Without liner my eyes look tiny and I look washed out.

Those Urban Decay eyeliners look amazing. I may need to chose one to try instead of my usual black.

I use a benefit or urban decay dark brown eyeshadow with an eyeliner brush , sometimes I go over it with a pencil as well . Softer than liquid or gel and easier to smudge

Thankyou @Swearwolf....I'm going to make a purchase!

I think it looks fab on the older 50s.

Pencil users which pencils are the least draggy for colour payoff on the (crepey) eyelid?

@Swearwolf I've just bought one too. It looks gorgeous. Thanks!

I've been lazy lately but used a fat felt-tip black eyeliner recently and looked MUCH better and vowed to use it every day. Even just that and mascara and I look 50 times better.

Oh, and I put it on before my mascara and then my mascara smudges don't even show!