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?

In other news, women over 50 don't all have the same colouring and don't all go for the same look.
As it happens, I don't - at 63 - and nor do I wear mascara, and I'm very much in favour of reviewing your look as you get older. But I would never advise another woman to do something if all I knew about her was her age. I watch other people, use my mirror, take photos and ask friends.

They’ll prise my Clinique Intense Peridot eyeliner out of my cold, dead hands.

The Clinique Soft Brown Quickliner is also excellent.

45 here. Lifelong liner, though as others have said, I ditched the black a few years ago.

My eyes look like pissholes in the snow without it.

pinkarsedfly that’s the problem I have too! My eyes literally disappear without liner yet with it, they’re really quite striking!

Oooh I’ve just ordered that Stash Urban Decay eyeliner looks gorgeous!

I have been useing eye liner since I was around thirteen, I am now 59, I will never stop using it, I do now use a soft brown rather than black, it was bright blue back in the day, the only one that stays on my oily eyes, is No7 it's the thinker eye crayon, not the slim one, that just melts down my face, I use a small brush to get close to bottom lashes.

I’ve just ordered a Stash too.

🐑

Says it all, really...

I now use the dark colours in eyeshadow palettes with a narrow stiff brow brush on the outer third of my eyes for definition, and smudge/blend a bit. I like dark aubergine and charcoal (for my blue eyes) best.

I'm almost 50 and my eyes disappear without liner. It would be my desert island product. I'll be using it for as long as I can apply it, then I might ask nieces/stepdaughter/daughter-in-law/grandkids etc to apply it for me!

I use a cake eyeliner that I mix with a special liquid and apply with a flat, angled brush. It stays put for about 3 days if not cleaned off. I bought it online from ScreenFace. I think the brand is Kryolan. Laura Mercier does a similar product for tightlining, but I use it as a regular liner.

There's another UD one that looks good called Mushroom.

I had no idea they had so many colours, I'll definitely be taking a good look next time I'm in Debenhams.

I stopped wearing black last year - am almost 50. Now wear grey, brown or green.

My favourite brown is Mac Teddy
Grey = currently a Clarins one
Green = Urban Decay or Mac - I like khaki for day or emerald for evenings

I have just ordered the Kryolan cake liner to give it a try.

Wow, thanks for all the replies. I experimented with eyeliner this morning. A very dark Bobbi Brown brown shadow, applied with a cotton bud, very close to my upper lashes and smudged a little bit under my lower lashes. I then tightlined my upper lashes with the Laura Mercier black cake liner one. I like it very much, definitely better but maybe a bit too strong for every day? Need to get a lighter/softer brown shadow or pencil I think.

I’m 49, I can’t imagine retiring the black eyeliner.
For pps looking for an alternative to Bobbie Brown gel liner; there are loads of different brands on amazon for a fiver upwards.

I am 58 and won't be seen without eyeliner if I can help it. I use Clinique Quickliner in black/brown or the Avon Glimmersticks, though I find the Clinique lasts longer and is worth the extra cost.

I used to always use liquid eyeliner but found it a bit harsh eventually, though the thin brown line that has been mentioned on here sounds a good option.

It doesn't matter what age you are, do what you want. I wear eyeliner, shortish skirts (with thick tights or leggings in the winter) and have long hair. No rules.

Alphajuliet - those cats

Amen to that citygirl1961

I have found that, if you think a certain makeup ages you more than you care for, a lighter hand often does the trick. I suddenly noticed about 6 months ago that my usual (albeit very light) makeup was suddenly making me look haggard - I started a thread on here actually!!

These days I just use the same eyeliner (Laura Mercier midnight blue powder shadow applied with flat eyeliner brush) but much lighter application and less under the eyes.

I’m happy with the result!

I haven’t done black eyeliner for decades tbf, it never suited me even when I was 18, but certainly adjusting shades is another thing to try. I’ve always loved midnight blue and anthracite type colours for eyeliner.

Brown eyeliner makes irrationally enraged so I never use it!

Waiting excitedly for my Urban Decay greenish one now!!

I like mine top kid only. Underneath definitely makes me look haggard.

*lid

I've always used dark brown liner and eye shadow but have recently started using black eyeliner. I got a lovely soft liner in the M&S advent calendar which I tried out and loved. However, under my eyes I'm still using a dark brown at the edges as the black is too harsh there. It seems to work with my colouring somehow. I guess because I use black mascara it all blends in together somehow.

I wish i could find a taupe gel eyeliner :-(

Urban decay do one called mushroom? Sounds promising

Late 50s here, and my eyelashes have really thinned out post-menopause, so I use softish eyeliner in grey, green or brown on the bottom to give my eyes a bit more definition. Wouldn't dream of stopping using it!

I looked at the loreal liquid eyeliners and there is a lovely green one. @HepburnKNotA Somebody upthread is waiting for the UD green one. I bought the mauve one. It's lovely. The mauve is obvious in daylight but it would look grey at night I think. I may try and mix it with a dark brown liquid liner i have to make a mid brown liner (sometimes). Im still experimenting.

I have only started doing liner recently at 49 !
So im not giving up in 6 months