50s and want to try eyeliner for a more attractive and awake everyday look. Help!

[TreasuredMim]

Returning to office working soon and have decided to up my game a little and actually wear some makeup, rather than just a slick of lipstick.

I'm thinking that eyeliner would make me look more put together and awake, but in the past I've only ever been able to do one eye okay; I just can't get the other to match

Looking for a non-severe look and don't want to look as though I've tried too hard

Recommend me a non sparkly eyeliner/eye pencil that I'll be able to use easily.

Look up tight lining it's a game changer. My preferred product of choice is the shiseido microliner ink for this.

Avon glimmersticks.
There's a one called 'saturn grey' that is less harsh than black but it still really defines the eye.

If you want to experiment at the cheaper end first, Collection 2000 do a felt tip eyeliner which is amazing - easy to apply and stays the whole day, especially if you put a bit of eye shadow or even just face powder underneath. It's only a couple of pounds. I've been using it for years on my top lids and love it.

www.superdrug.com/Make-Up/Eye-Makeup/Eyeliner/Collection-Extreme-24Hr-Felt-Tip-Eye-Liner-7-8g-Black-1/p/224869?gclid=CjwKCAjwxuuCBhATEiwAIIIz0XXv56szV0SAqH4fNCN2WBdjFuCn7G66__yQkPQJIjHN1Sw6LG6tSxoCKvwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I think Eyeko is great, in black (the cocoa edition is rubbish, no pigment)

It’s like drawing it on with a sharpie I then soften look with a bit of Smokey eye shadow

Without it I look washed out

I like Bobby Brown's gel liner. It's smudgeable too if you want, tho you have to be quick because it 'sets' quickly.
In my youth I rocked a decent liquid eye liner flick. Not possible at 55, but this liner does a more subtle, and flattering job at my age!

I've just started tight lining after learning about it on here.

Laura Mercier Tightline cake is amazing, it gives exactly the type of subtle but more awake look you describe and doesn't budge all day. I've tried so many eyeliners over the years and ended up with panda eyes from every single one, so couldn't believe the staying power this has.

It may look technical, but is actually really quick and simple.

I have always tightlined. Anything else looks really harsh on me.

What about the bottom lash line - I really struggle with not looking like an old punk.

I had never heard about tightlining until I read this thread. I am in my late 50s and eyeliner has always looked too harsh and ageing on me. However I went online and watched a YouTube video by make up artist Wayne Goss. I was amazed at what a difference it made to his eyes.

But one question. How on earth do you apply it without constantly blinking? My eyes just do not want anything near my upper waterline and I kept on blinking and ended up with the liner all in the wrong place.

Clinique Quickliner for undereye lining. Fabulous and I stockpile it. (I do believe it was @botemp a couple of years ago who recommended it on one of the first fantastic skincare threads, the blue grey one. I am forever indebted!)

@Geamhradh

Clinique Quickliner for undereye lining. Fabulous and I stockpile it. (I do believe it was *@botemp* a couple of years ago who recommended it on one of the first fantastic skincare threads, the blue grey one. I am forever indebted!)

No, it wasn't me, so I can't take credit. I prefer a nude one to really brighten the whites of eyes and look very awake (white also works but it's much harsher, good for photography though) but I've yet to find a pencil that's a good skin tone match and lasts well. I live in hope Shiseido will make me one.

@Grandadwasthatyou, I slightly lift up at the corner and that keeps it steady, once you're familiar with the motion it gets easier. It depends if you're doing brush or a pencil though, brush tends to be more challenging IME as it tickles a bit, I like the Laura Mercier cakeliner but it's just too much faff for daily use (I'm very low effort makeup). There's also a technique for tightlining where you apply with your eyes somewhat closed, it's quite easy once you have the hang of it but anyone that lives with you will think you're possessed by a poltergeist.

I’ve used this since having a Trish McEvoy tutorial years ago.
www.libertylondon.com/uk/11-precise-eyeliner-brush-382852.html
You use it with a darker powder shadow - grey, mauve, brown, whatever. Load the brush with colour and work it along the lid next to the lashes. It gives a very effective, flattering look with no harsh lines.

I'd go for dark brown rather than black.

The best one I’ve found is the Marc Jacobs cocoa eyeliner. I used to use the Bobbi brown gel liner but it is a faff. The only problem is the cost of the MJ eyeliner!

Does tight lining sting your eyes?

I'd recommend not using eyeliner but using a dark powder instead. It's softer and you can build it up. You end up with more of a Smokey eye but once you've added mascara it looks lovely

Put your (not black) eyeliner on first, smudge a bit to avoid the harsh look and then put your eye shadow on. Much gentler, I find, now I'm older.

I swear by eyeliner but am v v v fair so really have to search hard for ones that aren't too dark. So I favour ones that are essentially taupe. Quite tricky to find but I've got a couple of good ones.

My recommendations are Clinique Quickliner in Smokey Brown (lighter than it sounds), and Urban Decay in Mushroom (actually UD have several non-dark colours, there was a big thread on them here in S&B last year and everyone went mad buying the khaki one called Stash)

I think this was the thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3786333-Should-you-wear-eyeliner-after-50

Thanks for all the fabulous advice. Have watched the recommended YouTube videos, now know what tightlining is and can feel a big spend coming on.

Also - don’t use black. Too harsh. Find a dark brown or a blue or grey.

I have a dark brown gel eyeliner pencil and I just sort of quilt go under the lashes a bit with it ( at the root) and it always makes such a difference. Not sure if that is tight lining. I don’t aim for the waterline as such.

Thank you for this thread! I’m not 50 but I have always been hopeless with eyeliner. I just did the tightline technique and it’s made me look much brighter and more awake somehow!

@supadupapupascupa

I'd recommend not using eyeliner but using a dark powder instead. It's softer and you can build it up. You end up with more of a Smokey eye but once you've added mascara it looks lovely

I was going to say exactly the same. Nadine Baggott has a video on this, she uses her finger to swoop it upwards at the outer corner to produce a v subtle flick.