Dated make up

[BelleOfTheProvince]

I'm really confused. On another thread people said wearing eyeliner on the undereye was dated. I wear brown or copper normally around halfway across my eye. I don't want to look like a teenager but is this really dated? What do other people do.
(PS I'm low maintenance so no complicated cat eye type things will work for me!)

I wear eye liner on the bottom for an evening look but also pull it up to the sides of the top lashes too. People should wear what suits them. I blend it well so it doesn't look like a harsh line.
My best feature is my eyes and the liner highlights them. I sometimes wear a dark green colour instead which is a bit softer. I don't think it always looks dated.

These examples though are black eyeliner quite heavily applied which of course does not look great in the daytime. Neither does foundation, very drawn on eyebrows or very matt formulations but it appears there’s plenty of those about. It’s perfectly possible to apply eyeliner lightly in a softer colour and sparingly for a bit of definition. I use Bobbi Brown eye shadow pencils and smudge them a little along the lash line for evening as I have fair lashes. I don’t wear mascara on my lower lashes (as I look like a dolly). What is probably more dated is lining the whole eye.

I had my makeup done recently and the makeup artist said big eyelashes wth no liner is the most modern look atm. I asked for a bit more definition though (ie some eyeliner) .. I think it photographs better, if you're going somewhere where a lot of photos are being taken (& posted everywhere !)

I’ve recently stopped putting anything on my bottom lid. I wasn’t really a fan of under eye liner, but always used to wear a smudge of eyeshadow and mascara to ‘open my eyes up’. Since I stopped I’ve had several people asking if I’ve had my eyes lifted. I tried it again the other day just to see and I couldn’t believe how much it dragged my face down and aged me. I stop my foundation an inch short of my eye and just use concealer there. It’s the only way to stop it settling into the fine lines.

I'm happy this trend is going as eyeliner just doesn't stay on me anyway. I use a little powder on the top.

I responded on the other thread and said that it's actually a big trend at the moment.
The reverse cat eye!

I only line the bottom waterline and bring it up to a tiny wing from there, I don't line the top and I do it that way because that's what suits my eye shape.

I wouldn't change my eyeliner to go with whatever trend is the big thing at the moment because they wouldn't suit my eye shape or my face!

Wear it whatever wear you like it!

@wheresmymojo
That's a terrible example, the eyeliner has been applied really badly in the picture on the right.
We would need to see examples of the make up applied with the same care on both eyes on several different women with different eye shapes and facial features also to get a better idea!

The look on the left wouldn't suit me at all!

I tightline my upper waterline but rarely lower
Under lower lashes I use eyeshadows, usually whatever I've used on my eyelids
Unless I'm doing the reverse cat eye type look!

I stopped doing this years and years ago as I heard that wearing eyeliner on the bottom of your eyes makes your under eyes look puffy and tired and aged.

I think definitely if you're wearing it all the way around it's not always flattering especially if black liner and on the waterline as it's quite harsh
But a bit of smudged brown on the outer corner, or eyeshadow under the eye etc.. looks nice. I like a nude pencil on the lower waterline
All depends what look you're going for!

There's a big difference between dated liquid eyeliner on the lower waterline and pencil or powder eyeliner under the lash line.

Also, good to keep in mind that makeup trends that might be in with Gen Z, i.e. the ones that get mentioned on social media, might not be applicable to Gen Z's mum (or granny).

Also, I've just looked at a Lisa Eldridge video from 2 months ago and she's got liner on her bottom lash line.

Dying to try the reverse cat eye. That will be tomorrow's self-care task!

@Classica

Dying to try the reverse cat eye. That will be tomorrow's self-care task!

I had a go the other week with a sort of red eyeliner and really liked it

I don't think it's as black and white as "it does / doesn't look dated". Some people suit it while others don't. What you apply and how you apply it makes a huge difference. It doesn't have to be a heavy black line all the way along the lower lashline, which of course would e aging on most people.

I am 40 and generally will use a softer coloured eyeliner along the lower lashline, on the outer half only, and blend it out to soften it further. Something like a mid-toned bronze or taupe works nicely (e.g. Chanel Mat Taupe waterproof liner pencil). I use a darker liner on my upper lashline.

@violetbunny
Totally agree. It comes down to what suits each individual person.

I don't wear any make up at all apart from eyeliner on my bottom waterline and no way am I giving that up lol

I think it's really ageing, a friend does it and i always think it's a shame as it dates her . Maybe try and lighter colour and see if you can get used to it .

Hmmm, lots of opinions about black eyeliner all around the eye. Mine doesn't do that. It's copper and only used halfway across. I will experiment without it, but 20 years of mucking up powder have given me a pretty good idea of how realistic shadow under the eye is (not at all).
Tbh I can't really see how much difference using a soft pencil is different to doing pencil, apart from the inevitable shadow I'd get over my nose and I'm guessing that is not part of the look.

The emphasis is all on eyebrows and eyelashes amongst younger people I’ve noticed. I don’t know if it’s a look I can achieve (overplucked thin eyebrows and stubby lashes) without a lot of money and beauty appointments.

Hmm food for thought, I'm in my 40's and put eyeshadow under my lower lash line.

Can anyone share an example of an up to date look for my age group or a tutorial? Thank you 🙏

I still use a little brown eyeliner under my eyes and it looks so much better on me. My blue eyes just look a bit weak and watery without it.

I’m 55 tomorrow though so, horror of horrors, I’m kind of learning to accept looking older.

The emphasis is all on eyebrows
I'm sorry, but those eyebrows look ok in photos but terrible in real life.

I was almost bullied into having them by the make-up artist at my wedding. My husband thinks they're awful and would have been very disappointed.
But it would have been a great way to make the photos look dated. Kids in ten years will look far more aghast at those than eyeliner I'm sure.

Happy birthday @PuppyMonkey.

I don't mind growing older in theory. I just don't want to look older than I am.

Maybe I'm stubborn but I don't think drag queen eyebrows are the answer though.

Thanks Belle.

Oh God yes, I feel sorry for young women today who are going to look back in years to come and recoil in horror at what they did to their eyebrows.

Have you thought about getting an appointment in a store to get some new ideas? MAC, NARS, Laura Mercier etc and most Space NK stores employ trained make up artists who should be able to offer educated advice.

Makeup can help you look and feel a little brighter, a little less tired (in my case). There will always be trends around and then there are classic looks that are timeless.

Most of all make sure it's something you're comfortable with.

The look at the moment is the the cats eye type upper lid only, but a lot of people use some shadow in a softer colour along the lower lash line which has a similar effect but much more gentle.