Lower lids - to line or not to line?

[biscuitdunkerette]

My lower lashes are quite sparse and fair, especially as I age (49). I feel I need a bit of liner to stop my eyes disappearing into my face, but if I smudge it aiming for a more natural less ‘lined’ look I just look knackered!

Any tips for how to give the lower lid a natural looking definition? My lashes (though sparse) are quite long, which gives me the cow look if I use mascara on the lower ones

Are you using black? A muted brown eyeshadow smudged on the outer lash line would be better, something like this but I would lose the bottom mascara.

You could also get a lash tint in a dark brown if that would be less harsh thank a black

I second the suggestion to try a colour other than black, if you haven't already. For me (warm complexion, naturally mouse brown hair, grey/green eyes) a khaki green works best.

I agree try brown

Or you could use a a shadow with a fine brush to like your lower lid

Again brown might work depending on your colouring

Blue can be quite brightening but could also make you look tired if you have dark circles

Another trick is to put mascara on just the root of your bottom lashes to define your lower lashline

I tint my lower lashes for this reason. Takes hardly any time at all and a small tube lasts forever.

Thanks all. I’m very fair with blue eyes. I tend to wear (and I think suit) black mascara on the top. Will give brown a go. I’ve tried lining with eye shadow but I’m rubbish at smudging to make it less of a harsh line…that when I look like I’ve rubbed my make up and it settles in the creases.
Are there any good make up tutorials on you tube gif this kind of thing?

Look at the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencils, they do some great colours and it's easier than eyeshadow. Go for a reddy brown as it'll make your eyes look really blue.

Try and apply eyeshadow to the lower lid with a cotton bud @biscuitdunkerette
I find you don’t need to smudge then, as it goes on more smudgey with the cotton bud (Johnson & Johnson cotton buds are best, supermarket own brands are, bizarrely, shit!)

Maybe it’s my shit Aldi cotton buds then! It’s a decent eyeshadow (Mac) but definitely has a tendency to wander.

OP, I find brown eye liner makes me look tired. Have you tried grey, I find that’s a subtle alternative to black.

@Lndnmummy do you do a DIY lash tint? Which product do you use?

Yes DIY. I don't use anything special just a tint i found in superdrug eyelure or something its called.

I use a brown eyeshadow and smudge it very much like the example above. I have tried tinting my eyelashes at home and at the salon but it doesn’t make any difference whatsoever (very fine lashes) so I stick to mascara and eyeshadow and upper eyeliner on a night out.

@biscuitdunkerette

Maybe it’s my shit Aldi cotton buds then! It’s a decent eyeshadow (Mac) but definitely has a tendency to wander.

Ahhh yes, could be! Defo try J&J and see if that makes a difference.

But OP, if you look and feel better with a bit more eye definition, then go for it. I’m a similar age to you, and on many occasions I’ve tried to do without an item of make-up, simply because I felt I should at a particular age. And I decided I don’t want to look tired/old/haggard, so I now use what makes me look and feel my best, even though I’ll never see 40 again

I'm very fair with green eyes. I prefer grey eyeliner, much more gentle than brown or black in my experience.

Yes, maybe it’s just accepting that slightly smudged eyeliner will not look the same on a 49 year old as a 25 year old! If you look a bit knackered anyway it’s not going to reverse it.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I’m going to set aside a bit of time for experimenting.

There was a whole big thread on this! YouTube videos linked in it too

Dated make up http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/styleandd_beauty/4376866-Dated-make-up

I read the 'dated' thread, and while I can't argue that liner underneath the eye may look dated or aging, my problem is that I look awful without some sort of under-eye definition. I've tried to wean myself off it countless times, but I really do need help in that area!

I’m fair with brown eyes, I use brown eyeliner on top lashes and mid brown eyeshadow on bottom lashes.

@Coffeepot72

I read the 'dated' thread, and while I can't argue that liner underneath the eye may look dated or aging, my problem is that I look awful without some sort of under-eye definition. I've tried to wean myself off it countless times, but I really do need help in that area!

I would just smudge it, or soften it with some eyeshadow

I've got hooded eyes and all the current make up tutorials from MUA have them lining the outer edge of the lower lid with shadow and then bringing the line upwards in a sort of wing.

@biscuitdunkerette

Thanks all. I’m very fair with blue eyes. I tend to wear (and I think suit) black mascara on the top. Will give brown a go. I’ve tried lining with eye shadow but I’m rubbish at smudging to make it less of a harsh line…that when I look like I’ve rubbed my make up and it settles in the creases. Are there any good make up tutorials on you tube gif this kind of thing?

I’m also fair with blue eyes and I swear by Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Stormy Grey for lining lower lashes. It’s soft and gives a slightly smudgy look without having to do anything (although I do tend to tap the end to blunt it when it’s just been sharpened) and it’s very cheap and you can pick it up easily in Superdrug and Boots, etc.

Bryony Blake does some good tutorials and rose Gallagher. I’m 43 and I have quite crepey eyelids but use a dark brown powder to line just gentle little strokes but go from outer to inner corner so there isn’t too much on the inside and thicker towards outer corner, you need some good brushes and a decent smudger, I don’t smudge too much just so the line isn’t harsh. I use slightly lighter brown underneath if I feel like it although I’m finding less is more on my eyes as I get older.

Those who DIY tint:
Is it possible to not get the tint in your eyes?
Do you do your top lashes yourself?

Blonde blue/grey eyes and I use a grey eyeliner inside my lower lash line nowadays (I’m 50). I apply it heavier on the outer edges of my eyes and taper it off to fainter from the centre of my pupil.