Make up at 40

[Autumnatlast]

I'm steadily approaching 40 and feel that my make up, eyes in particular, needs to change. I've always kept to a fairly minimal combination of eyeliner and mascara but feel it looks a bit harsh now. Does anyone have any good tips for what to try for eye make up, or any good Instagram accounts etc to follow to get some ideas?

Thank you!

I’ve recently started using primer which has been a game changer and also tubing mascara which has been giving a better look that means eye makeup doesn’t collect in my wrinkles now throughout the day 🤣

Thank you for your reply - they both sound like really good tips!

What colour eyeliner do you use? I switched from black to a kind of khaki green (Urban Decay Stash) and it's much more subtle.

Eye liner makes me look haggard now, I mascara top lash only and use bb cream instead of foundation. My thanks peri meno skin is so much drier that foundation just settled in the cracks. I also use serum under moisturiser and have gone for Botox

Thanks both. I use brown eyeliner already as I'm quite fair, but I like the idea of khaki green.

A lighter foundation/BB cream also sounds like a good idea.

I'm thinking about going for a makeover as I've hit a rut. I'm 40 now. Need a change.

I’ve stopped using anything that makes my skin matte as it sits in the creases, the dewy look makes me look younger. I use the same lightweight foundation that I always have(bourjois-it’s a shit to get hold of now) and a blur cream under eye instead of concealer. I no longer line my lower lids but still wear eyeliner on top as it lifts my face. Only use Matt eyeshadow on my lids as anything with a sparkle ages me. I’ve also had tear trough filler which I love.

Use eyeshadow instead of eyeliner pencil, it's much more flattering regardless of age.

If you want to do eyeliner flicks on the top lid then look straight in the mirror and draw over the hoods, rather than looking down or pulling the skin. This was a game changer for me!

When applying eyeshadow, go above your crease, not into the crease or just on the eyelid. It really lifts they eye.

Apart from that just go for what you want. I'm over 40 and still do colour, sparkle/metallic, everything really!

More dewy or serum foundation is better.

A lighter eyeshadow like Benefit kitten but with some darker shadow to give more definition.

I’ve used a Dior hologram blusher which works.

You can wear eyeliner and mascara but brown or other colours.

@BedTaker can you explain more about the eyeliner flicks please? If I try the skin drags, whether I look straight at the mirror or not.

My eyes have got quite sunken so the usual YouTube videos of pretty young things doing an eyeliner flick one-handed doesn't really help me 😆

Here’s a great video for over 40s makeup
www.facebook.com/eminnes1/videos/3277691842490175/?idorvanity=704840856631858

Yes, I have quite draggy skin as well so it does take a while to do, I definitely can't do the one swipe thing that the young ones do!

Always look straight in the mirror, so that you will see how the finished eyeliner will look through the whole process. I always start with a sharp black pencil and do across the lid first. I use the Urban Decay pencil as it doesnt drag too much Then, whilst looking straight on I draw out the bottom of the wing with the pencil, then connect it straight across to the eyelid. When you look down it looks a really weird shape there might even be gaps but that's ok. Then use the pencil to lightly keep going over it to deepen it all. Then when you have got the shape, then you can pull the skin taut to fill in any bits or gaps, but you mustn't go outside of the shape mapped out, no matter how strange it looks from other angles. Then, depending on my look, I sometimes define it more with liquid eyeliner, again not going outside of that original shape. The main thing is to look straight ahead and do it slowly and straight across the hood, as that gives the finished shape.

If you want to sharpen the wing, you can get a tiny bit of micellar water on a flat dense brush and use that.

I got most of this from Katie Jane Hughes on Instagram, and then tweaked it for my own eyes!

Thanks!

I'm 39 and I now only do eyeliner at the edges of my eyelids if I do it at all. I also find it too much on my face these days. Whether that's my age or just fashion I don't know.

I am pale and blonde so I also only wear brown mascara these days as black is too much

Mascara and eyeliner used correctly can make black, mixed race and Indian women look younger. Just wanted to put that out there. Eyeliner can make our lashes look thicker and eyes longer - as you use eye primer and ensure dark circles are managed. All I wear is IT’s concealer, eyeliner and mascara & sometimes a bit of medium coverage serum foundation if I have spots.

I don't use eyeliner any more, I'm mid 40s and in last few years it's just too harsh. I'm fairly pale and have light hair and avoid dark colours on the eyes too

I use a flattering mid-light, fairly neutral shade of eyeshadow on the lid then a slightly darker shade in and above crease. I do a very thin line of eyeshadow at the lashes just a shade darker than the crease one, applied with a flat brush just at the outer end.

Strangely I've also found trying to curl lashes out wear too much mascara makes my eyes look smaller too, so I apply that sparingly and in a brown-black.

I don't apply mascara to bottom lashes.

I am really liking slightly shimmery shades like Charlotte Tilbury does, they seem more flattering than matte. I think back in the day sparkly eyeshadows weren't suggested for older skin but formulas have changed and shimmery is not the same as sparkly!

Ooh - lots of things to try out here, thanks! What a good excuse to buy a few new bits of make up!

@HashBrownandBeans what blur cream do you use? I use a colour corrector but definitely noticed post 40 it’s not working so well with creases

I use Beauty Pie Superluminous, you just pat it on

www.beautypie.com/products/superluminous-under-eye-genius-light-medium?gbraid=0AAAAADANKJlXVdiwK_RPoeVG1ZAzPQfTE&awc=12780_1670530361_c5be2239a9aaccb8e5b016b88a265652&utm_source=Genie+Shopping&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Affiliate_Window

A few months off 40 and I do a subtle smokey eye with taupe and brown or grey eyeshadow, and mascara on upper lashes only. I also wear glasses (usually plastic frames in dark colours) and that helps add interest to my face.

@Cupcakegirl13 which primer do you use? Would be good to know

@Autumnatlast look up mrsmelissam on YouTube. Really great tutorials for older skin.
This one's great

@Takenoprisoner I use the Avon magic spf20 primer

Lighter eyeliner on the upper lash line only. less concealer as it can just highlight crepey skin. Just put in the inner corners. Eyebrow pencil/ dyeing the brows myself every couple of weeks makes the biggest difference especially being fair.

Thanks @HashBrownandBeans for the recommendation. I’ve been meaning to try beauty pie so I’ve just ordered that (and a bunch of other stuff by accident).

I feel like I’m wearing more make up than less now. Plus I thought people would have prise my black winged liquid eyeliner off my cold dead body but I’m a convert to shadow and pencil.

I use Gatineau perfection Ultime eye corrector.

Goodness me this has transformed my makeup. It blurs and adapts to your skin colour ( it goes on white ).

Because I use it for my whole face it didn't last as long but it's £30 on qvc very often so I buy it from there.

It makes my skin look amazing. Definitely worth adding to your makeup bag.