Beauty: Making Eyes

March 14, 2019
Eyes

Eyes


This post is part of the Gorgeous 50’s series inspired by a book given to me by one of my sisters on my 50th birthday – ‘Grown up and Gorgeous in your 50’s’ by Pamela Robson.  I will be sharing some of Pamela’s words and my own thoughts along the way.  To see all posts published as part of this series, go here.


Under BEAUTY we’ve already discussed the subject of beauty in our 50’s generally, and we’ve looked at The Three S’s, Skin Care, Make-Up, and Back to Base.  In this post we’re focussing our attention on our eyes!

Pamela says:

Once the skin on your eyelids starts to become crepey (or if the skin on the upper lids has started to droop, or if your eyes are losing that definition they used to have), there is a whole new set of make-up rules to learn.  For example, multi-tiered colours of eyeshadow are too complicated for older lids.  Instead, use two neutral shades and blend them so they look natural.

EXPERT TIP:  A dab of concealer at the inner eye corners, blended well, will really make you look bright, fresh and awake.

THE EYE ISSUES:

Crepey Lids – Resist the temptation of shimmery or bright colours.  They magnify imperfections.  Stay away from dry, powdery products that can exaggerate crepey skin; likewise, be careful of greasy creams that can ‘pond’ in folds. Pick a soft, matte cream in natural shades – and lightly press face powder over your lids with a puff before you apply shadow, to create a smoother-looking surface.

Loss of definition – Smudge a soft wisp of eye pencil along your upper lashline, in flattering natural shades.  Try to get it as close to the lashes as possible, starting from the inner eye and working out.  A couple of coats of very black mascara will also work wonders.

Droopy lids  – ‘Bedroom’ eyes can be very sexy – just look at actresses Ellen Barkin and Charlotte Rampling!  But if the droop has gone beyond sexy and entered the realm of plain old tired, don’t resort to surgery just yet – have your eyebrows shaped by a professional (more on this when we discuss eyebrows) and define your upper lashes with mascara.

Dark circles – The correct concealer will really help with this common problem, as will avoiding liner and mascara on the lower lashes.  A dusting of pastel pink blush on the apples of your cheeks is a clever way to distract attention from the dark circles.

My thoughts:

LESS IS MORE

Well I’m no expert in the make-up department but the older we get, the more I believe that ‘LESS IS MORE’, and yes this applies to makeup in general but most definitely to eye make-up.  

I think we can apply a little more eye make-up when it comes to evening outings or more fancy occasions, but stick to a simple natural routine for a general casual day look.

I also believe that what makeup you apply depends on the individual and their eye ‘situation’.  I personally don’t have a large eyelid area for fancy eyeshadow effects (completely wasted on me) so I stick to mascara and eye pencil/eyeliner (for when I dress up a bit) and nowadays I also use an eyebrow pencil (never used to have to in my younger days).

MASCARA

I adore mascara.  It brings my eyes to life.  It takes me from looking tired and exhausted – to alive and vibrant.  It also makes my eyes look bigger and brighter.  But for many years I have failed to find a mascara that I’ve been happy with.  My current mascara was on its last legs and I was determined to not buy another dud, so I put a request out on social media for names/brands of favourite mascaras as I wanted to buy a good one – that was waterproof, that added volume and length, and that wasn’t blobby and yuk!  I ended up buying Too Faced – Better Than Sex Waterproof mascara from Mecca and let me tell you – so far I think that it’s fabulous!  It also arrived all boxed up and packaged beautifully – such a treat!  

EYE LINER

I adore eye liner too!  I reserve this for when I’m ‘dressing up’.  I have green eyes so I like a green shade of eye liner or a silver/grey/charcoal or a brown.  I never use black – it’s too hard and harsh for me.  I always make sure to smudge and blend my eye liner so it doesn’t look ‘drawn on’. 

EYE SHADOW

As I said above (under less is more) I don’t bother using eye shadow but I do agree with Pamela that if you do use it, stick to natural shades and avoid shimmery, glittery, bright ones that exaggerate and draw attention to flaws!

DARK CIRCLES

Concealer for dark circles under the eyes:  I don’t do this, but perhaps I should.  I must investigate appropriate concealers.  If you can recommend one, please let me know in the comments!

EYEBROW PENCIL

As we get older our eyebrows get thinner (less thickness of hair) and we get grey ones.  I know – harsh isn’t it?!  SO … we need to apply some eyebrow pencil to give the illusion of darker and thicker brows.  It makes an enormous difference to the framing of the eyes and our face in general.  Just don’t go crazy and have fake drawn on looking eyebrows …  that is SO not a good look!  Keep it natural looking.

What are your tips and tricks for making our eyes pop and look great?  Do you use concealer to reduce those dark circles?  Got loads of eyelid for eyeshadow, unlike me?  Any eye make-up products you want to recommend?  

Ciao for now,

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12 Comments

  • Reply Lydia C. Lee March 14, 2019 at 6:59 am

    I swear by Benefit Oh La La! concealer, which they inconveniently stopped making. I’ve 2 new Benefit products that I’ve been told if I apply them together will do the same thing, but for now I’m eeking out the Oh la la in small measures….#LovingLifeLinky

    • Reply Min March 14, 2019 at 10:56 am

      Ohhh that Benefit Oh La La – it’s like dangling a carrot and then whipping it away! lol I’ll go check out the Benefit products though!

  • Reply Sydney Shop Girl March 14, 2019 at 7:26 am

    Huge fan of my MAC concealer, NARS eyeshadow base and Stila eyeliner.

    SSG xxx

    • Reply Min March 14, 2019 at 10:57 am

      Aha MAC concealer huh – I’m off to check it out. Thanks SSG! 🙂 xo

  • Reply Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au March 14, 2019 at 1:38 pm

    I always add a bit of colour to my eyelids if I’m wearing makeup. I try to make the most of the little bit of eyelid that is still showing (damn that droop!) I’m also a fan of soft eyeliner – I tend to blues and purples because black is too harsh on me. I do use a touch of concealer stick under my eyes now – I use a cheapie Mode one from Coles – it’s amazing and really inexpensive (win/win). I do need to find a decent mascara sometime so will keep my eyes peeled for one on special – got to watch the pennies now I’m a potential retiree!

    • Reply Min March 14, 2019 at 3:12 pm

      I don’t have much eyelid area either Leanne but then I never really have! I love soft eyeliners too – greens, greys and browns for me (no black – it’s too harsh on me too). I really must start using some concealer as it seems most people do! It might take years off – you never know! lol xo

  • Reply Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond March 14, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    My eyes need colour, Min. I tend to wear brown eyeshadow and eyeliner but because I don’t wear makeup often unless I’m going out there is no definition. I actually tinted my own eyebrows and eyelashes last month for the first time mainly to save money. I used to have them done every time I had my hair done and it does make a difference.

    • Reply Min March 14, 2019 at 3:15 pm

      I get my eyebrows tinted (and waxed) every time I get my hair done Sue (approx every 7 weeks) and have been doing this for years now. I once tried getting my eyelashes tinted and in stung like crazy! Not only that but I couldn’t really see any difference. Wasn’t worth the pain I thought, so I’ve never had that done again. I wouldn’t even know how to tint my own eyebrows and eyelashes. I am scared to think of how it might turn out considering I’m blind as a bat without my glasses! lol

  • Reply Joanne Tracey March 14, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    I really only wear eye shadows these days if I’m going out or in the office. I can’t however, go out without a tinted moisturiser & mascara. I usually use Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara, but giving Perversion by Urban Decay a whirl – mainly because I love the name. I’m also looking forward to the60s party I’m going to on Saturday night – at which I will be wearing blue eyeshadow.

    • Reply Min March 14, 2019 at 3:20 pm

      I wouldn’t leave the house (except maybe to go to the beach or something) without some mascara on. It takes me from ‘tired and drab’ to ‘awake and slightly perky’! lol As I wrote, I don’t do eye shadow at all anymore – not enough eye real estate to bother. Hmmm…Perversion is a good name for mascara but is it as good as my ‘Better than sex’? Perhaps on a par? Blue eye shadow will be perfect for your 60’s party – even I would don some blue eyeshadow for a themed party. Have fun! 🙂

  • Reply Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit March 21, 2019 at 5:02 am

    I agree with less is more for eye make-up as we age. Do you watch Goggle Box? There is a lady on that of the more mature variety and she wears really heavy dark make-up and I find it very distracting. I’d love to see her with a more natural and “fresher” palette. I feel like it would give her some youth back. xo

    • Reply Min March 21, 2019 at 1:01 pm

      I know the lady you’re talking of Leanne – dark hair and is always there on the lounge with her husband (kinda balding with black rimmed glasses). YES – she would look younger with far less makeup – I agree! xo

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