Mature eye makeup: hiding hooded eyes & dark eyelids (2024)

As we age, our eyes undoubtedly change in ways we probably weren’t expecting:

  • The skin on the eyelids may begin to darken and take on a brownish tinge.
  • Our eyebrows begin to lose colour, definition and shape. They may also start to sprout in all directions and become wiry and difficult to tame.
  • The skin on the upper part of the eyelid starts to become loose and stretchy and descending over our lower eyelid.

This all sounds rather depressing, but I want to show you there are many ways to improve the appearance of eyes when we’re older that can avoid making you look like Cruella De Vil.

Here are my top tips for eye make-up as an older woman.

Make-up and the older woman

How to shape, tame and define your eyebrows

Keep eyebrows in their place and put them back if they’ve disappeared. Eyebrows are incredibly important to framing not only your eyes, but your whole face.

As we get older, they have tendency to become wiry and difficult to manage.

A magnifying mirror will show you the worst offenders when it comes to brows which are growing at strange angles or in weird shapes. Pluck these out or if you don’t feel confident about doing this at home, visit a professional to do it for you.

If you have sparse or over-plucked eyebrows, you can recreate the illusion of beautifully balanced and groomed eyebrows by using a product like Fabulous Brow Shape (£25) which gives the effect of natural looking brows and even individual hairs.

Top tips for great looking eyebrows

Make the most of your eyelashes

Mascara used with eyelash curlers can be an older woman’s secret weapon.

I’m not a fan of very volumising and lengthening mascaras which can make older eyelashes look spidery and unnatural.

Instead use eyelash curlers before you apply mascara and the effect will be just as dramatic.

Read more about enhancing your eyebrows and eyelashes

Keep your eye shadow in place

Eye prime will stop eye shadows from migrating and looking messy.

The skin on eyelids might not be as smooth as it once was and it can also be drier, so products get absorbed into the skin.

Some women also find their eyelids become greasy, again making it hard for eye shadows and colours to stay put.

Applying an eye prime first can help solve lots of these problems, and if you use a flesh-coloured one likeFabulous Eye Prime (£16), it will also hide any discolouration you may have.

Primers for the prime of your life

Disguise hooded eyes

Hooded eyes can be disguised by using different shadow in the right places.

The way to do this is to think of the space between the eyebrows and the eyelashes in three distinct areas

  1. The brow bone should be a light colour

  2. The socket line should be a darker colour

  3. The eyelid should be light

Blend well to create a subtle effect and this will give you depth to your eyes which may have begun to disappear.

Create the illusion of thicker eyelashes

Make your lashes look thicker by using a dark eye shadow and a wedge brush.

If you push the shadow, dry or wet, into the roots of your ashes with a small wedge brush, you will create a soft, subtle line that will open your eyes up as well as giving you thicker looking eyelashes.

Take care of your eyelids

Don’t forget your eyelids when it comes to nourishing your skin.

The skin on our eyelids gets thinner and may also become loose and stretchy as we get older.

It’s important to make sure the delicate skin on our eyelids is well nourished. Use a serum and a moisturiser all over your face including your lids, and I find a gentle eye makeup remover stops the delicate skin from around your eyes from becoming too dry.

Do eye creams really work?

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Mature eye makeup: hiding hooded eyes & dark eyelids (2024)

FAQs

What eyeshadow for mature hooded eyes? ›

We recommend that, after you prepare with a good eye prime, you apply a lighter shade of shadow all over your lids to catch the light and bring them forward. You might opt for our Eye Shade in Cream, Cappuccino, or Caramel Pink. Next, use a slightly darker shade in your eye socket to create definition and depth.

How do you hide hooded eyelids? ›

Do: use dark colors on the outside, light colors on the inside. If all else fails, use lighter colors on your inner corners, and darker colors on your outer corners. By just remembering this simple trick, you'll add a lot of dimension to your hooded eyes, making them appear bigger and brighter.

What color eye shadow should an older woman wear? ›

“You can never go wrong with neutrals, beiges, browns, or grays — and soft purples also look great on anyone!” says Lujan, before adding that it's important to consider both your eye color as well as the undertone of the shadows you're planning to use.

Which is better for mature eyes powder or cream eyeshadow? ›

For women of older age and mature skin, using cream eyeshadows in comparison with powdered ones can give you a smooth texture, keep your eyes hydrated, and achieve glowing skin. Cream eyeshadows don't accentuate fine lines around the eyes that the powdered one can do sometimes!

Should you wear light or dark eyeshadow with hooded eyes? ›

Tips for Enhancing Hooded Eyes

To help give eyes a more open appearance, Blair recommends, "Use an eyeshadow shade 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone on the lid of the eye, first. This will give the look of a more open shape.

How can I make my mature hooded eyes look bigger? ›

Use a white or light colored eyeliner to draw a tight line right at your bottom lash line to make your eyes look bigger.

Where do you put eyeshadow on mature eyes? ›

Apply your eyeshadow to your lid, crease, and browbone.

Finish the look off by placing a light cream shade on your browbone and the inner creases of your eyes with your fluffy brush for a lively pop of brightness. If you already have sagging or wrinkled skin, a lot of eyeshadow will only emphasize these areas.

What is it called when your eyelids are dark? ›

Periocular hyperpigmentation is a condition in which skin of eyelids become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. Lead and other heavy metals produce increased pigmentation because of deposition of metal particles in the dermis and increased epidermal melanin production.

What do dark upper eyelids mean? ›

Sleep deprivation, skin allergies, pregnancy, genetics and other causes may be responsible for it. The cause of the dark eyelids' appearance determines the treatment. Your physician may suggest a few lifestyle changes, certain medications and physical therapy such as chemical peels and laser treatment to get rid of it.

What makes hooded eyes worse? ›

Lifestyle Habits: When you engage in habits like spending too much time in the sun and smoking, you speed up the ageing process of your skin. This, in turn, makes the hooded eye condition worse.

Does Jennifer Aniston have hooded eyes? ›

Some people only have one hooded eye, although this is less common than two. However subtle or pronounced your hooded eyes are, they are neither a health risk nor a beauty deficit. Plenty of gorgeous celebrities rock their hooded eyes on the red carpet all the time, like Jennifer Aniston.

What color eyeshadow is best for hooded eyes? ›

Tips for Enhancing Hooded Eyes

To help give eyes a more open appearance, Blair recommends, "Use an eyeshadow shade 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone on the lid of the eye, first. This will give the look of a more open shape.

What eyeshadow for saggy eyelids? ›

To make lids appear more lifted, create a defined brow arch that peaks above the outer edge of your iris when looking straight ahead. 2. With a creamy dark brown eyeshadow stick, draw a triangle at the outer corner of the lids. Blend it upward so the color fades into the crease.

What eyeshadow texture would you avoid on mature wrinkled eyelids? ›

The best thing to do is apply a matte base eyeshadow and pop that sheen to the eyes by applying a shimmer on the smoothest part of the eyelid. This will make your eyes look larger and brighter. But, you should totally avoid applying shimmer to the brow bones that will accentuate the wrinkles all around.

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