Mature eyes need lift, not more makeup. In these quick tips Nikol Johnson shows how to prime the lid first, use all three shades of an eyeshadow trio, stop dragging eyeliner from the inner corner, tight-line to close the gap at the lash line, sweep mascara upward, and try press-on lashes as an easy alternative to extensions.
Key takeaways
- Prime from the base of the lashes up to the brow bone so pinks and discoloration on the lid are neutralized before any color goes on.
- If you own a three-shade eyeshadow trio, learn to use all three colors. As the skin on the lid loosens with age, your technique has to evolve with it.
- One continuous eyeliner line from the inner corner to the outer corner leaves a gap and drags a hooded eye down.
- Tight-lining the upper lash line hides the nude line under the lashes and makes eyes look more defined.
- Always sweep mascara upward. Lifting matters more with every decade.
- Press-on lashes are an inexpensive, easy alternative to lash extensions. Nikol suggests about 24 hours of wear.
Why should you prime your eyelids before eyeshadow?
Mature lids often show pinks and uneven color. Nikol applies Eye Primer from the base of the lashes all the way up to the brow bone, working her way out, until the whole eye looks neutralized. She stays close to the lash line and builds it up there, then pulls the product upward. Starting from an even base means the eyeshadow you put on top shows up as its true color.
Are you only using one shade of your eyeshadow palette?
Nikol's challenge: stop buying more and more eyeshadows and then using only one or two of them. As a mature woman you should be using all three colors in a trio and know exactly how to apply each one to your eye. As the decades go by, the skin on the eye gets a little looser, so your technique has to change too. You can't stay stuck in the routine you had at 25. Nikol's eyeshadow palettes come as three-shade trios.
What eyeliner mistake makes hooded eyes look older?
The mistake Nikol sees most in her classes: women look in the mirror, start the liner at the inner corner, drag it across, and then follow the eye down. Many have done it the same way since their teens or twenties, and somewhere around 40, 45 or 50 it stops working. Trying to make one continuous line from the inner corner to the end leaves a visible gap, because the line ends up above where the liner should actually sit. Then it comes down at the outer corner, which drags the whole eye down. The fix is to place the liner where your eye actually is, rather than forcing one line across a hooded lid. Nikol's own liner is her waterproof eyeliner pencil.
What is tight-lining and why does it help mature eyes?
If you wear eyeliner and still see a nude line underneath your lash line, tight-lining is what Nikol calls her sneaky trick for mature eyes. It's subtle, but it makes a world of difference. It's the step not to skip when you have a wedding or an evening event and want your eyes to look a little more sultry and pronounced, as if you had your makeup done professionally.
Which direction should you apply mascara on mature lashes?
Up. Nikol's rule from the 40s onward, through the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, is that everything is about lifting. She sweeps her mascara upward to lift the lashes, using her brown Volume Up Mascara, a formula she created to be creamy, water resistant and safe for sensitive eyes.
Are press-on lashes a good alternative to lash extensions?
For women who don't want to get lash extensions, Nikol calls press-on lashes a simple trick for leveling up everyday makeup and feeling glamorous. She tested how long they would last. Through showering and sleeping, hers stayed on for four days, but she's clear that you're not supposed to do that. Her advice is about 24 hours of wear and then take them off. They're inexpensive enough that you could put on a fresh set every day if you want to.
The bottom line
Mature eyes don't need heavier makeup. They need technique that lifts. Neutralize the lid first, put every shade in your palette to work, place liner where your eye actually is instead of dragging it down, tight-line to close the gap, and sweep everything upward. Build your kit from the eyes collection and the brushes and tools Nikol uses.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I apply eye primer on mature eyelids?
Nikol applies it from the base of the lashes all the way up to the brow bone, working outward and building it up close to the lash line. This neutralizes pinks and discoloration on the lid so eyeshadow shows its true color.
Why does my eyeliner make my hooded eyes look droopy?
Usually it's because the liner is dragged in one continuous line from the inner corner and then follows the eye down at the outer corner. On a hooded eye that leaves a gap and pulls the eye downward. Place the liner where your eye actually is instead.
What does tight-lining do?
It fills in the nude line that shows underneath the upper lashes, even when you're wearing eyeliner. Nikol says the difference is subtle but huge, especially for weddings and evening events when you want more defined, sultry eyes.
How should I apply mascara if I'm over 50?
Always sweep it upward to lift the lashes. Nikol says lifting matters in every decade from the 40s on. She uses her creamy, water-resistant brown Volume Up Mascara, which is safe for sensitive eyes.
How long can you wear press-on lashes?
Nikol recommends about 24 hours of wear, then remove them. She tested hers for four days and they stayed put, but she's clear that's not how they're meant to be worn. They're inexpensive enough to reapply daily.
Should I use all three colors in an eyeshadow trio?
Yes. Nikol's point is that as a mature woman you should know how to use every shade in your palette, and adjust your technique as the skin on your eyes changes with age.
