The question: It has been years since I have updated my makeup routine and since I’m turning the big 4-0 I want to make sure I’m not wearing a makeup style that is too young/ dated for my age.
Bonnie’s answer: I believe everybody should do whatever they want. Wear the eyeliner. Wear the glitter. Wear the red lip.
But I also know that kind of answer is not really helpful. So here are some real answers.
Should people over 40 stop wearing eyeliner?
No, they absolutely can wear eyeliner, but you may want to update how you wear it.
Our eyes change over time, the lid can become a little more hooded, the skin can get softer, and doing the exact same technique you did years ago may not work as well on the ever-changing canvas that is our skin.
Here are three things I would try:
1. Make the eyeliner thinner.
Instead of drawing a thick black line across the entire lid, which can become a little more complicated on softer skin, keep the eyeliner really close to the lashes and let it create definition without taking over the entire eye.
2. Make the wing smaller.
Again, in your early 40s this may not even be an issue yet, but as the years go by, things like hooding, crow’s feet and uneven skin texture can make a very precise wing more difficult, so making the wing smaller gives you a lot more room for error while still giving you that lifted effect.
Especially if your eyes are becoming more hooded, try doing your wing while looking straight into the mirror with your eyes open, because that way you can actually see where the wing is going to sit when you’re walking around living your life instead of only seeing how perfect it looks with your eyes closed.
3. Try something softer than black liquid liner.
I would also play with a brown eyeliner and see if you like the vibe, because it still defines the eyes but can feel a little softer, and again, extra skin or texture can make very precise liquid eyeliner more difficult to apply.
One of my favorite tricks is using a dark brown or black powder eyeshadow with a tiny angled brush, pressing it really close to the lashes and extending it slightly at the outer corner.
You get the same idea as eyeliner, but softer, more forgiving and honestly SO much easier.
However, I do think some people should stop using eyeliner.
If you can’t see well enough to apply it and the result is objectively not looking good, I know this sounds harsh, but sometimes we have to accept that the technique is not the problem.
My mama wears a lot of eyeliner, and one day I looked at it really closely because I wanted to figure out what she was doing so I could give her better advice, only for her to casually confess that she literally cannot see without her glasses.
So… there was no technique for me to improve because she couldn’t actually see what she was doing.
In a case like that, I think it is better to stop fighting with liquid eyeliner altogether and go for a soft eyeshadow instead, all over the lid, no line. Because it is much more forgiving and you can still get beautiful definition without needing surgeon-level precision.
Now, is this particular eyeliner style outdated?
Yes. A thick black wing like this feels very 2016 YouTube makeup right now.
A thick wing will always come and go, but right now the more current version is much thinner, softer and almost disappears into the lashes.
And thank goodness, because it is also much easier to do.
I like the SOSHE eyeliner because the tip is super thin, so I can get really close to the lashes without accidentally creating a giant wing. It is flexible while I’m applying it, which makes it easier to control, but once it sets, it does not move.
I made a tutorial showing exactly how I do it HERE. Click the image to watch the video.
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And if you want me to answer one of your beauty questions next, leave it in the comments. If you can add a picture, even better, because it makes it much easier for me to give you a specific answer.
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My favorite makeup kit for beginners HERE
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All my looks and promo codes HERE
The skincare I’ll be trying for the next four weeks is HERE and HERE
That’s all.
With love,
Bonnie 🖤
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