Let’s face it — with each passing birthday, crow’s-feet, dark circles, droopy lids and thinning brows and lashes become more of an issue, and we could all benefit from a little brightening, tightening and lifting around the eyes. Luckily, there’s an easy, affordable, surgery-free way to turn back the clock: knowing which eye makeup works best to enhance features, hide flaws and blur lines, whether that’s through shadows, liners or a brow product. That’s why we polled top makeup artists for the best eye makeup products for women over 60.
Over 60? Here are the best eye makeup products
Celebrity makeup artist Jami Svay who has worked with stars like Julianne Moore, says these are the most important things to consider when looking for eye makeup:
For eyeshadows: When possible, opt for a cream formula. Cream formulas, as opposed to powder shadows, are less likely to seep into fine lines and wrinkles. And while powders tend to accentuate the look of already dry-looking lids, cream shadows impart a more dewy and illuminating glow.
For eyeliners: Soft, creamy formulas work well here too for women 60 and older. They are easier to blend and smudge out, plus allow a smoother application process for shaky hands.
For mascara: Since the mascara you choose depends on the specific issue you want to address, your best bet is to look for one that promises to fix it: like lengthening for short, brittle lashes or volumizing for thin ones.
For brows: Filling in brows so they look natural and not drawn on can be a hard skill to master, so if you are new to filling in your brows, Svay advises sticking to a simple, soft brow pencil. They are easy to use and give you lots of control over the application, especially if it is a longer pencil.
Svay says the secret to the best eye makeup products for women over 60 is ensuring whatever you use stays on and therefore helps your eyes look bright, awake and youthful all day. You can achieve that by starting with an eye primer. “Think of primer as the base and foundation of a house; without it, the rest of the materials are not going to last or stay,” she explains. “Plus, not only does primer help to prevent shadow from creasing, it also gives a color boost to whatever shadow you’re using.”
The top 10 best eye makeup products for women over 60
The best makeup shades for women over 60
Our eye color is often one of the features that stands out the most. And whether you have piercing blue eyes, warm brown peepers or gorgeous greens, a trick to enhancing the color is to choose shadow and liner shades that are complementary. (Click through for more ways to choose the right makeup color for you).
For blue eyes
If you’re more inclined to use neutral colors, a gold or champagne color will help the blues pop. If you are opting for some bolder color, stick to pinks, peaches and coppers, says Global Makeup Artist and Senior Educator for bareMinerals Carly Giglio.
For brown eyes
You’re one of the lucky ones who can pull off anything. Brown eyes tend to be the most versatile, and due to their neutrality, they can work with many different eye makeup shades, says Giglio.
For green eyes
Green eyes look best paired with purples, burgundy, pinks, browns, grays and green, says Giglio. The purple will make the green really pop, but if you are looking for a softer, more neutral look, browns and grays work well too.
Our Top Picks
best shadow for dry lids
Thrive Causemetics
Buy from Thrive Causemetics, $26
Why we like it
- Creamy
- Easy to use
- Hydrating
Suffer from dry lids and looking for a user-friendly, pigmented eyeshadow stick? Thrive Causemetics Infinity Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick is the one for you. Thanks to its marker-like design, you can easily just swipe the color onto lids, and since there’s no need for brushes, its perfect for on the go. Plus, it’s made with super-hydrating ceramides, aloe Leaf extract and vitamin B5.
Best Shadow palette
Morphe
Why we like it
- Affordable
- Offers a mix of matte and shimmer
Not only are Morphe products affordable (9 gorgeous shades for just $18), but they are also highly pigmented, making them last for hours, a perfect pick for best eye makeup products for women over 60. Says Svay about Morphe Solaria Power Multi-Effects Palette, one of her favorites: “The palette offers a buffet of neutral eye colors, great for more mature skin, and they work with all eye colors.” Plus, if you’re going to choose a non-creamy formula, one with sparkles helps reflect light off the skin to “blur” flaws.
best Eyeshadow primer
bareMinerals
Why we like it
- Helps shadow last all day
- Clean ingredients
- Great for sensitive skin
The bareMinerals Prime Time Eyeshadow Extender will become the new staple in your makeup routine, and since bareMinerals is known for their long-lasting and clean ingredients, it’s an excellent option for those with sensitive skin.
best mascara for aging eyes
Loreal Paris
Why we like it
- Hydrating
- Waterproof
- Removes with warm water
The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Lash Magnifying Waterproof Mascara is an amazing choice for mature skin and eyes thanks to its waterproof technology that involves no hassle removal — it simply comes off with warm water. This prevents the lash breakage and fallout that comes with hard-to-remove waterproof formulas. Ingredients include jojoba oil and a lash-conditioning serum, which help to keep the lashes healthy and hydrated.
best volumizing mascara
Babe Lash
Why we like it
- Affordable
- Conditioning
- Spiked tip
The Babe Lash 4 Real Mascara has micro-fine bristles that allow for precision application while coating every lash, and its spiked tip makes it easy to separate the lashes, preventing clumps. The formula is even infused with apple stem cells, olive stem cells, shea butter and castor seed oil, ingredients that help to condition, grow and rejuvenate the lashes.
best lengthening mascara
L’Oréal Paris
Why we like it
- Lengthening
- Affordable
- Lightweight
The L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original Mascara became wildly popular over the last few years, as it blew up on TikTok. The mascara is so well-loved because of its affordable price and precision lengthening formula. The brush is flexible and thin, allowing every lash to be separated and coated. “I use L’Oreal’s Telescopic mascara to help my clients look fresh and awake,” says Svay. The lightweight formula ensures eye don’t appear too heavy and dark, plus the lengthening helps lifts the eye which counteracts drooping.
best brow product for lift
Charlotte Tilbury
Buy from Charlotte Tilbury, $26
Why we like it
- Adds structure
- Refillable
- Cream wax
This brow lift product from Charlotte Tilbury is everything you need to give yourself that natural face-lift illusion. It features an angled tip, helping with precision and definition. Even better, it’s refillable — no more having to buy a whole new pencil every few months. Plus, it’s dual-ended, with the angled brush on one end and a spoolie brush on the other end, perfect for sculpting a brow shape that will pull the eyes up for a face-lift effect.
best brow product for thinning brows
Kosas
Why we like it
- Clean
- Conditioning
- Helps with hair growth
This Kosas Air Brow Tinted Gel has a mousse-like texture and consistency, allowing for the appearance of fuller and more feathery brows with one swipe. The tint fills in brows and keeps them in place at the same time. Bonus: It’s made with castor oil, which is known to help encourage brow hair growth.
best soft eyeliner shade
Mary Kay
Why we like it
- Creamy
- Long-lasting
- Less harsh
When it comes to the best eye makeup products for women over 60, anything from Mary Kay works well as they have been in the business of beautifying older women for years. But since their eyeliner formula is rich and creamy, plus stays on for hours, it’s a favorite. This specific shade is a gorgeous dark brown, which allows for a less-harsh appearance than a standard black liner. Celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty, who has prettied up the eyes of Sandra Oh and Freida Pinto says, “This creamy eyeliner is great for doing a smudged-out, smokey application, as I find that super flattering.”
best cream eyeliner
Sephora/Urban Decay
Why we like it
- Creamy
- Long-lasting
- Waterproof
This liner truly has it all — 38 shades, five finishes, waterpoof, easy-to-use and lasts up to 16 hours. The creamy formula is great for navigating fine lines and wrinkles, and it gives the eyes more of a dewy, smooth look. The finishes include matte, shimmer, glitter, satin and metallic so you can pick the one that works best for your look. A little shimmer can help brighten up tired or dark eyes, giving you a beautiful sparkle that is subtle yet makes all the difference.
To learn more about the best eye looks for you, click through these stories:
5 Makeup Tips That Lift and Brighten Tired Eyes
Have Hooded Eyes? This Simple Makeup Trick Will Make Your Peepers Pop
