5 Eyeliner Mistakes That Are Making You Look Older

Makeup has a way of instantly boosting our moods and making us feel a bit (or a lot) better about ourselves. After all, it never hurts to banish those pesky under-eye circles or fine lines with some product. Eyeliners, in particular, are the one tool that we can't live without. From altering the shape of our eyes to creating a sultry evening look, they're the powerhouse superstar in our makeup bag. However, liners can be tricky to use, and applying them incorrectly can add years to your face. As a beauty expert with over 15 years of makeup experience, I've seen all sorts of eyeliner mishaps. I'm here to tell you what not to do when it comes to eyeliner so that you don't make the mistake of looking older.

If you have a favorite brand or shade, don't worry about having to go out and purchase a new eyeliner. With my tips, you can tweak your applications to give yourself a more youthful appearance — and we can all agree that being mistaken for younger is much more preferable than the alternative.

Goth girls will be disappointed to hear this but it's time to ditch the heavy black eyeliner if you don't want to look older. While it may look cool on 20 and 30-something-year-olds à la Taylor Momsen when she's rocking out with The Pretty Reckless, too much black liner tends to add years for those 40 and up. And, if you have hooded eyes, that's all the more reason to ditch the heavy liner, as you won't be able to see it under the overhang of your lids.

Instead, I suggest a softer shade like chocolate brown or slate gray if you want to emphasize your eyes with a dark color. Use a light hand and apply just enough product to bring out your eye shape. Pencils work best on your bottom lids, while I love a nice gel liner for the top, especially because most formulas are waterproof and smudge-proof. Remember to lightly smudge the liner when you're finished to avoid any harsh lines.

The '70s and '80s were all about drawing liner right around your eyes, from the inner corners to the outer ends. Then, when the Y2K era rolled around, Avril Lavigne convinced everyone that the ideal look was punk rock. However, if you're still doing this raccoon-like method, put down your eyeliner and slowly back away. Not only does this look completely outdated, but it will also date your face. Connecting your top and bottom liner instantly closes up your eyes and creates a garish outline that takes over all of your features. Additionally, if you have close-set eyes, that'll only make them appear more so.

It's fine to bring the top liner all the way to the inner corners, but leave some room on the bottom. I like to draw about three quarters of the way in and then stop right where your pupils begin. You can also pause at the halfway point and then gradually taper the eyeliner as you go. Trust me: You'll instantly notice that your eyes look years younger.

We know by now that harsh lines around the eyes are one of the many eye-makeup mistakes that make you look older. That can easily be remedied with some feathery strokes and a good dose of blending, but don't go overboard and create a too-smudged finish. Bringing the eyeliner too far down can create a panda-like look and make you appear disheveled. The makeup will also creep into your fine lines and that's one thing we never want to highlight.

While the lived-in smokey look is making messy glamorous, you'll want to contain the smudging to just outside the perimeters of your eyes. If you find the eyeliner straying too far down, use a cotton swab to gently remove it. Clean up any dark spots or flakes with some concealer and set your makeup with powder. Don't forget to blast your face with setting spray to lock everything in place, so that your smokey eyes look sultry instead of smeared.

Dark-colored eyeliners do wonders for making your eyes stand out but they can also make them appear heavy and tired. That's why it's crucial to provide a contrast by highlighting them with a lighter color. I love applying some shimmer to the inner corners of the eyes as it makes them sparkle and appear more alive. You can achieve this with shimmery eyeshadows but there are plenty of eyeliners that are specifically designed as highlighters. Don't choose a shade that's too light, such as white or silver. I suggest a cream color for light skin tones and a warm gold for deeper skin tones. Simply swipe some onto the bottom inner corners by the tear duct and blend it with your darker liner.

Highlighting the bottom waterline also makes you look refreshed, especially if you've had a long night and didn't get enough sleep. You won't want shimmer in this area so find a matte nude-colored pencil. Any redness you see will instantly be gone and you'll look like you got your beauty sleep.

When lining your eyes, it's important to give both your top and bottom lids some love. Many make the mistake of only drawing underneath and then forgetting to balance it out with eyeliner above. If you have hooded eyes, you may think there's no point in lining your top lids as they're not as visible, but even if you tightline your waterline, that'll give the area enough definition to make them pop.

Drawing just your bottom lids will drag your eyes down and make you look more tired. What's more, it'll also highlight any dark circles or puffiness you may have, and unfortunately, that will only make you look older. When it comes to lining your eyes, you always want to create a lifting effect, which is why we love a good winged liner. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, especially if you're going for a fun reverse cat eye that'll give your makeup a more seductive look.