Skip These Eyeshadow Colors If You Have Older Eyes

Those who grew up in the '70s and '80s know that strong eyeshadows reigned supreme world back then. We're talking glitter, metallics, and pops of neon on everyone's lids. If this sounds familiar to you, you're unfortunately in the age bracket where these shadows will now make you look older. So, while it's fun to play around with different hues, bright blue, magenta, and pink shades from those funky decades should be avoided. Having dipped my makeup brushes into countless eyeshadows during my 15+ years as a professional makeup artist, the one thing mature clients all ask me is to make them look more youthful — and it's not hard to do as long as I pick the right color palette.

Aside from bright eyeshadows, you'll want to stay away from anything too dark, like grays, deep browns, and black, unless you have a deeper skin tone. The only area where I typically use these shades is on the outer corner of the eyes to give them a lift. So, what colors are suitable for older eyes? I love using a shade similar to the client's skin color as an overall base. Next, I gravitate toward light, neutral tones like peach, taupe, and rust-brown. If you love color, I suggest soft lilac shades, such as Pure Ziva's Lilac Pressed Powder, or muted, mossy greens, like Honeybee Gardens' Pressed Powder Eyeshadow in the shade Conspiracy. They add brightness to the eyes without looking too garish. 

Colors aren't the only thing to keep in mind when it comes to applying eyeshadow on older eyes, though. Eyeshadow texture is important as well, so let me walk you through how to avoid looking like a disco ball.

It's undeniable that colorful metallic eyeshadows can be pulled off if styled just right, but they can also highlight wrinkles and loose skin in the eye area. The same goes for glitter — not only will it disappear on hooded lids, but flecks can also fall into your eyes and potentially irritate them. As such, as it's best for more mature folks to limit their usage of glitter eyeshadows. On the flip side, matte shadows can make your skin appear dry and crepey, so you'll want to avoid those as well.

That's not to say you need to stay away from all eyeshadows, though. Simply choose ones with a satin or pearl finish if you're specifically going for an age-defying look. They look soft and beautiful on mature eyes while adding a touch of luminescence. Unless they're waterproof, I would avoid using cream shadows, as they'll crease and transfer to your lower lids throughout the day. Powders are ideal for older eyes — just remember to prime your lids first, as it'll help the colors pop and stop the shadow from looking dry. And if you don't have an eyeshadow primer, the easiest swap is using concealer with blotting powder.