5 Eyeliner Mistakes That Are Making You Look Older

Makeup has a way of instantly boosting our mood and making us feel a little (or a lot) better about ourselves. After all, it never hurts to banish those pesky dark circles or fine lines with some product. Eyeliners, in particular, are the one tool we can’t do without. From altering the shape of our eyes to creating a sultry evening look, they’re the superstar of our makeup bag. However, eyeliners 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 kinds of eyeliner mistakes. I’m here to tell you what not to do when it comes to eyeliner so 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 buy a new eyeliner. With my tips, you can tweak your apps to give yourself a more youthful appearance, and we can all agree that being mistaken for someone younger is far preferable to the alternative.

Using heavy black eyeliner can age you

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 good on 20-somethings and 30-somethings like Taylor Momsen when she’s rocking The Pretty Reckless, too much black eyeliner tends to add years for those over 40. And, if you have hooded eyes, that’s all the more reason to ditch the heavy eyeliner, as you won’t be able to see it under your overhanging lids.

Instead, I suggest a softer shade like chocolate brown or slate grey if you want to emphasize your eyes with a dark color. Use a light hand and apply only as much product as needed to highlight the shape of your eyes. Pencils work best on the lower lids, while I love a gel liner for the upper ones, especially since most formulas are waterproof and smudge-proof. Remember to lightly smudge the liner when you’re done to avoid harsh lines.

Avoid completely encircling your eyes with dark liner

In the 70s and 80s, the trend was to draw eyeliner all around your eyes, from the inner corners to the outer corners. Then, when the Y2K era came along, Avril Lavigne convinced everyone that the ideal style was punk rock. However, if you’re still using this raccoon method, leave the eyeliner and slowly draw back. Not only does this look completely dated, it will also make your face look dated. Bringing the top eyeliner to the bottom instantly closes your eyes and creates a bold outline that takes over all your features. Plus, if you have eyes that are close together, that will only make them look smaller.

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

Overly smudging your eyeliner is a beauty blunder

We already know that harsh lines around the eyes are one of the many eye makeup mistakes that make you look older. This can easily be remedied with some light strokes and a good dose of smudging, but don’t go overboard and create an overly smudged finish. Taking your liner too far down can create a panda look and make you look disheveled. Your makeup will also slide into fine lines and that’s something we never want to highlight.

While the worn-out smoky look makes for a messy look that’s glamorous, you’ll want to contain smudges just outside the perimeters of your eyes. If you find your liner sliding down too far, use a cotton swab to carefully remove it. Wipe away any dark spots or flakes with a little concealer and set your makeup with powder. Don’t forget to spritz your face with setting spray to lock everything in place so your smoky eyes look sultry instead of smudged.

Forgetting to highlight your eyes could add years to your look

Dark-colored eyeliners do wonders for highlighting your eyes, but they can also make them look heavy and tired. That’s why it’s essential to create contrast by highlighting them with a lighter color. I love applying a little shimmer to the inner corners of my eyes, as it makes them sparkle and look 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 fair skin tones and a warm gold for darker skin tones. Simply apply a little to the lower inner corners next to the tear duct and blend it out with the darker liner.

Highlighting your lower waterline also makes you look refreshed, especially if you’ve had a long night and haven’t gotten enough sleep. You don’t want any shimmer in this area, so reach for a matte nude pencil. Any redness you see will disappear instantly and you’ll look like you’ve had a good night’s sleep.

Only lining your bottom lids will drag your features down

When lining your eyes, it’s important to give both the top and bottom lids some TLC. Many people make the mistake of drawing only the bottom and then forget to balance it out with eyeliner above. If you have hooded eyes, you may think there’s no point in lining your top lids since they’re not as visible, but even if you line your waterline precisely, that will give the area just enough definition to make them pop.

Drawing only your bottom lids will make your eyes sunken and make you look more tired. Plus, it will 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 eyeliner. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, especially if you’re going for a fun inverted cat eye that will give your makeup a more seductive look.