Once you find special makeup tricks for eyes after 50, you tend to hold onto them. Here are some that you might not have heard of yet.

*Affiliate disclosure.

Today we’re talking makeup tricks for eyes after 50. Our eyes are one of the things that change dramatically as we age, but with a few of my favorite makeup tricks for eyes after 50, you can make the most of those pretty peepers in just minutes a day.  (Some of these you probably have never heard of!)

Your eyes are an extension of your smile which is your best asset! When you truly smile, your eyes tell the story. Here’s how to make sure they’re telling the story you want!

Makeup Tricks for Eyes After 50: Hooded Eyes

When skin starts to cover all or part of the eyelid, this is called “hooded eyes.”

Some are born with hooded eyes, but as time marches on, many of us end up with hooded eyes.

However, there are things that can be done—aside from plastic surgery—to contour the eyes, giving them the appearance of being more open. Proper makeup placement is a must; the key is to apply a range of shadows in the correct places on eyelids.

Start by applying a light shadow to the brow bone to help open up eyes and highlight that area.

Next, tilt your head back slightly and apply a medium color shadow to your eyelids.

Finally, line the upper lash, as close as possible to the base of the lashes, with a dark color (dark brown or gray, stay away from black) using a wedge brush. This step is multipurpose: it defines the eyes, making them “pop,” as well as gives lashes the faux appearance of being much fuller, which again emphasizes the eyes.

This is why, darlings, shadow often comes in trios. I challenge you to learn to use them all!

One trio to try is Westman Atelier Toujours Eye Pods Trio or this very inexpensive (yet highly rated) Almay trio.  And, if you need a detailed tutorial and you have the time, watch this fab little video via Look Fabulous Forever, with step-by-step instructions for contouring hooded eyes.

How to Pull Off Bold, Red Lipstick After 50

Makeup Tutorials for Sparse Brows

Eyebrows become thinner and less defined with age.  Time to fill, shape and define your brows because, as beauty expert Laura Mercier says, “A fuller brow looks younger.”

One option is to have your brows professionally tinted once a month. Not only does this help define brows but the tint will emphasize even the lightest of hairs, making brows appear much fuller. Have you tried having your brows tinted?

After brows are tinted or dyed, you may still want to fill them in. Depending on the type of brow product you are most comfortable with, there are three basic types of brow fillers.

I really like Anastasia Beverly Hills “Brow Wiz” here if you like a pencil. Phyto-Sourcils Fix makes a lovely gel with filling fibers which is AMAZING and really helps to fill thin brows out! Or, those who prefer a powder will love this brow powder duo via Anastasia Beverly Hills found here.

Mascara could be considered the most important eye makeup for women over 50.

Makeup Tips for Crepey + Dark  Lids

Dry skin may just be the bane of aging, but hydration is key to slowing down the hands of time! As the skin on our eyelids gets thinner, it may also become looser and drier, of course.

Nourish the delicate eye area by applying hydrating serum not only to the lower eyelids but to the upper eyelids as well!  I recommend, as does Allure Magazine, Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye & Lip Contour Regenerating Cream.

Apply whatever product you like, darlings, but do it daily and do NOT forget to apply cream or serum to your eyelids, being careful, of course, not to get the product into eyes where it may irritate. After all, our eyes are sensitive.

The skin on the eyelids often begins to darken with age. That’s no problem! A great primer and a favorite shade of eyeshadow will do just the trick. Don’t use a primer? Reconsider it! The technology behind eye primer prevents your eyeshadow from creasing and migrating away from the area shadow was applied to.  I like Rare Beauty’s Weightless Eyeshadow Primer here.

Makeup Tricks for Eyes After 50: Sparse Lashes

Give sparse lashes the boot with a few tricks of the trade!

My best and number one tip is to get this brow and eyelash serum. You will notice a difference in the fullness of your eyebrows as early as 8 weeks.

Next, using a wedge brush, apply your darkest shadow at the roots of your lashes to create a soft, subtle line that gives the appearance of thicker eyelashes and opens eyes to boot.

Lastly, apply a great thickening mascara to pump lashes up even more. I have a couple of favorite mascaras — Chanel Inimitable and, a great budget-friendly option, L’Oreal Paris Voluminous x5 — but I’d love to hear about your go-to mascara. I’m always on the hunt for new brands, so do tell!

If you’re looking for how-to videos, please check out my round-up post of the Top 10 Beauty Tutorials on Youtube.

What’s your number one eye makeup tip? Please share in the comments. Sharing is caring.

Honey Good is a mentor for women, empowering them to live vibrant and visible lives after 50. Please join her in her private Facebook groups, Women over 50: Celebrate Visibility, Widow Support Group: Women Healing Together, and Estranged Mothers and Grandmothers: Millions Strong. To inquire about working with Honey, please email her at collabs@honeygood.com.

**Honey Good may receive a small commission for items purchased through links on this page. This helps with the cost of maintaining this site.