Bright Eyes for Mature Eyes

There was a great comment on my "Bright Eyes" post about shimmery eyeshadows and whether they work for a more mature lady. I believe that make-up styles do need to be adjusted to make them more age appropriate, but everyone can enjoy the various looks. Why not???

One of my make-up inspirations for 50+ beauties is Helen Mirren:

photo credit: WireImage

Her eye make-up in this photo is bright, slightly shimmery, with dark lashes and eyeliner while her cheeks and lips are rosy. The overall look is similar to what I featured in the "Bright Eyes" post with the exception of the black eyeliner on both the top and bottom of the eyes. She is radiant and beautiful.

Some adjustment ideas for the "Bright Eyes" look for all of my va va va voom elder sisters:

Rather than using a shimmery eyeshadow all over the lid, I would try a light matte color and a gentle dab of shimmer on the middle of the eyelid, blending softly. By shimmery, I don't necessarily mean full-out glitter on the eyes either - there are eyeshadows with a tiny bit of sparkle in light colors like champagne that look amazing. And the amount of shimmer depends also on the occasion: major bling on the eyes for an evening out dancing, a subtle sparkle for an intimate dinner, or a light matte sweep and overall soft look for an afternoon event. 

I like watching the movie "Monster-In-Law" just to see how fabulous Jane Fonda looks in it! Her make-up throughout the movie was impeccable, and she has had some great red carpet moments in recent years.

photo credit: Ben Rose/WireImage

My mom allowed me to do her make-up (finally!) a few years ago, and these are the colors I used on her. My mom always used black liquid eyeliner and bright lipsticks - sometimes her look was quite severe. Peachy orange color on her eyes, cheeks and lips really softened up her face...and they are my "go to" colors for a fresh look. Jane Fonda looks gorgeous in them too!

At any age, I think it's important to vary your make-up according to what you like and feel good wearing, the occasion and season, and with knowledge of how to make it work for you. For example, testing a smoky eye before a big occasion and getting feedback from test photos as well as friends in the know. Or trying out various reds to find the one that looks best on you (I'm going to do a post on finding the right red lipstick in the near future.) I take a lot of test photos to see if new looks work on me - in fact, all of the pictures you see of me were taken by...ME!

Other ladies to consider for make-up inspirations are Diane Keaton (her campaign for L'Oreal is awesome!), Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Andie MacDowell, Alfre Woodard, Iman, just to name a few. Please feel free to comment and/or ask questions!

Bright Eyes

It's been awhile since I've talked about make-up, though I enjoy experimenting with new looks all the time.  Insomnia, stress, grief, hormonal fluctuations, etc. have taken a toll on my face in recent weeks, but I am delighted with the results of "the Bright Eye," which has been popular in commercials and on the red carpet recently.  

I always start off with an all over dusting of a pale, neutral eye color as a base.  For this look, lightly line the bottom of your eye (on the outside), along the base of your eyelashes with a white eyeliner.  (In my experience, it is worth investing a few more dollars into a quality white eyeliner pencil.  The cheap ones are thick and crumbly, while a good eyeliner goes on smoothly.)  Blend it in gently - you don't want a clumpy or chalky, heavy line. 

Tip:  I avoid putting eyeliner on the insides of my eyelids to avoid irritation (tears and red eyes will ruin the look!)  Eye pencils and make-up tools can harbor lots of bacteria, so it's better to be safe than infected.  Besides, I think eyeliner on the inside of the lid makes eyes look smaller.

Next, I dipped my brush into shimmery white eyeshadow and tapped off the excess several times before sweeping it over my lids and over the eyeliner along the bottom of my eyes.  With a blending brush, I lightly went over the areas around my eyes to smooth and soften the effect.  Curled eyelashes, several coats of mascara, and black liquid eyeliner finished the eyes, and I chose a rose colored blush and lipstick for an overall softer look.  

Here's a funny face for you, since make-up posts can tend to be all about the ooh-la-la outcome.   

And see how well the "Bright Eye" holds up if the world suddenly goes black & white?!?   

The "Bright Eye" is a versatile and fresh look...try it!

Tip:  If you don't wear liquid eyeliner, you can line the top lid and/or apply a darker eyeshadow around the top base of your lashes.    

Don't forget about my Giveaway going on now through September 7th!