The 5 best eyeliners to flatter your eyes
Our beauty expert on why the right eyeliner can still be your best friend after 50 - as you long as you choose the right one.
Our beauty expert on why the right eyeliner can still be your best friend after 50 - as you long as you choose the right one.
If, like me, you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll never be able to hear the word Campari without thinking of a particular 1970s advert. It featured glamorous cockney actor Lorraine Chase in an exotic location being asked by an impossibly suave man: "Were you truly wafted here from paradise?" Her devastating response? "Nah. Luton airport."
I was reminded of this ad at a posh party recently when I had my very own ‘Luton airport’ moment. A fabulously chic, posh woman approached me and told me how much she loved my eyeliner.
"I know your secret," she whispered conspiratorially, "Is it Victoria Beckham, darling?"
"Nah." I replied, "Rimmel London, darling."
To my delight, rather than recoiling in horror (or calling the police), she could not have been more thrilled by this revelation, hurriedly writing down the name of it in her notes app. Proof perhaps of two things.
One, that honesty is always the best policy. And two? Posh people don’t half love a bargain.
It also got me thinking a lot about my unswerving loyalty to eyeliner. Many people ditch it completely once they hit mid-life, fearing it will make them look like Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
But after 50, the right eyeliner can be your absolute best friend, helping to restore definition and creating the youthful illusion of fuller lashes. The trick is to find more forgiving, flattering formulas like gel, and swapping black for softer brown or grey shades.
The best news? I’ve decided to share all of my genius picks with you.
Allow me first to introduce you to the Rimmel eyeliner that won me such rave reviews. Rimmel Scandaleyes Exaggerate Eye Definer (1, RRP £4.99,) is, quite frankly, a game changer. The twist-up pencil makes application drama-free, the creamy gel formula allows for a super flattering line and the built-in smudger on the end is beyond handy. Bonus points for the age-friendly shades of Smokey Grey and Chocolate Brown.
Another wallet-friendly winner you’ll find in the aisles of Superdrug is Maybelline Tattoo Liner Smokey Gel Pencil (2, RRP £6.99). I fell hard for the Brown shade – the formula is powder gel, which allows for seamless blending, the applicator tip is super precise, and it’s also sweat-proof, making it budge-free for 36 hours. Oh for the days when I needed make-up to stay on for 36 hours.
If your eyes have started to get a little more sensitive and prone to watering, help is at hand with Clinique Quickliner For Eyes (3, RRP £23). Ophthalmologist tested and fragrance-free, it’s ideal for sensitive eyes and also has a beautifully silky consistency, leaving a really clean line. Best of all, the formula has a 60-second window before it dries, leaving you time to blend and smudge.
If you’re after a real swipe-and-go eyeliner that gives an immaculate finish without fuss, invest in Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Liner Stick (4, RRP £29.50). The pigment – big shout out to the shade Fog – is super-rich, ensuring crease-free coverage for up to 24 hours. But what really sets this liner apart is the way it just goes on effortlessly without any tugging or pulling. There’s also a useful built-in sharpener at the end – Bobbi, you’re spoiling us.
Finally, it would be very remiss of me not to mention a certain eyeliner that is guaranteed to land you compliments – Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner (5, RRP £33). And yep, it’s every bit as phenomenal as they say.
The shades are divine (especially the warm, coppery Cinnamon), the formula is buttery soft and the pencil is beyond versatile. Whether you’re after a crisp line or a subtle smoky effect, VB has you covered on every front.
Enjoy making your eyes look beautiful – and remember, life may not be perfect, but who says your eyeliner can’t be?
(Hero image credit: Saga Magazine)
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