The beauty routine you once followed in your 30s may not give the same results in your 50s. With age, it’s normal to experience a change in your skin, especially around your eyes. But this doesn’t mean you have to forgo a stunning makeup look, as there are plenty of great eyeliners for women over 50 that address common age-related issues while delivering rich, long-lasting color.
“Eyeliner plays a pivotal role in enhancing your makeup look, especially as we mature,” explains Makeup Artist and Owner of her eponymous beauty brand, Laura Geller. “I always recommend using top liner to accentuate the eyes, even for those with hooded lids.”
Meet the experts: Laura Geller, Makeup Artist, Beauty Pro, and Founder of her eponymous makeup brand, Laura Geller Beauty; and Nydia Figueroa, celebrity makeup artist
The hue you choose is also important, notes Nydia Figueroa, celebrity makeup artist. If you’re looking for “drama,” Figueroa suggests black; brown for something softer. “A navy blue to make the whites of their eyes brighter or a plum to make brown eyes pop,” she explains.
Whatever color you choose, you’ll want to ensure you’re picking the right formula. “I would avoid anything that is too liquidy as it can be hard to apply and also too harsh on the eyes,” she says. Geller mirrors this thought, “For those who may not have extensive experience with eyeliner application, I recommend steering clear of liquid formulas. While they can create stunning looks, liquid liners can be tricky to master and require a steady hand and a bit of practice to apply successfully.”
Ahead, find the best eyeliners for women over 50, according to beauty experts and our very own Prevention editors.
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If you’re a fan of using multitasking beauty products, this Tower 28 liner will become your new go-to. You can use the multiliner to contour the lips, as an eyeliner to define the eyes, or as blush to add a natural-looking flush to the cheeks. “I like Tower 28 for eyeliner. It’s moist yet precise, so it doesn’t yank on my lid. And it’s vegan, so it doesn’t have beeswax, which irritates my eyes,” says Executive Editor and Health Newsroom Director Stephanie Dolgoff. The formula is creamy, making it easy to glide across the skin, and it’s made with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and marula oil, which are highly hydrating for dry and mature skin types.
What reviewers say: “I use this product as eyeliner for a quick way to enhance my eyes and it’s so versatile! The formula is very creamy and glides on effortlessly. It can be blended out with a brush for a light, subtle look or drawn on for a bolder look.”
On the search for an eyeliner that won’t fade or smudge throughout the day? Reach for this long-wearing liner. The silky formula glides across the skin with ease and dries in about 60 seconds, giving you time to blend and smudge before it sets. “My mom and I both love the look of eyeliner, but have super sensitive, dry eyes that get runny and smudge pretty much anything,” says Senior Commerce Editor Charlotte Finigan. “I love and recommend her to use this liner for its smooth application—it glides across the lid with a rich payoff that is pretty much smudge-proof. And the twist-up tube is so easy for those with arthritis, as it stays permanently sharp and precise!”
What reviewers say: “This liner goes on smoothly, smudges perfectly, and lasts all day. I also have really bad seasonal allergies, and it never irritates my eyes.”
Features at a Glance
“Our INKcredible Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil glides on effortlessly because it’s a gel formula but has the control and staying power of a pencil,” says Geller. “It is gentle enough for tight-lining and everyday wear, yet strong enough to withstand rain, humidity, sweat, or tears and comes with a built-in sharpener to keep the tip always on point for expert precision.
What reviewers say: “I have never had luck with eye makeup. I’ve always had under-eye dark circles and an unsteady hand. The products tended to migrate making my circles worse. This liner glided on easily in a fine line and stayed put. Even minor eye rubbing didn’t smear it, so it’s a keeper for me.”
Features at a Glance
Amazon reviews say these are the best drugstore eyeliners they’ve ever used, thanks to the rich pigment and long staying power. The fine-tip design offers precise control, making it easy to create both thin and thick lines and it’s especially helpful for anyone with shaky hands who struggles to draw a straight line with a traditional pencil.
What reviewers say: “I’ve only used this eyeliner for the last 15 years and it works well.”
Features at a Glance
How to choose the best eyeliner for women over 50
Formula. “It’s essential to choose a long-wearing, waterproof formula that glides on effortlessly without tugging at the delicate skin around your eyes,” says Geller.
Color. “They should look for an eyeliner that is easy to use for them and picking the right shade is essential. If they want drama they can use a black but if they want something softer brown would be the better option. They can pick a navy blue to make the whites of their eyes brighter or a plum to make brown eyes pop,” says Figueroa.
Geller says, “for top liner, stick to neutral shades such as charcoal, brown, bronze, or deep inky black—these colors beautifully define your eyes without being overly harsh. When applying liner to the waterline, opt for softer hues to achieve a more natural look.”
Type. Most of the eyeliners for women over 50 on our list are gel or pencil. “Pencil eyeliner is generally the better choice. It tends to be more forgiving and easier to work with, allowing for softer, more blended lines that can enhance your features without looking too harsh,” Geller says.
What kind of eyeliner is best for women over 50?
“A soft gel pencil would be the best because it’s creamy which allows it to glide on easily, it’s blendable, and once it dries it doesn’t smudge or move,” says Figueroa.
How we chose
We tested the Tower 28, Clinique, Revlon, Julep, and Jones Road Beauty picks, spoke with Makeup Artist and Beauty Pro Laura Geller; and Nydia Figueroa, celebrity makeup artist, for their recommendations. We also scoured reviews and ratings to find the absolute best eyeliners for older women.
Why trust us
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
Shauna Beni is the Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention. An NYC native and beauty product lover, Shauna has written for Beauty Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and ABC News. She enjoys testing out new beauty products, watching makeup tutorials on Youtube, and binge-watching her favorite shows on Netflix. When she’s not writing, you can find her taking Zumba classes at Crunch, trying out natural curly hairstyles, and giving her friends advice on what makeup and haircare products they should buy. Follow her on Instagram @Beni127.
Emily Goldman is the deputy digital director at Prevention. She’s spent her career editing and writing about health, wellness, beauty, fashion, and food for Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bridal Guide, Good Housekeeping, and more. She’s loved all things health and wellness since starting her bi-weekly podcast Pancreas Pals—a series all about the highs and lows of living life with type 1 diabetes. When not podcasting, she spends most of her time curled up with a good book or watching a period piece on BBC.
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