While brown mascara and liner has been spotlighted as a “less harsh” alternative to a black liner or mascara, Swift says these rules don't necessarily apply to older eyes. “'I will do a brown color for an eyeshadow, as long as it doesn't have any red tones to it, but liner should remain black.”
"If you're fair-skinned and have blonde or red hair with naturally light lashes, brown mascara is the most natural way of emphasizing your lashes. Anyone with darker hair, regardless of skin tone, should stick to black mascara so the lashes don't fade into the rest of the face."
Trade black mascara for brown
But black shades can look harsh, especially on aging eyes. “Trade in your black mascara for a shade of brown,” suggests Haley Wood, the founder of The Look. “This creates a softer look and a more natural definition to the eye.
If you have brown eyes, brown mascara is a seriously easy way to accent their rich chocolate color. A brown hue will allow your eyes to appear brighter and richer with just a few swipes of your mascara wand.
“I'm a firm believer that when older women apply a brown mascara it tends to make the eyes look red. As we age, we want to have that really healthy, white moon-beam from the eyes rather than looking a bit yellow or red.”
With a little beauty know-how, this flattering shade can be used to make eyes appear bigger, irises brighter and even warm up your complexion. Here are four ways brown mascara can finally emerge from your beauty bag and into the spotlight…
Opt for a lighter eyeshadow rather than a dark, smoky shade on your eyelids and around the eyes, like Jenna Dewan Tatum. "Highlighting the corners makes eyes look brighter and fresh," says Ahnert. "Use a light color shadow in matte or shimmer to inner corner, lower lash line in outer corner, and the inner lid."
This will help achieve youthful looking lips. DON'T wear mascara on your lower lashes. Playing up your lower lashes can make your eyes look droopy and draw attention to dark circles. It makes the eyes look older and accentuates the under eye wrinkles.
Blue – a nod of blue mascara will make the whites of your eyes sparkle and appear whiter, making your eyes look bigger. Purple – a hint of purple mascara can complement and draw attention to your eye shape. Green – a pop of green mascara can enhance green tones in any eye color and complements all skin tones.
When you use brown mascara with fairer skin, you create a softer look that can often look like clear mascara – it's not apparent that you're wearing anything if you apply it right! Brown mascara is also a great option for people with blue or green eyes, as the softer shade often brings out the color in the irises.
For example, people with brown eyes appear less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration than people with light-colored eyes. Also, people with brown eyes have a lower risk of type 1 diabetes and melanoma of the eye, compared with individuals with light blue eyes.
For a natural look with your brown eyes, opt for brown eyeliner. Brown eyeliner will give a soft dimension to your eyes while still making them appear rich and intense. However, if you want a sharp and sleek look, black eyeliner is always an excellent choice.
Since gray eyes are considered more neutral than other shades, a bigger range of complementary and intensifying colors work, according to Morris. Try an inky charcoal mascara to complement a gray eye, or go for a lavender, sea blue, mint green, or apricot shade. A chocolate brown always makes gray eyes pop, too.
4. Opt for Matte Eyeshadow. While a pop of shimmer in the inner corners is always a good idea, Salgado says, those with mature eyes might find matte eyeshadow more longwearing and less likely to fade on mature skin. Stock up on matte eyeshadow palettes that are pigmented without emphasizing fine lines.
Heavy Glitter
Eye shadows with too much glitter might feel young, but they can have the opposite effect. These shimmery sneaks are aging us. Instead of brightening up your complexion, they exacerbate the appearance of dry skin or fine lines.
In fact, try and stick to creams, gels and liquids for all makeup products, including blush and eyeshadow. Repeat after me: One of the best makeup tips for older women is that anything which adds hydration, dewiness and luminescence to your skin is good.
White to bright. “Use a white (or nude) kohl pencil eyeliner on your waterline for an instant eye lift. White eyeliner is a secret weapon to give the effect of wider, more awake and brighter eyes. Choose a water and smudge proof brand that will stay put all day.”
Look for an eye cream with anti-aging ingredients like caffeine, peptides, and vitamin E. Retinol is another great vitamin for mature skin, as it amps up collagen production to help minimize fine lines and crow's feet by your eyes. It also helps restore firmness in the skin to age you down a few years.
Applying a thick, black eyeliner makes your eyes appear really small and beady — making you look older than you are. An easy solution to this problem is to switch your back eyeliner with a brown one for a softer and more youthful appearance.
Mascara: Choose a volumizing or lengthening mascara for your upper lashes. By increasing the length of the lashes, mascara creates the illusion of bigger, more open eyes. You can also use false lashes to make your eyes look bigger.
Green, yellow, orange, and red hues also show off the beauty of brown eyes. And bold colors that pop are a safe bet. Green and purple brighten up light brown eyes. Light eyelids are perfect for making your eyes shine.
Brown Mascara for Blue Eyes
As for shadows, it's tough to beat a brown-toned smokey look, no matter your eye color. Additionally, some reddish undertones of chocolate brown can be the perfect shade for making blue eyes pop, while still creating a subtle, natural look.