If you're wearing eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara on the upper lashes, then it's best to define your lower lashes too, so as to balance that heavy eye makeup look. Also, mascara on the lower lashes works when you want to give your lower lids a slightly highlighted effect.
Adding mascara to your lower lashes will also open up the eyes for a wide, doe-eyed look: For a softer look, you can use brown mascara, or even colored mascara if you like. Adding a little eyeliner to the outer corner of your lower lash line will also help to elongate your eyes.
It's a hotly debated matter among beauty experts, too: Some wholeheartedly believe it can accentuate dark circles and fine lines (especially when there's fallout involved); others say a bit of mascara on the bottom lashes helps frame the eye and make it appear even more doll-like.
“Use your normal mascara and then finish with a coat or two of volumizing mascara – but only on the outer, upper lashes, as this gives that amazing thickness to the lashes, and an extra flick to the eyes.”
If you're wearing eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara on the upper lashes, then it's best to define your lower lashes too, so as to balance that heavy eye makeup look. Also, mascara on the lower lashes works when you want to give your lower lids a slightly highlighted effect.
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.
The Takeaway. Applying lashes under the lash line (a.k.a. under lashing) creates a more seamless and natural lash look that many liken to lash extensions.
Ditch liquid liners
Thick black lines don't do any woman over 35 any favours as it makes eyes that are already getting smaller with age look even tinier. And the rock-chick look is too harsh for ageing skin tones, so switch to brown or charcoal-grey.
“Mascara always last after eye shadow and liner as you want to keep it clean with no particles in it,” advises Vogue beauty and health director Sigourney Cantelo. This also helps to achieve a more precise result with your eyeliner: “It's easier to see where you're drawing if you have nude lashes,” she says.
Also, try to avoid applying makeup on the lower lash line as it makes the eyes look smaller, highlights fine lines and drags down the whole face. The eyeliner can get smudged from the bottom lash line, clearly showing signs of fatigue, and making you look older.
Despite what you may have heard, it's not the best idea to apply dark eyeliner to your bottom waterline because this can actually shrink the appearance of your eyes. Instead, apply your go-to eyeliner just below your lower lashes to help make your eyes look bigger.
"Contour eyes with a medium to medium deep shadow to the crease and outer crease of eyes," suggests the pro. "Contouring gives eyes depth and definition, making them look bigger, bolder, and perfectly shaped. Use one color for the entire crease and then go darker with a shade on top to the outer corner."
Lash technician: To make the eye appear bigger, short lengths and medium lengths of a B Curl should be used. Ensure medium lengths are used in the middle outer eye to give a big round eye appearance.
It's okay to: Wear mascara. You may have read that mascara dries lashes, and as a result, it inhibits lash growth. That's simply not true.
"Keep the liner to the top lid for a more lifted, youthful effect." If you really, really want to go after your bottom lash line, Stiles recommends using a lighter color there than you're using on the top. "This will still give you definition, but feels softer and more flattering," she adds.
Eyeliner for older eyes
Eye makeup for older women should be softer and more subtle – for women with lighter coloring go for a brown shade and for women with darker coloring a darker color (read black) usually looks better. Less is more. Thick heavy makeup will almost certainly make you look older, not younger.
Gently place one finger in the center of the eyelid and gently pull up. Then take your waterproof eyeliner and apply it under the lashes as close to the lashes as possible. Then hold the eye open for a few seconds so there's less chance that the eyeliner will transfer down to the lower lid.
The ideal posture for eyelash extension application: Both the lashing bed and the adjustable stool should be set at a height that allows you to sit straight up with both feet on the floor. Place your feet on either side of the lash bed, so you are straddling the bed while performing the lash service.
“Always keep your eyes open when applying,” says Bailey. She suggests holding a hand mirror below your eyes, which will make it easier to see your lash line while looking straight ahead.
The strip should start where most of your natural lashes begin. If it's too close to the inner corner of your eye, it'll have trouble staying on and it can irritate your eyes. To determine where they should end, count about two to four lashes inward from the edge of your outer counter.
The extra length and definition offered by bottom lashes can help open up a person's eyes, making them seem even larger and more dramatic without looking “fake”. Bottom lashes also reduce the risk of a potential imbalance from only obtaining upper lashes, particularly when paired with eye makeup.