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   ![A Guide To Applying Make-Up On Mature, Hooded Eyes](https://media.sheerluxe.com/sUSb2hWKcH0QsRkM5uRV56uIltM=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fhero-hooded-eyes-makeup-final.jpg?itok=WyqU1aET)

  

 

 



 

  Photography: ISTOCK/PEOPLEIMAGES 

 

 

 

[Skincare](/beauty/skincare)

 /  22 March 2021  

#  A Guide To Applying Make-Up On Mature, Hooded Eyes  


As we age, most of us will experience hooded eyes, which is caused by excess skin under the brow bone. But it doesn’t mean eye make-up is a complete no-go; in fact, quite the opposite. From the right formulas to the correct application techniques, make-up artists Caroline Barnes’ and Florrie White’s advice will help you leave the house looking bright-eyed as ever.  


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  Photography: ISTOCK/PEOPLEIMAGES 

 

 

 

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**First, Get To Know Your Face**  
"Lots of people have hooded eyelids, but they become much more common as we age,” says A-list make-up artist [Caroline Barnes](https://www.instagram.com/carolinebarnesmakeup/?hl=de). “It happens when the socket or skin underneath your brow bone is in excess. The easiest way to know if you have them is by taking a close look at your lids – if they look slightly hidden, or less visible, you’ve probably got hooded lids. As we age, gravity tends to result in a tent-like effect anyway, so it’s more common than you think.” Make-up master [Florrie White](https://www.instagram.com/florriewhitemakeup/?hl=de) agrees: “Hooded eyes look like horizontal half-moons. It’s where the eyelid folds over your eye socket, so you’ll find there is more of a crease at the outer corners of the eyes, as well as on the lids themselves.”  
   
   
**Practise Your Make-Up Placement**   
"Having hooded lids doesn’t mean you should avoid eye make-up altogether – it just means application is key,” continues Caroline. “The most flattering way to shape the eye is to start by carefully pushing back the skin. Then, take a very simple matte or cream eyeshadow – like MAC’s suits-all [Cork shade](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=2082&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lookfantastic.com%2Fmac-small-eye-shadow-1.5g-various-shades%2F11470660.html) – and apply it in a half moon shape from your inner upper lash line, up towards the socket and centre of your lids. Blend this thoroughly, keeping the tone light underneath your brow. This will add the illusion of wideness and depth. You can go a bit above your natural socket, but not too high. It shouldn’t look made up – just simple. Keep any shadow you use two to three tones darker than your natural colouring for optimum results that are more youthful, too." Florrie adds: “They key is not to avoid, but to adapt. You can still cheat a flick with your eyeliner with mature, hooded eyes. Do this by creating a disjointed line from the outer corner of the top lash line, which then skips over the crease and continues up. The line will be broken when you look down, but when your eye is open it will look neat. Practise with patience and don’t rush.”   
   
   
**Do Experiment With Colour**  
"It’s worth noting that when you add a darker colour, you make your features recede,” explains Caroline. “Conversely, a tone that’s lighter than your natural colouring will make something more dominant. Therefore, with hooded, more mature eyes especially, it’s important to play with the two, and blend for the best results. Opt for palettes like [Charlotte Tilbury’s cult ones](https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/charlotte-tilbury-luxury-palette-exaggereyes.html?ranMID=35269&ranEAID=etT1jgERWYw&ranSiteID=etT1jgERWYw-imyvjFipBUON6Fr9C5pWHQ&utm_source=LS&utm_medium=affil&utm_campaign=generic&siteID=etT1jgERWYw-imyvjFipBUON6Fr9C5pWHQ&publisher_name=SheerLuxe.com) which allow you to mix and match easily for a softer, more diffused finish." Florrie adds: “Avoid overly opaque shades with this in mind, they will just wash you out and highlight the excess skin and any wrinkling. Stick to warmer tones and textures. On the latter, I recommend investing in non-transferable powers and cream eyeliners that are dubbed ‘long-lasting.’ If you have oily lids, remove any excess grease with [beauty blotting papers](https://www.lookfantastic.com/dhc-blotting-paper-100-sheets/11207510.html?affil=awin&utm_content=SheerLuxe.com&utm_term=Editorial+Content&utm_source=AWin-69421&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=AffiliateWin&sv_campaign_id=69421&sv_tax1=affiliate&sv_tax2=na&sv_tax3=SheerLuxe+Ltd&sv_tax4=0&awc=2082_1615824663_f53ec1e3bc7b073a0b5855037ff5003b) and dust with a finely milled translucent powder – this will stop hooded lids from causing any smudging or creasing.”  
   
   
**Forget Any In-Depth Application Techniques**  
"While you shouldn’t skip make-up application altogether, there’s no point trying to do a cut crease – a technique used to define your lid by using contrasting eyeshadow colours, with little to no blending,” says Caroline. “The problem with hooded eyes is you’re more likely to draw attention to them and build intensity, which ends up looking heavy. So keep things simple." Florrie agrees: “Don’t stress about trying to recreate certain looks. It’s important not to resist the shape or age of your eyes. You should play with looks that are suited to exactly what you have and the texture of your skin – otherwise it will look forced.”  
   
   
**Avoid Too Much Highlight &amp; Shimmer**  
"While tempting, highlighter shouldn’t be used under your brows or underneath the eyes,” advises Caroline. “Doing this will bring forward the hooding and wrinkling of the eye, instead of softening it. Try to keep shimmer to a minimum – you want to sculpt, not highlight. You can, however, use a soft metallic in the tear duct to add brightness and width." Florrie adds: “If you really want to wear shimmer, an easier way to wear a nod of it is by blending the formula up and over your entire eye socket. But make sure you really blend it in so there isn’t any dustiness to the look. Doing this all over the socket means it can be seen when your eyes are open, which will just catch the light beautifully for a pretty hint of something.”

 

 

 

 Try to keep shimmer to a minimum – you want to sculpt, not highlight. You can, however, use a soft metallic in the tear duct to add brightness and width.  
 

 



 

 

 

 

 

**Play With Varying Textures**  
"There are several textures you can play with, but creams are best for hooded, more mature eyes,” says Caroline. “Not only do they blend seamlessly, they’re easy to apply. [By Terry](https://www.byterry.com/), [Bobbi Brown](https://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/) and [Kiko](https://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-gb/)[ ](https://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-gb/)all do brilliant cream sticks that you can scribble on before blending with your fingers. Try softly running one along the lower lashes too for an eye-opening effect – you can do this with a cotton bud for more of a diffused blend. Powder shadows are just as effective and are great at locking down make-up. If you want to create a feline flick, do it with a soft cream kajal or gel liner – these will give you control when it comes to application, plus they set faster."   
   
   
**Always Use A Handheld Mirror**  
“When it comes to application tips for hooded, older eyes, I recommend using a handheld mirror,” says Florrie. “You should look directly into one and find the point where your eyelid sits when your eyes are open. Mark this exact area with a small dot of eyeliner or eyeshadow, then, when you’re applying your eyeshadow, make sure you blend it up and out to the point every time. This will ensure the effect you want to create is seen rather than hidden. It always works. Another application tip is to only apply light colours in the inner area of the eyes. Keep any darker shades over the middle and outer eyelids – doing this will open everything up and have a widening effect.”  
   
   
**Don’t Neglect Your Eyebrows**  
"If you have hooded, mature eyes, it’s just as important to frame your eyebrows,” says Caroline. “Do this by lifting upwards from your arches – if you’re unsure, ask a professional to shape them for you as it will make a huge difference to the width of your eye area. You can also shape with different products. Try extending and lifting your brows with a pencil for precision, using it to create small, thin hair-like strokes in upward motions."  
   
   
**Stock Up On Smudge-Proof Formulas**  
"Hooded, wrinkled eyes tend to experience more creasing,” finishes Caroline. “Because of this, it’s worth investing in smudge-proof formulas and [primers](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=15526&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautybay.com%2Fp%2Fmilani%2Feyeshadow-primer%2F) to reduce the risk. Another tip is when you’re applying your skincare, use a bit of micellar water over the fullness of your lid. This will remove product build-up, so that when you do put on any primer or shadow, there won’t be any movement because there’s nothing there to cause slip. Use waterproof or tubing mascaras as well, as hooded eyes are more prone to transference."

 ***Shop our picks below...***

 

 

 

 ![Ombre Blackstar from By Terry](https://media.sheerluxe.com/_2bJBizKst3rtdS4xpDBV7eqheU=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fterry-ombre-blackstar-bronze-moon.png?itok=T9KBPIjv)

 

 

 

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##### By Terry



£29

 

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 ![Bigger, Brighter Eyes - Exaggereyes from Charlotte Tilbury](https://media.sheerluxe.com/6I78ybySuLMievCcIIvb6UR-150=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fcharlotte-tilbury-bigger-brighter-eyes-exaggeryes.jpg?itok=DvGBCFR-)

 

 

 

[#### Bigger, Brighter Eyes - Exaggereyes](https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/charlotte-tilbury-luxury-palette-exaggereyes.html?ranMID=35269&ranEAID=etT1jgERWYw&ranSiteID=etT1jgERWYw-imyvjFipBUON6Fr9C5pWHQ&utm_source=LS&utm_medium=affil&utm_campaign=generic&siteID=etT1jgERWYw-imyvjFipBUON6Fr9C5pWHQ&publ=)

##### Charlotte Tilbury



£40

 

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 ![Eyeshadow Primer from Milani](https://media.sheerluxe.com/OvYnoCKpJPONsymL4mGib5I8DP4=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fmilani-eyeshadow-primer.jpg?itok=Wzob9Oaa)

 

 

 

[#### Eyeshadow Primer](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=15526&awinaffid=69421&ued=https%3A//www.beautybay.com/p/milani/eyeshadow-primer/)

##### Milani



£10

 

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 ![Oil Blotting Papers from DHC](https://media.sheerluxe.com/gvsOxd1uydjs5_YutzNFclNadM4=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fdhc-oil-blotting-papers.jpg?itok=2AuUphD7)

 

 

 

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##### DHC



£3.83

 

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 ![Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick from Kiko](https://media.sheerluxe.com/6jiXF7uigAypxlSv4CPJHheYvS8=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fkiko-long-lasting-eyeshadow-stick.png?itok=gDgv8sXs)

 

 

 

[#### Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick](https://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-gb/make-up/eyes/eyeshadows/Long-Lasting-Eyeshadow-Stick-/p-KM00306002)

##### Kiko



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 ![Eyeshadow from MAC](https://media.sheerluxe.com/gXMRGtpS4gOhNUsUbNUw4Jh6DH0=/600x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2021%2F03%2Fmac-eyeshadow-cork.jpg?itok=juI79eec)

 

 

 

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##### MAC



£15

 

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