Everyone’s makeup routines look different, especially in different stages of life. But the one thing that shouldn’t have to change just because of your age is your signature style—and whether that includes a thin swipe of eyeliner or a full-fledged wing, you should do you.
However, it becomes increasingly more important to consider the makeup of our makeup as the years pass. Our skin requires different things as the lines from many good laughs and cries start to etch into our skin. “As we age, the skin around the eyes becomes thinner and more fragile,” explains Diane Hilal-Campo, MD, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty. “For mature eyes, the best eyeliners are creamy or gel-based, free of common irritants, and gentle on fragile skin.”
This information in tow, we set out to find the best eyeliners for mature skin on the market, keeping easy-to-blend formulas, sensitive eye–safe ingredients, and stellar performance top of mind when combing through the results. But we didn’t stop there: We also consulted several ophthalmologists, dermatologists, and celebrity makeup artists for their tried-and-true recommendations.
Ahead, the seven best eyeliners for older women that money can buy.
The Best Eyeliners for Older Women, at a Glance
Best Overall: Thrive Causemetics Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner
Thrive Causemetics
Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner
Pros: Hydrating formula, glides on smooth, built-in smudger
Cons: None we can think of
Formula: Cream | Shades: 8 | Benefits: Skin-loving ingredients, waterproof while being blendable, great shade range
Sari Hoban, PA-C, a board-certified physician associate, says that older women should look for a “creamy, smudgeable formulation” that is also waterproof and hypoallergenic, and this ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-approved eyeliner checks every box. Easy to soften (but never run), this tear-resistant formula holds up against watery eyes and includes a built-in blending tip that won’t tug on thin skin. It comes in several gray hair–friendly shades (basically anything softer than black) and is infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter to make each stroke extra smooth and hydrating.
Customer review: “For 65-year-old eyelids, this is the first liner I have found that does as promised. Amazing flow and ability to control lines, definitely worth buying more!”
Best Drugstore: Almay All-Day Eyeliner Pencil
Almay
All-Day Eyeliner Pencil
Pros: Easy to blend, comfortable wear, low price
Cons: Some shoppers cite sheer pigmentation
Formula: Pencil | Shades: 5 | Benefits: Doctor-approved formula, hypoallergenic
Recommended by board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Tiffany Libby, MD, Almay offers several hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested eye products that are safe for mature eyes, such as the All-Day Eyeliner Pencil. “These products are generally formulated to be gentler on the skin and are less likely to cause irritation,” she explains. This oil-free, long-lasting liner glides smoothly across the skin and is infused with vitamin E for an extra dose of hydration, and it’s on sale for just $6 if you shop right now.
Customer review: “I have tried over 10 different kinds of eyeliner for waterline and all have irritated my eyes (burning, itching, red eyes), but this one does not! I’m so happy with the results and it does not burn or irritate my skin. I have very, very, sensitive skin.”
Best Splurge: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner
Chanel
Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner
Pros: Creamy application, water- and smudge-proof wear, several shade options
Cons: Prone to breaking inside tube
Formula: Pencil | Shades: 18 | Benefits: Long-wearing, easy to apply
Sleek not only in its packaging but its precise, water-smooth application, the Chanel Sylo Yeux eyeliner is a standout for several reasons. This kohl pencil comes recommended by Hoban for its subdued color options and luxe formula, which stands up to water, oil, and humidity, thus imparting long-lasting wear. Plus, its retractable tip moves across the eyelid without catching or skipping, sketching smooth lines—even on wrinkles.
Customer review: “The quality of this pencil is exceptional. It is easy to apply and the color stays on for hours. I own this in several colors and will buy more in the future.”
Best Waterproof: Lancôme Le Stylo Eyeliner Pencil
Lancôme
Le Stylo Eyeliner Pencil
Pros: Seamless application, creamy formula, flake-free
Cons: On the expensive side
Formula: Cream | Shades: 9 | Benefits: Long-wearing, waterproof
Formulas that are resistant to watery, teary eyes are essential for older women, and this luxury liner was our top pick after finding the best waterproof eyeliners. It had massive staying power (withstanding multiple dips in the water during a six-hour beach day), and its flake-free formula made the liner easy to blend into a natural-looking, slightly smoky wing. This pencil comes in several wearable colors other than black (though it does come in classic onyx), but we love how this foggy gray hue looks with mature hair.
Customer review: “I will not use any other type of eyeliner. My daughter only liked liquid until I made her try this one, now this is all she uses as well. I even got her the Idôle set of mascara/liquid eyeliner combo, but when she saw the amount of control the Le Stylo gave her, there was no going back.”
Best Gel: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown
Long-Wear Smudge-Proof Gel Eyeliner
Pros: Long-wearing, transfer-proof, highly pigmented
Cons: Requires a (not-included) eyeliner brush
Formula: Gel | Shades: 4 | Benefits: 8-hour wear, smooth application
For anyone who prefers applying their eyeliner extra precise (or extra dark!), Hoban recommends this gel formula from Bobbi Brown. Deeply pigmented and strong enough to stand up to water and smudges, just a few swipes of this supple formula will have your look lasting all day long. This gel is safe for sensitive eyes and dries down quickly to provide up to eight hours of flawless wear.
Customer review: “I’ve been using this gel eyeliner for 14-15 years now. I’ve tried other brands/products but to me (skin around my eyes and how my lids fold) they are not as good as this. It is very easy to use and easy to wipe off if you make a mistake. I’m still trying the other brands for fun and adventure, but I will always have one of these in my makeup bag.”
Best Budget: Catrice 20H Ultra Precision Gel Eye Pencil
Catrice
20h Ultra Precision Gel Eye Pencil Waterproof
Pros: Lowest price of the bunch, impressive wear time
Cons: Some reviewers report inner-tube breakage
Formula: Gel | Shades: 10 | Benefits: Waterproof formula, smudge-resistant
A wrinkle-friendly and budge-proof eyeliner for just $5? Gimme 14 of ’em. “I think softer eyeliner looks the best on mature eyes,” muses celebrity makeup artist Emily Gray, who relies on this chocolate shade of Catrice’s long-wearing eyeliner for older women. “The liner is buildable, long-lasting, and waterproof,” she adds. Withstanding up to 20 hours of wear and intense pigmentation from the first swipe, this budget-friendly liner is easy on, lightly smudge, and go. However, be careful to not twist the product up too much before you use—some shoppers cite easy breakage.
Customer review: “These create the finest application, require no sharpening (just an easy twist up) and seriously stay put. They are great for use on the waterline or the lash line, and the price is unbeatable. I order these in bulk since they are so affordable and then I never run out.”
Best Alternative: Twenty/Twenty Beauty Visionary Eye Shadow Stick
Twenty/Twenty Beauty
Visionary Eye Shadow Stick
Pros: Hydrating formula, safe for those with sensitive eyes and skin
Cons: Might be too light for a pigmented eyeliner look
Formula: Cream | Shades: 7 | Benefits: Great for wearers with dry eye
If you prefer something softer than the inky look of eyeliner, consider a cream eye shadow (which can double as liner with a little imagination). “It’s packed with hydrating gentle ingredients like castor oil, argan oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to minimize the symptoms of dry eye disease,” explains Campo. This good-for-you formula is free from harmful ingredients that can irritate or cause issues in mature eyes, it’s easy to blend with a finger, super hydrating, and approved by board-certified eye doctors.
Customer review: “It is definitely not an extremely high performance eye shadow, but for those of us with eye issues, this is a great product. It goes on very easy and the shimmer colors are not highly pigmented, but I prefer that because you don’t have to be a blending expert in order for your eyes to look good. I really appreciate that somebody developed eye makeup that is safe for those of us with eye issues.”
What to Look for in Eyeliners for Older Women
After polling our experts, a few things became very clear: The ideal eyeliner for older women is a smooth, eye-safe product that will stay put. “A creamy eyeliner (either in pencil form or gel) is ideal because it glides on smoothly without pulling or dragging the skin, which is crucial to avoid because mature skin may be thinner and more prone to damage,” explains Libby. Below, a few things to consider before you pick your perfect liner.
- Formula: Most eyeliners for older women come in a twistable pencil or small pot, being either a cream, gel, or semi-dry pencil formula. “I always recommend my patients look for products that are ophthalmologist-tested, fragrance-free, and free of ingredients like benzalkonium chloride, parabens, or carbon black, all of which can worsen dryness and inflammation, especially in aging eyes,” says Campo.
- Color: Black seems like the go-to move when it comes to picking eyeliner colors, but you might want to try a more subdued shade on mature eyes. Hoban suggests swapping “harsh, stark black” liners in favor of subtler shades like brown or charcoal, which look more natural when smudged and wears well against feathered eyes and graying hair.
- Benefits: Ask not what’s in your eyeliner but what your eyeliner can do for you. With the right ingredient combination, the ideal formula should be sensitive and teary-eye safe, hydrating, and smudge-proof, yet easy to remove without tugging. “More mature skin tends to have wrinkles [or] lines on their lids and around their eyes, in addition to perhaps having watery sensitive eyes, which can move around eyeliner,” says Gray. “As a professional makeup artist, I would recommend eyeliner that is long-wearing or even waterproof for someone with mature skin.”
Who Should Not Wear Eyeliner?
When it comes to aesthetics, anyone should be able to wear eyeliner if they want to. However, our experts detailed a few reasons why some people with mature skin and eyes might want to skip the liner.
- Difficulty applying eyeliner steadily
- Chronic irritation or very watery eyes
- Styes or pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Weeks following ophthalmic surgery (i.e., cataract, LASIK)
- Anyone with eyelash loss
How Often Should I Replace My Eyeliner?
“Remember to replace your eyeliner every three to six months to avoid bacterial contamination, which can lead to eye infections, something older eyes are more vulnerable to,” muses Campo.
How We Chose
We first began by assessing our own collections of eyeliners that hit the key points for products suitable for mature eyes (smudge- and water-resistant, good shade range, smooth application, etc). Then, we judged which were our favorites before going out to a panel of board-certified ophthalmologists, dermatologists, physician’s associates, and celebrity makeup artists to see which tubes are really worth their salt—from all corners of the industry. Afterward, we did our research on each recommendation and compiled a list of the most reasonable prices, high performers, and varied benefits of each, offering a spread of mature eye–friendly options that suit a range of needs and budgets.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we’d truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.
Who’s Who
- Diane Hilal-Campo is a board-certified ophthalmologist and the founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty.
- Tiffany Libby is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Brown Dermatology in Rhode Island.
- Sari Hoban, PA-C, is a nationally board-certified physician associate specializing in medical aesthetics.
- Emily Gray is a celebrity makeup artist based in Nashville, Tennessee, who boasts clients such as Maren Morris, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.
