Time changes everything, including our eyelashes. “As we mature, our lashes can naturally become finer, shorter, and less full, so I’m always looking for the best mascaras for older women to bring back that beautiful definition and volume,” says Melinda Melrose, Dolce & Gabbana Beauty’s global makeup expert.
According to Melrose, those best-in-class mascara formulas add definition, lift, and an elegant flutter to any makeup look, and they’re easy to incorporate into an everyday makeup routine. Her technique? “Start right at the root, gently twist the wand as you sweep upward,” she says. “Really focus on lifting those lashes rather than just coating them with product. The goal is to open up the eyes, not weigh them down.”
Vogue’s Favorite Mascaras for Older Women:
J. Brandon Correa, YSL Beauty’s national makeup artist, finds that the right mascara can enhance the appearance of each individual lash. “Definition can be just as impactful as volume, especially when working with mature eyes,” he says. “Ultimately, creating beautiful lashes isn’t always about adding more; it’s about understanding how to enhance what is naturally there.”
A light-handed approach is especially flattering on mature women. “Going too bold can weigh the eyes down and make them appear smaller,” celebrity makeup artist Tonya Riner notes. “Use feather-light strokes to avoid applying too much product at once. It is always easier to add than take away.” She also advises moving the wand in one direction, working from the base of the lashes to the tips in clean, precise strokes. “This helps the product distribute evenly,” she explains. “Avoid back-and-forth motions, which increase the likelihood of clumps.”
Since sagging skin can make the lashes harder to reach, it also pays to know a few hacks for making application a breeze. To wit: “I take the makeup wand and slightly bend it so it’s more at a 45-degree angle,” says Chicago-based hair and makeup artist Kate Johnson. “This allows you to hold the mascara wand at a more comfortable angle while getting closer to the lash line.” (Bonus: Johnson says there’s no need to straighten the wand out before inserting it back in the tube—it will automatically adjust.) Meanwhile, Riner likes using a wand with “small, tooth-like bristles” for easy, ultra-precise application.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt to find a formula that curls, lifts, lengthens, and separates. Ahead, see the mascaras pro makeup artists and Vogue editors recommend for lashes worth batting at any age.
In This Story:
Best Overall: Chanel Inimitable Mascara
- Why We Love It: Available in black and brown-black, Chanel’s volumizing, lengthening, and curling formula is a go-to for celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose, whose clients include 87-year-old Jane Fonda—plus some of his own family members. “This is my mom’s favorite mascara,” Barose says. “It has the perfect slim brush and a rich formula that adds drama to the lashes in one, clump-free coat.” Barose notes that small fiber brushes like Chanel’s are ideal for applying mascara, as they coat the lashes evenly and help prevent clumping.
- Editor’s Experience: My lashes are long, but they’re definitely not thick or dense with hair. Though I’m not into volumizing formulas every day, this is the one I reach for when I’m looking for a little more oomph, or when I have a full eye makeup look on. I don’t find the formula to be heavy, but I still often wipe off the wand right before applying to keep my thinner lashes from getting spidery. —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Polymers, rice bran wax, beeswax, carnauba wax
- Type: Lengthening, curling
- Waterproof: No
- Additional Features: Ophthalmologist-tested, safe for contact lens wearers
- Shades: 2
