9 Best Eye Shadows for Mature Skin That Won't Crease or Fade

The best eye shadows for mature skin accommodate all of the little changes that happen around your eyes as you age without sacrificing the look of a stunning lid. Their myriad benefits include not accentuating fine lines, imparting serious shimmer (if that's your vibe), and having hydrating ingredients to curb creasing throughout the day. Everything that comes with maturing skin is perfectly normal (and gorgeous, if we may), but if you'd rather not call attention to these transitions, we're here to support you. So, we've chatted with makeup artists to give us the low-down on the best eye shadows for mature skin. Scroll on and swipe on these picks for all-day wear.

Our Top Picks

• Best Eye Shadow for Mature Skin Overall: Armani Beauty Longwear Eyeshadow, $38
• Best Powder Eye Shadow for Mature Skin: Jones Road The Best Eyeshadow, $25
• Best Cream Eye Shadow for Mature Skin: Smashbox Always On Cream Shadow, $28
• Best Liquid Eye Shadow for Mature Skin: Ami Colé Liquid Matte Shadow, $16
• Best Soft-Matte Eye Shadow for Mature Skin: Merit Beauty Solo Shadow, $24
• Best Shimmer Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Kulfi Zari Eyes Cream Eyeshadow, $30
• Best Satin Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color, $27

Frequently Asked Questions

• What type of eye shadow is best for mature skin?
• How should you prep your skin before applying eye shadow?
• How should people apply eye shadow to mature skin?
• Meet the experts
• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Eye Shadow For Mature Skin Overall: Armani Beauty Longwear Eyeshadow

Why it's worth it: New York City-based makeup artist Lisa Aharon has only good things to say about the Armani Beauty Longwear Eyeshadow. "These [shadows] glide on seamlessly, have amazing hold, and are great on their own but also work well layered with other shadows," she explains, adding that she especially recommends the shadow's matte finishes for people with mature skin. If you want a more glam vibe, shop this liquid formula in a range of shimmer finishes—like Night Viper, a metallic deep burgundy pictured above.

Editor's tip: The arrow shape of the doe allows the product to be applied in a wide sweep as a shadow or a fine swipe as a liner.

Key ingredients: talc, beeswax, iron oxides, mica, hydrogenated coconut oil | Shades: 14

Best Powder Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Jones Road The Best Eyeshadow

Why it's worth it: Makeup artist Tamara Delbridge recommends this blendable Jones Road powder eye shadow in all of its sometimes-sparkly, sometimes-matte glory. While your eyelids can always benefit from a bit of prep (eye cream or serum will do), this shadow pulls some weight on its own—it's infused with rice extract to help better retain moisture. Depending on the level of pigment you're after, you can use a fluffy brush for sheer coverage or a dense brush to pack in this buildable powder.

Editor's tip: For intensely pigmented eyeliner-like application, use a more intense color, wet or mist an angled brush to apply.

Key ingredients: oryza sativa (rice) extract, mica, aluminum salt, sorbic acid | Shades: 15

Best Cream Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Smashbox Always On Cream Shadow

Why it's worth it: Delbridge says that cream eye shadows like the Smashbox Always On Cream Shadow provide extra hydration and smoothness, which make them extra easy to apply. This one is available in a range of nude shades (like Barista, a deep brown pictured above) as well as a few bright options (like the festival-ready Emerald Shimmer or futuristic Metal Charcoal), perfect if you're looking to create a more dramatic eye makeup look. It's also oil-free, ideal for people with oily or combination skin.

Editor's tip: Cream formulas like this are often very pigmented, so Delbridge recommends applying this product with a light touch.

Key ingredients: candelilla wax, mica, microcrystalline wax, iron oxides | Shades: 3

Best Liquid Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Ami Colé Liquid Matte Shadow

Why it's worth it: The Ami Colé Liquid Matte Shadow is another Delbridge recommendation. A 2023 Best of Beauty winner, this highly pigmented shadow is a one-swipe wonder infused with ingredients like baobab seed oil, aloe leaf, and vitamin E, making it a particularly nourishing pick for mature skin. We adore the capsule color range, too: Harlem (light brown), Bed Stuy (dark brown), St. Louis (marigold pictured above), and Los Angeles (sky blue).

Editor's tip: Liquid eye shadows tend to set more quickly, so if you want to blend them out, you'll want to move quickly.

Key ingredients: vitamin E, aloe leaf extract, baobab seed oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter | Shades: 4

Best Soft-Matte Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Merit Beauty Solo Shadow

Why it's worth it: Merit Beauty's Solo Shadow (pictured above in Studio, a reddish taupe) has a unique cream-to-powder texture, meaning it applies smoothly as a cream and then dries as a richly pigmented powder that won't smear or crease. Notable ingredients include peptides to plump fine lines, magnolia bark to smooth texture, and sunflower seed oil for nourishing benefits. Plus, how chic is that gold-topped container? If you've got mature eyes, consider a matte eye shadow. "When it comes to eye shadows, matte textures are the best choice for mature skin," shares Delbridge. "They offer opaque coverage, which helps conceal the darkening of the lids common in aging eyes."

Tester feedback: "I'm not great with eye shadow, so I rely on a smudge-and-go technique whenever I feel the urge to add a touch of color and dimension to my eyelids," associate manager of special projects, Talia Gutierrez, previously told Allure. "The Merit Solo Shadow pods bring a user-friendly, no-brush-needed application approach that's practically mistake-proof. I use the tip of my index finger and swirl it into the eyeshadow pod to soften and warm up the product before smudging the pigment onto my eyelids."

Key ingredients: peptides, magnolia bark extract, chamomile extract, calendula extract | Shades: 8

Best Satin Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color

Why it's worth it: The 2023 Best of Beauty-winning Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color is a long-lasting eye shadow that comes in matte (like Chocolate pictured above) and luminous finishes (like Copper Foil, a warm copper bronze). If you want more intense color, you'll want to go for the matte finish; for a more glowing look, try the satin finish. Aharon recommends this product because it blends in easily with your fingers or a brush. It can also be used on your brows, cheeks, lips—pretty much anywhere on your face is fair game.

Editor's tip: The Nudestix Magnetic Matte Eye Color and the Nudestix Magnetic Luminous Eye Color are technically different products and are listed as such on Ulta, Nordstrom, and Amazon, so be sure to look at both to find the shade and finish you want.

Key ingredients: mica, synthetic beeswax, carnauba wax, iron oxides | Shades: 22 (9 matte, 13 luminous)

Best Shimmer Eye Shadow For Mature Skin: Kulfi Zari Eyes Cream Eyeshadow

Why it's worth it: The Zari Eyes Cream Eyeshadow comes from South-Asian-founded brand Kulfi, which honors the culture's rich beauty history and works to steer the industry toward full-fledged inclusion. You might already know and love Kulfi's Kajal Eyeliner, but what better pairing than with a creamy pot of shadow? Even though, yes, it's creamy, this stuff dries down nicely into an almost matte texture, which helps it stay in place all day (and/or night) long. The also formula includes vitamin E, chamomile, and aloe vera to soothe dull, dry skin.

Tester feedback: "I love the wash of color just one finger-dip of this shadow gives me," says contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman. "It's subtle, bridging the gap between shimmery and not-so-shimmery, and the Auburn Aura shade (pictured above) is a sophisticatedly sexy addition to any look—especially with my bluish green eyes."

Key ingredients: mica, vitamin E, chamomile, aloe vera | Shades: 5 (3 shimmer, 2 metallic)

Best Neutral Shades: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Shadow Stick

Why it's worth it: The Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Shadow Stick (pictured above in Truffle, a creamy beige) is a 2023 Allure Best of Beauty winner and we have a feeling it's about to become the MVP of your makeup bag. There are 27 different shades to pick from, including matte, metallic, and shimmer finishes—some even have color-shifting finishes—so it'll be hard to resist picking up more than one. These versatile, smooth-gliding sticks can be used as eye shadow, eyeliner, or even highlighter—depending on the shade you choose.

Editor's tip: This product is waterproof, so you'll need makeup remover handy when it's time to take it off. Cleanser and water alone probably won't do it.

Key ingredients: synthetic beeswax, silica, mica, citric acid, iron oxides | Shades: 35 (12 matte, 20 shimmer, and 3 metallic)

Best Bold Shades: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick

Why it's worth it: You know what's cheaper than caviar and kind of just as luxe? The Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eyeshadow. Kind of. Let's just say it is. This creamy formula has major staying power—we're talking 24 hours (please get some sleep, though), and maintains its pigment all the while. It's crease-proof, smudge-proof, moisture-proof, and chill for sensitive skin. Plus, it includes hydrating hyaluronic acid, castor seed oil, and raspberry oil.

Editor's tip: "I'm a die-hard fan of the Laura Mercier shadow stick in Cocoa (a rich chocolate with bronze pearl pictured above)," New York City-based makeup artist Kirin Bhatty previously told Allure. "I always have them in my kit as they are super versatile, and you can create something very natural to something very smokey in a few swipes."

Key ingredients: dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, castor seed oil, raspberry oil | Shades: 15

Frequently Asked Questions

Cream eye shadow comes out on top every time. "[Creamy shadows] have a smoother texture and are less likely to settle into fine lines and wrinkles," explains Lisa Aharon, a makeup artist based in New York City. While cream eye shadows come in matte, shimmer, or metallic finishes, Katy Holland (a makeup artist at Boom! Beauty) and Aahron vouch for matte formulas since they provide a soft and diffused look that doesn't emphasize the skin's texture.

Aharon likes "to start by cleansing the area with something gentle like micellar water, followed by a light application of eye cream." After that, she goes in with an eye shadow primer (you can never go wrong with Urban Decay's Primer Potion) to smooth fine lines on the lids and ensure the makeup adheres and blends evenly.

If you have dry skin, makeup artist Tamara Delbridge recommends prepping with an emollient eye serum infused with lipid-restoring ingredients like antioxidants and hyaluronic acid (like the EltaMD Renew Eye Gel) to hydrate the delicate skin around the eyes and on the lids. If you have oily skin, she suggests a sebum-balancing eye serum (perhaps the Paula's Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Gel) that can act as an excess oil absorber, paired with a silicone-based eye primer (try the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eyeshadow and Concealer Primer) that helps prevent the migration of eye shadow.

For starters, use an eye cream or eye serum to ensure the skin around your eyes is clean and adequately hydrated. Once your skin is nice and juicy, you can add an eye shadow primer to lock in your shadow and prevent creasing or fading. With most formulas, you can apply eye shadow with your fingers, a brush, or an included applicator. Whatever shadow vehicle you opt for, ensure it's nice and sanitary.

Holland notes that as people age, their eyes may become more hooded, so she applies a setting powder all over the eyes to keep the area smooth and dry. Don't close your eyes when it's time to use the eye shadow. "The best way to sculpt hooded eyes is to begin with your eyes open, looking straight ahead into the mirror," Holland explains. "Blend in the same direction toward your nose using an eye shadow brush." You can finish with a dash of shimmer at the inner corner of your eye, and some mascara for a beginner-friendly but elevated makeup look.

• Tamara Delbridge, a makeup artist and dual-licensed esthetician
• Lisa Aharon, a makeup artist based in New York City
• Katy Holland, a makeup artist at Boom! Beauty who specializes in makeup for mature skin
• Kirin Bhatty, a makeup artist based in New York City

Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?

For our review of the best eyeshadows for mature skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists who work with mature skin to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we can fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Mature skin deserves top-tier makeup—and we’ve got even more non-fine-line-emphasizing recs for you:

• The 13 Best Primers for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists,
• 15 Best Foundations for Mature Skin That Won't Seep Into Fine Lines
• 17 Best Moisturizers for Mature Skin to Target Fine Lines and Wrinkles
• 14 Best Blushes for Mature Skin for a Bouncy Finish

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