Looking for The Best Mascara for Older Women? Come on in!
Are you looking for the best mascara for Older Women?
I have been on the hunt for the best mascara for older women with thin eyelashes for quite some time, and I’m happy to report that I’ve got some excellent choices to share with you today!
Mascara has been around forever (The nineteenth century), so why is good mascara so hard to find? And a good mascara for older women with thinning eyelashes even harder to find?
Good question.
A Guide to Choosing the Best Mascara for Older Women
If you are a midlife woman over 40 and have thinning eyelashes as I do, you are probably looking for some of the same things I do when shopping for the perfect mascara for older women.
Here’s what I look for when shopping for the best mascara for my mature eyes:
–A natural-looking everyday mascara. I like a natural-looking mascara that defines, thickens, and lengthens my lashes without being too clumpy, flaking, or irritating to my eyes.
–A glam mascara. I want to have a glam mascara for my makeup stash that defines, volumizes, and lengthens my lashes for special occasions. And some staying power would be nice too.
–I’m looking for a decent price point. I don’t particularly appreciate spending a ton of money on mascara because it tends to dry out quickly here in Arizona.
Definition, Volume, Length, and Conditioning
Good mascara for older women with thin eyelashes should offer definition, add volume and lengthen lashes without clumping, flaking, or irritating eyes.
The Best Mascara for older woman= A mascara that can define, volumize and lengthen while offering strengthening ingredients gets bonus points!
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The Different Mascara Formulations
1. Volumizing mascara
Volumizing mascara is for those who like a little more drama or those with thinning eyelashes.
Volumizing mascara helps thicken your lashes for a more luxurious look, an excellent choice for thinning eyelashes.
2. Lengthening mascara
Lengthening mascara temporarily adds length to lashes with small rayon or nylon fibers. These fibers cling to eyelashes, building length. When brushed on eyelashes, these fibers attach to the lashes, making your lashes look longer.
3. Conditioning mascara
Conditioning mascara can provide both volume and length to lashes while conditioning them simultaneously.
Conditioning mascaras contain ingredients like peptides, keratin, and proteins to strengthen and protect your eyelashes.
4. Natural or “Clean” Mascara
Natural or “clean” mascaras are in traditional formulas free of many chemicals and preservatives.
Most clean mascaras are free of heavy metals, parabens, phthalates, silicones, synthetic dyes, and fragrances.
Clean mascara is the best choice for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
5. Waterproof Mascara
Waterproof mascara or water-resistant mascara is just what the name implies. Waterproof mascara is a form that doesn’t get washed off with water easily.
Waterproof mascara is an excellent choice for those with oily eyelashes.
Waterproof formulations are also the perfect choice for a day at the beach or when there may be tears.
Because waterproof mascara is designed to last, removing it can cause more damage to the lash than regular mascara.
Related article: Eyelash Treatments for Thinning Eyelashes
The Best Mascaras for Mature Women:
ILIA Limitless Lash Lengthening Mascara
This award-winning (allure) mascara gives my lashes a beautiful natural looking volume while lifting nd lengthening!
I love the dual-sided brush that separates every lash.
This mascara is super clean! It’s free of all the bad stuff, is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and comes in recyclable packaging!
It Nourishes and conditions the lashes with Arginine, shea butter, and beeswax. It’s ophthalmologist-tested and safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.
*My lashes have improved since I started using ILIA limitless lash mascara! 100%!
PURCHASE On amazon >
What I like most about ILIA Limitless mascara:
- I love that it’s clean!
- Conditions lashes with ingredients like Arginine (Keratin) and beeswax
- I love the brush and how it separates my lashes
- It doesn’t clump or flake!
Shop this mascara online: Sephora, Nordstrom and Amazon
Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
This $5 mascara got my attention because a couple of my girlfriends have been using it and their lashes look great!
Essence’s Lash Princess false lash defines and separates lashes while volumizing without clumps!
It lasts all day without flaking and is easy to remove with a gentle face cleanser or makeup remover.
Cruelty-free and ophthalmologist tested. Comes in several different formulations.
PURCHASE On amazon >
What I like most about Lash Princess False Lash mascara:
- The price! I mean, you cannot beat it.
- Volumizes with no clumps!
- Available in several different formulations.
Shop this mascara online: Ulta, Amazon and Walmart.com
Clinique High Impact Mascara
I have used Clinique products for years and years!
High-impact mascara builds volume and length while defining every lash! I love the natural look that it gives my lashes!
It’s free of parabens and phthalates, high-impact mascara is ophthalmologist tested, allergy tested, safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers, and free of mineral oil and fragrance.
PURCHASE On amazon >
What I like most about this mascara
- How it defines my lashes. No clumping.
- I like the natural-looking volume
- Great for my sensitive eyes
- Also available in a waterproof formula.
Shop this mascara online: Ulta, Sephora, and Walmart.com
L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara
The L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara builds lashes up to 5x their natural thickness while lengthening without clumps!
This long-lasting mascara is perfect for a dramatic eye look, and the curved brush makes the mascara application a breeze!
Voluminous mascara is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers and is easily removed with a mild cleanser and warm water.
PURCHASE On amazon >
What I like about voluminous mascara
- It adds volume like nobody’s business without clumping.
- I like the curved brush a lot.
- You can’t beat the price!
- It is available in Drugstores (Target, Walmart, CVS, Etc.)
Shop this mascara online: Ulta, Target and Walmart.com
Two-Faced: Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara
This is a cult classic mascara!
Better than sex volumizing mascara is an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, and I know why!
This collagen-fueled formula thickens, lengthens, and curls after just one coat. But you can build up more volume if you wish.
The brush is magic! It’s super plush with a unique curve that does a great job defining lashes.
This vegan formula is easily removed and comes in a waterproof formula.
PURCHASE On amazon >
What I like most about this mascara for older women:
- Tons of volume with just one coat!
- The brush is awesome!
- No flaking!
Shop this mascara online: Ulta, Sephora, and Nordstrom
More Noteworthy Mascaras for older women:
ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara A clean, volumizing mascara that wraps each lash in weightless, buildable volume without flaking, smudging, or irritating even the most sensitive eyes.
Honest Beauty Extreme Length and Lash Primer Award-winning, bestselling double-sided mascara plus a lash primer for ultimate length and volume!
Primelash Mascara Primelash eyelash mascara lengthens, volumizes, and separates the shorter, sparse eyelashes that mature women often experience after 50+.
Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara This is an excellent waterproof mascara for thinning lashes and gives the perfect combo of volume and lengthening.
How to Apply Mascara to Older Lashes
- Curl. If you have straight lashes as I do, Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara.
- Need extra volume? Start with a lash primer. A good lash primer can add a ton of volume while helping mascara to perform its best. Let dry before applying mascara.
- Getting started: Open the mascara tube and wipe off the excess product on the applicator using a tissue.
- Apply the mascara: Start by lightly pushing the wand in at the root, roll it forward to capture each lash, and wiggle it back and forth while pulling up! Work from the root to the tips of the lashes.
- Apply the second layer: Apply one to three coats. I apply one coat of mascara daily and 2-3 coats for a more glam night out.
- Twist, Don’t pump: Don’t pull your mascara wand in and out to get more product on the brush. Instead, twist and pull-that way, your mascara won’t dry out as fast!
- Define your lashes using a lash brush to define and de-clump as necessary.
- Clean up: Have a Q-tip at the ready for smudges. Try to catch them before they dry.
Should I apply mascara to the bottom lashes?
Applying mascara to bottom lashes is a personal preference.
I don’t apply mascara to my bottom lashes every day, but to do apply mascara to my bottom lashes when taking my makeup up a notch for a date night or special occasion.
How to apply mascara to bottom eyelashes
- Less is more. When it comes to mascara on the lower lashes, I say less is always more!
- Use a little, not a lot. Wipe off excess mascara from the applicator brush before applying mascara.
- Get the right angle. Tilt slightly, looking up into a mirror. This will pull the lashes farther from the skin for easy application without streaks.
- Clean up. Have a Q-tip ready for smudges.
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The Best Mascara for Older Women (Over 40)
In closing, the best mascara for older women is the one that fits your individual needs.
Whether you are looking for a volumizing mascara, lengthening mascara, or a little bit of both, I am confident that any of these mascaras will work great for you!
Which one will you choose? Let me know in the comments below!
XO, Christine
I’ve used a couple of these before. The Lash Princess sounds intriguing! I also love Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes!
Great post!
Thanks for sharing your mascara insights. Like everything else, my eyelashes have slowing changed over the years and I need to try a few new products
Rosemary
I’ve always bemoaned my stubby, thin eyelashes, so appreciate some new products to go and check out!
I might just give up my lash extensions after reading this! If you had to pick one which would it be ?
I’ve definitely noticed that my lashes are thinner and shorter now than when I was younger. I’m always looking for clean mascaras that add volume so the Ilia sounds perfect to me! xo Nipa
Mascara has always been a hit or miss for me. Thanks for tips. Right now I am enjoying lash extensions and NOT worrying about the mascara.