I’m more willing to use a combination of finishes (I always liked shimmery stuff the most!), though I still find I prefer more semi-matte to satin over mattes myself.
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I used to think cool tones suited me best, but now I love warm! And after realizing (after too long) that I had hooded eyes, I use more mattes than I used to.
I’ve always preferred warm tones. Shades of peach, bronze and gold. That hasn’t changed much. But adding an orange (MAC Rule) or red (ABH Red Ochre) to the crease to warm up a look is very new for me and I like it! Also I’m more into adding a pop of color,usually the lower lashline. I’ve always preferred shimmer somewhere in my look though…
I use more mattes and darker colors for smokey eyes. I’m using better brushes and techniques to blend the darker shades higher up the lid a and above the crease.
I also love shimmers, always have and always will! However, only recently have I started to appreciate mattes a bit more, but my favorites are still the shimmery shadows.
Mine have gone far more experimental during more recent years. More or less harkening back to another creative patch in my life, 18-30. Although certainly not nearly as crazy and avant garde as I was willing to go back then, I have made quite a return to using more color. Sometimes making for some interesting combos! One thing I know I do differently is that I do use more matte or matte looking satins during my 50’s. This has not I’ve given up using metallic, shimmer or microglitter finish e/s’s however! I still rock those! ?
*has not meant I’ve given up…
They haven’t. I’ve always loved neutrals with a hit or two of colour. I’ve always loved some sheen or Pearl (like the Inglot Pearl or MAC Veluxe Pearl finishes), even though I’m a good 20 years past the arbitrary date when “they” say I shouldn’t be wearing it. So, really, nothing much has changed.
I think I appreciate mattes and neutrals (and matte neutrals 😉 ) more than I used to. I’m not sure if that’s an age thing (I’m 47), or just that formulas are finally good enough that I’m finding more than I like.
On the other hand, I’ve been buying more indie brand shadows than before because I want the more unique colors and finishes.
As far as style, five years ago I almost always wore a day-time smokey eye. It was easier to have a go-to while I was raising special-needs teens. Now that my sons are adults and more independent, I usually have more time to indulge my love of changing up my colors and application styles.
I’ve *always* loved my “neutrals”, but I tended to stay in the middle, not going too warm/cool. However, about 5-6 years ago, I suddenly began to add greys/silvers to my looks. Then, about a year ago, I started experimenting with some of the warmer browns that come in sooo many palettes, and decided I actually really like them.
No. I still reach for satin or shimmer, but not for really frosty ones. An rarely for mattes.
i find myself reaching for cream/powder hybrid formulas (colourpop’s super shock shadows) alot more now as well as matte shadows .
For a start, I generally only wore shades of grey or navy blue eyeshadow – cheap DS lines too. Since l started reading this blog (about 4 years ago), I haved expanded the repetoire of shades that I wear – olives, greens, golds and neutrals.
I have a feeling that most of the eye shadow quads of the past were pretty bad mattes, but now I use shimmers, satins and mattes.
I am also buying better quality eye shadows now than in the recent past – I am much more discerning now and read your reviews (I didn’t know this website existed 5 years ago) and purchase more wisely. It’s hard to believe that I didn’t know about Urban Decay, bareMinerals and Lorac then.
For more neutral eye looks, my preferences have shifted toward cooler and lighter tones generally. Like, a smoky eye isn’t usually dark gray and black eyeshadow anymore, it’s more likely a soft taupe with gray buffed in. Everyday brown eyeshadow is normally all lighter shades of beige, taupe and brown. I like to keep my crease colors much softer than I did even three years ago and I get less use out of pigmented golds or warm midtone browns. I might never use up UD Faint or Buck at this rate. To say nothing of the foil-like metallic golds that come in every UD palette.
As far as things that have stayed the same, I love saturated berry eyeshadows and rosy brown crease colors as much as ever. Also jarring warm colors like MAC Coppering or Melt Rubbish. After 10+ years, they’re kind of signature looks for me, though I don’t wear them everyday.
I’ve added mattes and color. Previously it was all satin & or frosted shadows that were neutrals. Now I see an all neutral palette and they are just so boring and uninspiring to me.
When I was younger I wore much simpler looks- a single wash of color over the lid or perhaps a 2 color smokey eye. I wasn’t really into applying eyeshadow. I focussed on really wild false eyelashes & Arabian style liner when not wearing work appropriate looks. (Bear in mind that I was a teen in the 80’s when false eyelashes were NOT in fashion & in my 20’s in the 90’s when false lashes were still only for Playboy centerfolds, porn stars, drag queens, and aging opera singers. I had lots of negative comments but I wore’em anyway cuz I loved’em!)
Then I married an Indian and moved to India. Woohoo!
My style definitely changed. Makeup is a highly taxed luxury item here so most Indian women don’t wear makeup daily. Except during BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDINGS when they go FULL GLAM!!! Anywho, I no longer wear false lashes daily as I’ve become sensitized to the glue & suffer lash loss & eye irritation due to it. BUT I’ve started wearing Bollywood-style eyeshadow galore in everything from simple shimmers to glamourous metallics with my notorious winged liner. I get compliments all the time on my makeup. (A few jealous & cranky prudes nag disapprovingly) I love spending a very therapeutic creative hour on my makeup daily.
Now that I can’t wear glasses for any close work, including my night job, I think I have generally toned it down. It’s more that, than my vast age. More neutrals with colors, than just colors. I can be satisfied with more simple app, rather than crease, trans, brow bone (esp since there’s no room there), lid, outer vee. Still wear more colored mascara than anyone I know or see. Some shades that I formerly would wear easily (like the top row of bridal satin) seem far too frosty, and need to be used as toppers. Still don’t use much brown, though greiges, grays, even Beiges are on the street. Idk why this iPad always capitalizes Beige. Did it again. Basically, though I still pretty much do what I want. As in wear none. Or wear it to a non-makeup place. ( it’s not prohibited, just no one does it.)
I continue to prefer nude / smokie / chocolate ish looks for the eyes as I get older
I’m much more into matte shadows!
Until recently, I couldn’t use eyeshadows, which I associated with allergies, but that was not the case.
Anyway, my preferences were always matte warm shadows… mostly (add dark green and naval blue). Now I am getting shimmer eyeshadows.