If there’s one thing Lesley knows, it’s eyeliner - and how to make it work for every age, eye shape, and confidence level. In this Q&A, she shares her personal eyeliner journey, from mastering the baby wing to finding the perfect formula for hooded, mature eyes.
Whether you're just dipping a toe into eyeliner or looking to refine your technique, Lesley offers practical, approachable tips and real-talk advice - like why a sharpened tip matters, how to lift the eyes without overdoing it, and why LushLine+ is her ride-or-die liner. Get ready for insider tricks, some serious lash love, and the reminder that no one is ever too old to rock great eyeliner!
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Can you tell us your absolute favorite eyeliner look for everyday?
I love a crisp line, close to my lashes, right into the inner corner. and with a baby flick.
What’s the easiest way to add eyeliner to your routine without it looking too heavy?
The trick is to keep the nib of your eyeliner sharpened. Aim to apply your liner in between your lash hairs to avoid a heavy line.
What’s your secret for making eyeliner look fresh and polished all day?
Applying the liner in short light motions ensures I get a nice application of intense colour just where I want it. Also, applying a baby wing helps to draw a little more attention to the liner and a more intentional look.
If someone over 40 is struggling with eyeliner, what’s the one tip you think they should try first?
Apply from the inner corner, next to the tear duct, up to where your lashes start. This helps to open up the inner part of your eye. Practice a baby wing as this helps to draw the eye in an upwards direction - resulting in a more lifted look. This way you’re enhancing the inner and outer part of your eye.
What's your favorite Eyeliner color and why?
I flit between black and brown liner because I like a liner that is bold enough to be seen. However, the brown delivers a slightly ‘softer’ look - perfect for daytime makeup looks. The black eyeliner delivers higher impact for a more dramatic eye makeup look.
When did you first realize that applying eyeliner on hooded mature eyes required a different technique? Can you share with us your insight?
I have very soft, crepey AND hooded eyes. As a makeup enthusiast I was often attempting makeup looks on myself and winged eyeliner was just an impossible task for me as was the liquid felt tip type of liners. That was when I realised I needed a different approach. A liner that sets quickly, to avoid transfer onto my hooded lids, one that glides easily, so doesn’t skip over the creases that appear with the movement of my eyelid and one that I can control easily, by being able to sharpen the tip to a size to suit the effect I want.
What would you say to someone who feels intimidated by eyeliner because of their eye shape or age?
Perhaps avoid a black liner to start with - instead try brown. Use a stiff, angled liner brush to smudge the liner as you apply it. This creating a softer, less ‘perfect’ line which allows you to build your confidence in application. You can even smudge a little eyeshadow in a similar shade to further soften the look. But ultimately just go for it. If my 55 year old eyes can wear eyeliner, so can yours.
How does eyeliner make you feel when you wear it?
Eyeliner makes me feel more pulled together. Like I’ve made an effort and it helps to intensify my lashes (anyone who knows me, knows I’m all about my lashes).
What do you love most about LushLine+ Eyeliner — and why do you keep reaching for it?
LushLine+ is my MOST used liner and has been consistently for about 2 years. It really DOESN’T transfer onto my hooded eyelids. It’s so easy to sketch across my lash line and the best hit, it doesn’t budge. It’s incredible and I have ditched all my old liquid, messy pen liners.
Anything else you think would be valuable?!
Using products that not only perform BRILLIANTLY but also contain lash loving ingredients are PERFECT for a lash-addict like me.•One of my TOP TIPS for applying a baby wing: don’t pull the skin too taught as your line will look funky when you release the skin. Instead, keep your eye relaxed, look straight ahead in the mirror to see where you need the line to finish and add.l a dot of liner at that point to then join to the outer corner of your lash line. Start small - just enough to give a ‘lift’ at the outer edge.
What would you say to someone who feels they’re too old to wear makeup—especially eyeliner? And what is it that makes you feel confident?
No-one is too old to wear makeup. It’s about finding the right products for you that give you confidence. For me, a glowy complexion and focusing on my eyes makes me feel more presentable. Eyeliner makes my eyes stand out giving a more wide-awake appearance and having a glowy complexion gives me a healthier look. These simply make me feel more confident to face the world.
