Fashion & Beauty / 30 September, 2026 / Ellie Thompson
A smokey eye is one of those timeless makeup looks that can work beautifully at any age. The secret? It’s not necessarily about wearing less eye makeup as you get older, but adapting how you apply it to suit your features as they change.
Makeup expert Laura Geller believes there’s no reason to retire the drama simply because your lids, lashes or brows look a little different than they once did. From clever placement for hooded eyes to knowing exactly where to add shimmer, a few small tweaks can make all the difference.
With party season approaching, we’ve rounded up Laura’s expert tips for creating a soft, flattering smokey eye for mature eyes, without losing any of the impact.
1. Start With A Creamy Eyeliner And Blend, Blend, Blend
One of Laura’s easiest tricks for creating a smokey effect is to use a thicker eyeliner pencil as your base rather than relying solely on powder eyeshadow.
“My secret here is to use a thicker eyeliner pencil like my Kajal Longwear Eyeliner, and apply that and then blend it out quickly before it dries down! I use shade Smoky Quartz for a soft, diffused look — it’s dark, but not too dark.”
Apply your deeper colour across the lid and soften the edges so there are no harsh lines. Follow with a neutral shade around the brow bone to help diffuse the deeper colour while visually lifting and defining the brow.
Laura Geller Kajal Longwear Eyeliner, £22
Laura Geller’s soft kohl liner delivers rich colour in smooth strokes, with long-wearing, crease-proof colour and a built-in sharpener for precise application. It’s also infused with vitamin E and caffeine for comfortable wear.
2. Adapt Your Smokey Eye To Your Eye Shape
As we age, the eye area can become more hooded, meaning traditional eyeshadow placement may be less visible when the eyes are open.
Laura recommends moving your deeper crease colour slightly higher:
“For hooded or mature lids, apply a slightly deeper shade just above your natural crease so it’s still visible with eyes open — think of it as creating a new crease.”
Keep your blending soft and work upwards rather than out or down. Earthy shades such as taupes and browns can also add definition without making the eye appear heavy.
3. Keep Eyeliner Close To The Lashes
A smokey eye needs definition, but that doesn’t have to mean a thick band of black eyeliner. Keeping liner tight to the upper lash line helps define the eyes without taking away valuable visible lid space. This is particularly useful for hooded eyes.
And Laura has one pleasingly straightforward piece of advice: “You can’t rush eyeliner, so take your time!”
4. Be Strategic With Shimmer
Shimmer after a certain age? Absolutely.
Laura says there are “no rules” when it comes to using it. Matte shades can create shape and definition, while lighter shimmer can add brightness when placed deliberately.
Think of shimmer as an accent rather than necessarily making it the foundation of your smokey eye. A touch at the inner corner, for example, can instantly make the eye area appear brighter and more awake.
Laura Geller Baked Eyeshadow Duo, £22
Featuring two versatile shades in one compact, Laura’s silky baked eyeshadows blend seamlessly across the lids. Each is baked for 24 hours and hand-finished in Italy.
5. Remember Laura’s ‘3 E’s’
A great smokey eye isn’t only about eyeshadow. Laura repeatedly comes back to what she calls her “3 E’s”: eyeliner, eyelashes and eyebrows.
“Fill in your brows to frame the face, add a tight line of liner along the upper lashes for definition, and finish with mascara to open everything up.”
As brows and lashes change over time, giving all three a little attention can help frame and define the eyes, rather than allowing darker shadow to overwhelm them.
Laura Geller Sculpt-N-Stay Waterproof Brow Gel And Pencil, £24
This two-in-one brow pencil and tinted gel makes defining and shaping brows simple. The precision tip creates natural-looking strokes through sparse areas, while the tinted gel adds the appearance of fullness and holds brows in place with a waterproof finish.
6. Work With Your Features, Not Against Them
Perhaps the most important rule is that you don’t need to abandon the makeup you love simply because you’re getting older.
“It’s important to work with your features as they change with age rather than trying to stick to your old routine.”
A softly blended pencil, strategically placed shadow, close-to-the-lashes liner and defined brows and lashes can deliver all the drama of a classic smokey eye while keeping the finished look soft, lifted and modern.
So, if you love a smokey eye, keep wearing one. The technique might evolve, but your makeup personality doesn’t have to.
Shop Laura Geller
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