We’re heading towards beauty’s shimmer season, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 61, has shown exactly how to make it flattering on mature eyes.
The stylish royal had a fresh sparkle in her eyes as she stepped out for her latest engagement, wearing the softest hint of shimmery champagne eyeshadow on her lids. Shimmer is a look that is often assumed to be ageing on older eyes, with the suggestion that it can draw attention to fine lines and crepey lids. However, the Duchess’s fresh makeup look firmly proves it has no age limit.
Sophie looked chic as ever as she stepped out in Staffordshire, dressed all in navy to attend an event at The Royal British Legion National Remembrance Gardens. Her blonde bob seems to have had a small refresh to keep the shape and colour clean, and her makeup looked just as sparkling fresh.
A radiant skin base was complemented with rose-tinted lips and a soft taupe eyeshadow below her brows plus a lighter flash of champagne glimmer on her lids.
‘Sophie’s shimmer looks beautiful and soft even in daylight because it’s worn only on the lid itself, so you see just a whisper of it, catching the light with every blink,’ says celebrity makeup artist and brand founder Ruby Hammer MBE. ‘It’s a subtle, “now you see it, now you don’t” look that adds a tiny flash of interest without being overpowering or distracting.’
Why is shimmer youthful on midlife eyes?
Contrary to beauty myth, ‘shimmer can instantly brighten the eyes, lift the face and bring a modern freshness to makeup,’ says Ruby.
To get it right, first look at the texture you’re using. ‘Shimmer does not have to mean obvious glitter,’ she notes. ‘For mature skin, I would always recommend looking for pearlescent textures rather than chunky glitter, as they are much more forgiving and give a softer radiance.’
Where you apply it is just as important. ‘The soft wash of shimmer works so well on Sophie because it’s kept close to the eye itself and grounded beautifully with deeper eyeliner and mascara,’ she says. ‘This gives it softness and definition, rather than sparkle for sparkle’s sake.’
To create a soft, flattering look on a midlife face, ‘avoid sweeping shimmer too far towards the brow bone or outer corners of the eye,’ she advises. ‘Instead, concentrate it through the centre of the mobile lid and close to the lash line to catch the light subtly.’
A good brush (GH loves the ones in Ruby Hammer Magnetic Brush Kit) helps blend shimmer seamlessly into a darker neutral tone above.
How to shop for ageless shimmer
You’re spoilt for choice right now. ‘Whether in shadow sticks, creams, powder shadows or even softly reflective eyeliners, there are now so many elegant ways to wear luminosity at any age,’ says Ruby. She says that a liquid format, such as Stila’s Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Kitten, is a good option for replicating Sophie’s look, and there are plenty more across different price points.
