Q: Suddenly my lids have teeny pleats; eyeshadow seems to accentuate the issue. Please help.

A: You're right: Eyeshadow can make crepey lids appear...crepier, which contributes to that Miss Havisham look we prefer to avoid. Stick with medium to dark neutral eyeshadow colors, like camel and gray, says New York City makeup artist Susan Giordano. Stay away from shimmer (unless it's very subtle), and go for a matte, velvety texture. With a fluffy eyeshadow brush, apply a wash of color over the lid, starting at the lashline and blending up to slightly above the crease. Giordano recommends a cream eyeliner rather than a liquid. Use a fine-tipped brush to apply it close to the lashline, she says; if the line looks hard, blend it slightly with a Q-tip to soften it. My easier (or lazier) solution: Skip the eyeshadow. I find the less eye makeup I wear as I get older, the better. Curled lashes and two coats of black mascara seem to do the trick just fine.

Bottom line: If you're not already using a good eye cream, invest in one now. For day, there are lots of great, nonirritating ones that contain sunscreen. (I like Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care SPF 30, $25, and Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30 Daily Eye Cream, $12.)

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