Your eye makeup can really define your "look".
Use it sparingly to create modest, yet beautiful eyes for the
work day, and apply it heavier for dramatic, sexy eyes that are
perfect for an evening out on the town.
Whether you're preparing for day or night,
it's a good idea to begin by applying an eye shadow primer base
to your lids to help your eye makeup look fresh longer.
Tips for Applying Eye Shadow
The skillful use of eye shadow can certainly
compliment the natural beauty of your eyes, accentuating your
iris color and overall eye shape. The following eye makeup tips
can also help enhance Mother Nature's original handy work or if
you feel the need for a change.
Creating Wide Set Eyes
To accentuate wide set eyes or to give the
illusion of more distance between close set eyes, try following
these eye makeup tips:
Apply a light to medium shade of eye shadow
to your entire lid area.
Then, using a darker, complimentary color,
apply this shade to the outer third of your main lid area,
extending slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye.
Use your finger tip to blend the darker
color and soften the edges
Add pencil liner, slightly widening the
line at the outer edges of the eyes.
Brush mascara onto the tips of the lashes
near the inner corners, and on the full length of the lashes
near the outer edges.
Creating Closer Eyes
If you feel your eyes are set a bit too wide
apart, you can give them the illusion of being closer.
Use a light to medium shade of eye shadow
on your main lid area.
Apply a slightly darker, but complimentary
shade of shadow just in the inner corner of your lids, and
then draw it out in a fine line along your lid crease, just to
the outer corners of your eyes and blend slightly. The darker
shade adds a bit of depth, and tends to draw focus, creating
the illusion that your eyes are closer than they actually are.
Add liner and mascara if you wish.
Creating Big, Bold Eyes
To really make your eyes "pop", try these eye
makeup tips:
Apply a light shade of shadow just below
your brow line for a highlight effect.
Apply a medium shade of shadow to your main
lid.
Apply a line of darker shadow along the
crease of your lid to the outer edge, then soften and blend it
with your fingertip.
Apply eye liner along the length of your
upper lid, just above your lash line. Then repeat just beneath
the lash line on your lower lid, meeting the upper line at the
outer corners of your eyes. If you use a liner pencil, you may
want to use your finger to gently smudge the liner for a
smokier look.
Softening Prominent Eyes
If you feel your eyes are too prominent, you
can darken the lids to create the illusion of deeper set eyes.
Apply a medium shade of shadow to the lids
and skip highlighting the brow line.
Use a darker shade of shadow or pencil
liner to draw a line along the lash line of your top lids,
then apply mascara to your lashes.
Tips for Applying Eye Liner
The technique you use to apply your liner will
depend on the type of liner you choose.
Liquid Liner
Liquid liner is applied with a very fine tip
brush and requires a very steady hand to create a smooth line.
Here are two eye makeup tips to help your liner look its best:
Provide support for your elbow while you
are drawing your lines. This will help keep your hand
steadier, resulting in a better line that doesn't wobble
unevenly.
You can also apply a thin line of a similar
shade of eye shadow along your lash lines, and then glide a
thin line of liquid liner over the top of it. This can help
define your eyes, while at the same time provide a little
camouflage in case your lines aren't perfect.
Pencil Liner
This type of liner is generally easier to
apply, and you can use different techniques to vary the look.
For very defined lines, sharpen your eye
liner pencil before you apply.
For softer lines, use your fingers to
gently smudge the lines after application.
Tips for Applying Mascara
The most important part of applying mascara is
selecting a high quality brand in the first place. You'll spend
a little more, but it's worth it for mascara that doesn't clump,
flake or run when wet.
For the most natural look, brush mascara on
just the outer tips of your lashes. This still helps to define
and deepen your lashes, but it will barely look like you're
wearing it.
For a full, bold look, brush mascara on the
entire length of your lashes, and use an eyelash curler to
curl your lashes away from your eyes. The dramatic effect is
especially great for evening looks.
Cleansing Tips
Soap and water is a bit too harsh for
cleansing your delicate eye area. To remove your eye makeup, use
a cotton ball and an eye makeup cleanser that is specially
formulated to dissolve shadows, liner and mascara. Use repeated
gentle strokes rather than scrubbing your makeup away, or you
may damage your skin and lashes.
Conclusion
Applying eye makeup can be fun, but it also
takes practice, so take time to experiment with it at home until
you find the colors and techniques that make your eyes look
their very best.
