Wearing makeup is about a willingness to experiment and discover what looks good on one’s own face. Eye makeup can be intimidating because this feature can become the focal point of the face. Women should give themselves the opportunity to play with their makeup, even if it means making a mistake – just wash it off and start over.
It isn’t necessary to wear the same colors or apply eye makeup the same way for all activities. Find a look that works when going to the grocery store on a Saturday morning, one that suits work, and another for an evening out.
Choosing Eye Shadow Colors
Some manufacturers offer palettes gear specifically for a particular eye color. Don’t worry about matching shadow to eye color, go with a complementary color. Remember, different colors will suit different moods and environments. However, allowing one’s skin tone and eye color to influence Choosing Makeup Colors creates a natural look.
Women with blue eyes can use gold, bronze, silver, mauve, and fleshy tones. Accentuate brown eyes with gold, bronze, khaki, pewter, navy, mauve, and fleshy tones. With green eyes, wear gold, bronze, gray, earthy colors, and fleshy tones. Lighter colors bring areas of the eye forward while darker colors add depth.
How to Apply Eyeliner
Eyeliner shapes and defines eyes and can make lashes look fuller. The larger the eyelid, the thicker the line can be. Try a dark brown or black eyeliner for the strongest effect. If lining the lower lids, try to match the color to the eyebrows to tie the look together.
The use of pencil, powder, or liquid eyeliner really depends on the comfort level of the wearer and the look they are after. Powder creates the softest effect, pencil can be smudges, and liquid eyeliner makes a defined line.
Position the applicator, pencil, or brush as close as possible to the lash line along the eyelid. In one fluid stroke, bring the line from the center of the lid to the outer corner. Go back and apply liner from the inner corner to the center. Start with a thin line and go back if a thicker line is desired.
Also consider mixing different products, start with a liquid liner and trace over it with a pencil or eye shadow. Remember that eye liner can be smudged to create a softer look.
Applying Eye Shadow for a Daytime Look
Start by applying eye shadow at the outer corner of the eye and working inward (this allows for the darkest application at the outer corner of the eye). If working with a trio of colors, apply the medium one on the lid, the deepest color in the crease, and the lightest on the brow bone.
If a color doesn’t work as is, apply a lighter or darker eye shadow over it to change the color much the way a painter blends colors to get the tones he wants. With an eye shadow brush, blend the colors, eliminating lines that indicate where the colors were changed. Blend from the lash line up toward the brow.
Putting on Mascara
If dashing out the door with no time to apply makeup, a quick swipe of mascara can give the eyes, and the face, a more defined look. Sweep the mascara wand from the base of the lashes to the tips. Close the eye and repeat the movement, only this time applying the mascara to the top of the lashes. Open the eye and add a third coat, this time wiggling the brush from the base of the lash line to the ends. A lash comb or unused baby’s toothbrush can remove excess product, including clumps.
Finish the look by brushing the eyebrows into shape. Add a few strokes of an eyebrow pencil that’s slightly lighter than the natural color of the brows only where the hairs are thin.
Creating a Nighttime Look with Makeup
Evening makeup is about more intense colors and bolder application. Use a darker eye shadow or wet an eye shadow brush and mix it over a powdered shadow used for daytime. The more water, the darker the look. Apply a thicker line of eyeliner. Or, thicken the line from the center to the outer corner.
These tips, and others for applying full face makeup, can be found in Carmen Electra’s How to Be Sexy (Broadway Books, 2006). Try a variety of products and play around with the techniques for different looks. If a purchased product doesn’t work, try mixing it or layering it with other colors or types of products to soften or intensify the look.
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