Eye Makeup Basics: Small Makeover Ideas
Attractively applied eye makeup can make the most of your natural features to bring you second and third admiring glances.
If you would like to experiment with eye makeup, but aren’t really sure how, here are a few ideas to help you get started. Remember that the general rule of usage is that makeup should subtly accent, not emphasize, your natural features. You may want to ask a friend to show you how to try these techniques:
1. Try eye lightener. This creamy product can be applied under your facial foundation to lighten the areas around both eyes. It is especially helpful for hiding dark circles or concealing the hollows that sometimes appear around your eyes when you have been ill or haven’t been sleeping well. In fact, this product sometimes is called a concealer. Depending on your complexion and skin tone, the lightener may have a soft violet shade or another hue to coordinate with your natural coloring and diminish dark shadows in your facial structure.
2. Brighten with colorful eye shadow. Use a cream or powder shadow on your eyelids in colors that coordinate with your complexion, eye color, and outfit. Soft, muted tones for daytime wear or smoky hues at night can bring the dullest eyes to life. Try a range of colors from pastels to charcoals on your eyelid and along the brow bone to bring out your best feature. You also can use neutral tones for around the eye or between the lid and brow. Light colors tend to make small eyes look larger.
3. Add eyeliner. Sometimes called an eye pencil or sold in small bottles with brushes that seem to paint on this cosmetic, eyeliner can lengthen and shape your eyebrows, line your eyelids along the lashes to make them appear fuller, and add definition to your eye size and shape. The product comes in several colors, from black to light brown. Avoid using a heavy or very dark shade. Instead, choose a tone that is closest to your own brow and lash colors. When painting on eyeliner, be careful that it doesn’t come on too thick and appear unnatural.
4. Match mascara to your eyes. Mascara is a cosmetic that is applied with its own brush and used to lengthen or thicken your eyelashes. Generally it is best to select a color that is close to your natural shade of lashes. Going too dark or too light can make your eyes appear artificial or extreme, which may be right for a party but not necessarily for work. Never use commercial hair dyes to change the color of your eyebrows or eyelashes. To do so may cause serious injury or with some products, blindness.
5. Don’t forget the tools. Use tweezers to pluck unwanted hair from around your natural brow line. You can use a hair removal pen instead of tweezers for the tiny hairs that appear below or above your eyebrows, as well as the extra hair that grows between them that can create a unibrow effect if left unchecked. Then try an eyelash curler to train your lashes to stick together and curl upward.
Spending time on your eyes can help to enhance your natural features to bring out the best look for you. Consult a cosmetic specialist for more information.
Written by Debra Johanyak – 2002 Pagewise
