Eye Make Up Tips

Eight Basic Steps To Beautiful Results

These eight eye make up tips offer you an easy way to learn the basics of eye make up and experience immediate great results.  If you are like many friends that I have heard express interest in wearing eye make up, but aren't sure where to begin, here are eight steps that will take you from start to finish.

It really can be quite simple when you know some of the basics about makeup application and understand the importance of application sequence.

Eye Make Up Tip #1 PRIME for staying power...

Give your eye make up a great surface to adhere to by priming your eye area with a foundation.  Set the foundation with a light dusting of loose translucent powder. This will give any eye make up applied a base to latch to, an even appearance and also some staying power. For an extra smooth application (beneficial to skin that has texture issues or is showing signs of aging) consider using a primer makeup, and then follow with foundation.

• More about applying eye makeup with staying power.

Eye Make Up Tip #2 DIMENSION created with color...

Eyes are defined with line and color.  In most eye make up application sequences, definition begins with eye shadow.

Here is a good tip for the start of any shadow application.  Place a flat folded tissue under the lower lash line to keep eye area tidy and free of makeup dust/ specs (which can sabotage other wise great results)

EYE SHADOW
Definition, using eye shadow, is usually created by using multiple shades of eye shadow. 

Multiple shades will build dimension and more powerful definition.  Dimension is created by shadow color and shade contrasting with one another. The greater the difference between shades in terms of light and dark, the greater the contrast and eye definition.

Three shades are a general rule of thumb for good dimension.  You will need a light shade (1. in diagram below) that covers the eye lid area from the lash line to the brow bone, a medium shade (2. in diagram) to 'work the crease' (the natural indenting area over your eye that forms an 'arc' shape), and a deep shade to boost color and definition (3. in diagram) from the lash line to the crease and optional, under the lower lash line.

Photo: ©beauty-and-makeup-tips.com

1. LIGHT- sweep with medium firm, soft haired, eye make up brush, from your upper lids lash line to the brow bone area, just past your eye lid crease.

2. MEDIUM OR MID TONE- using top narrow edge of same brush, follow natural crease on upper lid, creating visual presence but blending well.

3. DEEP-using smaller eye makeup brush, with firm bristles, sweep along upper lash line blending as far as the crease and if you choose, under lower lash line, as well.

Optional: You can switch shades 2. and 3. for a softer  look...

Photo: ©beauty-and-makeup-tips.com

The diagram above right shows a daytime look using neutral taupes (shades 1. and 2.) and ochre (3.) for a color boost to enhance the model's azure blue eyes (shown right).

You can take this look into a  night time look by lining the 'water line' or rim of your lower eye lid with brown or gray. 

DISCOVER BY EXPERIMENTING what really plays up your unique features and suits your personal style? The depth of shades being used in combination with eyeliner style will ultimately be what determines a "look".

• Easy Steps to 'pro' perfect eyeshadow application...
• Trying to pick the right eye shadow?
• The 'trick' to the smoky eye...

Eye Make Up Tip #3 DEFINITION for impact...

Further shape and define your eyes using eyeliner. This measure will not only outline and more dramatically define your eye shape, it will build on the dimensional element the eye shadow has begun. (Putting mascara on your eye lashes will be the final step in the eye makeup dimension.)

Eye liner (4. in top diagram) is placed along the outer two-thirds of the upper lash line as shown.  The key to this application is precision along the lash line as close to the lash line as possible (no gaps of skin between eye liner and lashes).  The liner is meant to thicken the appearance of your lash base which ultimately create greater definition.  Thickness of line is a matter of personal style preference

Avoid 'encircling' your entire eye with liner.  This strategy does not work for everyone  (in fact it really only works for large eyes).  Instead, consider experimenting with lining parts of your upper lash line, and your lower lash line.  See what you like.

• Eyeliner tips and strategies relating to eye shape...

Eye Make Up Tip #4 OPEN...

Almost everyone can benefit from using an eyelash curler so don't underestimate it's eye impact power.

Eyelash curlers are literally miracle workers when it comes to opening the eye, widening their appearance and making the lashes appear longer and more full.

A great choice is the award winning Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler but there are more budget friendly options like the Tweezerman Classic Lash Curler.

Eye Make Up Tip #5 PRECISION LASHES...

Complete your eye make up definition with a precision mascara application.

How do you achieve a PRECISION APPLICATION OF MASCARA?

#1 Pull the wand from its tube, dab the tip of the brush off on a tissue (gets rid of excess), and with a horizontal wand position, start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand slightly to have the mascara bristles grip and coat as many lashes as possible.  Keep wiggling the wand as you move away from the base and up and through the tips.  You may have to experiment a couple of times, but once you get the hang of it, you will maximize your lash potential.

#2 Don't put too many coats on. Two coats plus reworking the outer eye corner lashes, is usually enough.

#3 For your lower lashes hold the wand vertically.  You can control and assess the amount of mascara you place there on 'stroke by stroke' basis and achieve your desired results more effectively.

Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara at Beso.com

#4 Definitely finish with a brush to separate lashes and remove any clumps.

Eye Make Up Tips Best Mascara Product Suggestions:

Your eyelashes will determine the best mascara wand/formulation in mascara, but generally...

• For naturally sparse shorter lashes, a highly rated AND inexpensive choice for big results is Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, Blackest Black or from premium brand, Dior Show
  
• For naturally full longer lashes, consider Clinique Naturally Glossy or L'oreal Lash Out
  
• For makeup mavens, try award winning Lancome - Definicils Mascara # 01 Black

Eye Make Up Tip #6 BROWS will 'MAKE OR BREAK' your look...

Photo: ©beauty-and-makeup-tips.com

Don't forget to groom your brows to finish and frame eyes for maximum impact.

In the top diagram "5." gives a basic guideline for shaping and filling using a pencil.   If you are removing hairs proceed with caution, one hair at a time.  If in doubt about what shape and style goal you have, keep as close to your natural brow as possible (for most people a groomed version of their natural brow is best).

Here are some rules of thumb when determining your eyebrow sharp.  Using a straight edge like a pencil, visualize several guide lines on your own face:

1.  A vertical line from side of your nostril straight up, usually is the starting point of your eyebrow.

2.   A straight line from the side of your nostril, along side the outer corner of your eye, up to your brow area, will be the finishing point of your brow. Now, if you feel the resulting brow based on the starting and ending points works, pluck the hairs that are outside of the new brow area.
*IMPORTANT: Don't pluck brow hair above your eyebrow.

3.  The third imaginary line, will create the shape of your brow. Try to work with your natural brow shape and work in proportion to your face. Don't force a big arc where naturally, is a fairly straight line. A straight line on subtle upward angle, that finishes in a soft arc over the outer third of the eye, is a formula that suits many. Every thing under that line is to be plucked (usually just strays).

If your brows are very fair and/ or sparse, you can successfully achieve eyebrow impact, with a good, well matched to your coloring, eye brow pencil. Use fine, little strokes, to create the appearance of hairs. Then use a brush to soften the lines; "5" in above diagram.

Your unique eyebrows and personal style will dictate the extent of your product needs, but generally, most people will benefit from a good set of tweezers, a brow pencil (correcting and filling), a stiff brush for softening pencil lines and setting with powder, and brow gel for holding and styling unruly brows.

Eye Make Up Tips Eyebrow Product Suggestions:

Anastasia is famous for making great 'brow' products including stencils...you can buy Anastasia items individually, OR if you are looking for the complete tool chest for great brows, take a look at Anastasia Kit Perfect Brows

Eye Make Up Tip #7 CLEAN FINISH for polish...

Using a soft cotton swab, carefully remove eye shadow dust, mascara speckles etc . from the eye area. This will ensure a clean, precise and polished "maximum impact" appearance to your eye make up.

Make Up Tip #8 GENTLE REMOVAL eye care...

Lancome Bi Facil Eye Makeup Remover at Beso.com

At the end of the day, you need to be able to gently BUT effectively remove your eye make up. Make sure you use a remover that is not harsh on your skin or your eyes. Thoroughly douse a cotton pad, place it over a closed eye for several seconds and gently wipe away. If needed, sweep under the lower lash line.

Eye Make Up Tips Suggested Eye Make Up Remover:

I recommend this gentle, inexpensive eye makeup remover L'Oreal Plenitude Refreshing Eye Makeup Remover, Oil-Free. This formula does not sting the eyes and is effective on regular wear eye make up.

Lancome BI-FACIL - Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover This product is more expensive but also more effective in removing waterproof makeup in addition to regular wearing eye make up, plus it is non- greasy, and safe for contact lens wearers.

Last word on these eight eye make up tips...

These eye make up tips are meant to give you a good OVERALL understanding of eye make up application.   Experimenting and practice will help you improve and then you can take on more advanced eye makeup tips and techniques.