Makeup Tips: Eyes

Makeup Tips: Eyes

 

I'm a beauty editor and yet it took me years to figure out how to apply eyeshadow that:

1. Wasn't crooked (hello, mismatched eyes!).
2. Wasn't too dark or blotchily blended (yes, I know "blotchily" is not a word).
3. Didn't extend to the wrong, wrong, wrong upper reaches of my eyelids.

After years of seeing makeup artists in action and learning numerous eyeshadow tips and tricks, here are 10 favorite eyeshadow tips I wish someone had told me twenty years ago:
Ok, well I sorta knew this, but I wasn't sure HOW TO BLEND. You use three different colors: The base, usually a very light taupe, a highlighter for the crease and a main color for the lid, but how to get them to look as if they merge into each other like the colors of a rainbow? My secret: Start light then go darker. Brush the base color to the entire eye up to the brow bone (base is the lightest color), apply the lid color (the medium color) and THEN apply the highlighter (the darkest color). Also, don't be too heavy-handed or you'll have to start over.
Extra tip: Practice makes perfect. Play with your makeup a few days before a big event.

Secret #2: Choose shadows that make the color of your eyes pop

Gone are the days when beauty experts advised against blue shadow. Matching the color of your eye with a shadow actually brings the color out (think blue shadow on blue eyes). At the same time, contrasting colors make eyes pop too (think a deep jeweled blue shadow on deep brown eyes or gorgeous golds with blue eyes). See Is It OK to Wear Blue Eyeshadow?.

Secret #3: Never apply deep color to your browbone -- unless you're doing a cover shoot for Vogue

You don't want the drama too much shadow brings. Apply shadow up to the browbone but don't apply shadow ON the bone unless it's a neutral color.