Eyeshadow Tips

Eyeshadow is a great tool to bring out the most of eyes, whether they are deep-set, large, small, round, or oval.

First Things First
Begin by applying eyeliner.

• For a professional look, use black, charcoal, or dark brown for very fair skin and light coloring.
• Liquid eyeliners are more intense and are good for evening, if application is smooth, but there are many pencil liners on the market that also give a good line if liquid is too hard to apply correctly.
• Start on the upper lid at the inside of the eyelid, following the lash line to the outer edge.
• A gentle sweep up at the outer rim adds drama.
• Go back over the lining directly over the iris and make it a bit darker to make eyes stand out.

Tips for Applying Colored Eyeshadow
Colored eyeshadow should complement eye color. Also, Generally, the older a woman gets, the more she should look for flat colors, rather than sparkly ones.

Plum colors tend to complement green eyes; brown shades complement blue eyes; blue-toned eyeshadow complements brown eyes.

• Buy eyeshadows in sets with a medium color, dark color, and light color.
• Apply the medium color across the lid, stopping just short of the eyeliner so as not to diffuse it. If the color gets on it, however, it can be repaired. This color should be applied lightly and carefully, not thick, so that it will not get cakey.
• Apply the light color across the browbone. Go light with this application.
• Apply the darkest color in the crease between the lid and the browbone to give eyes definition and to create a beautiful, polished look.

Apply one to two coats of mascara, either black or dark brown for lighter complexions.

Tips for Getting Professional Model Eyes
For a simpler, more dramatic look favored by models, grab an eyeliner pencil or liquid eyeliner, and a good quality liquid cover-up, such as MAC Select Cover-Up, a shade lighter than skin.

• Apply eyeliner as directed above.
• A good thick cover-up will do the job with less, so apply a small drop on finger, then smooth over each eyelid, being careful not to cover up the eyeliner.
• Blend the cover-up over eyelids and over browbone.

Apply one to two coats of mascara, either black or dark brown for light complexions.
This look may sound too simple to highlight eyes, but try it before going out for a night on the town. This surprisingly simple method yields dramatic results.

Using makeup to highlight eyes is an ancient practice. The techniques above yield modern results with a minimum of effort.