About Eye Makeup

Whether your style is natural or dramatic, there is an eye makeup look that suits you. The particularly popular "smoky eye," for one, need not always be composed of blacks and grays. As long as the eyeshadow on your upper eyelids is darkest at the base of the lashes, getting lighter in a gradient effect as it nears your brows, you can use any color palette you prefer to create the look. Even if you are a makeup novice, you can copy the magazine and celebrity eye makeup looks you admire by studying the work of the pros and practicing your application techniques regularly.

Types

Below are the sections of the eye area on which makeup is commonly applied. The cosmetics used are listed as well.
Shape or fill in the eyebrows with a pencil or powder. Brow gel can also be applied to keep unruly hairs in place.
Cover top and bottom eyelids with foundation to even out the skin tone and create a blank canvas for the eyeshadow and eyeliner that follow. Smooth on eye makeup primer onto top eyelids after foundation if you want longer wearing, crease-resistant eyeshadows.
The undereye area is an extension of the bottom eyelid. Pat on and blend concealer here to eliminate dark circles. Dust translucent powder over the concealer to set it.
Lengthen or volumize upper and lower lashes with the help of mascara. Use lash primer prior to mascara for extra length and plumpness if desired.
Some makeup wearers overlook the inner and outer corners of the eyes, but you may apply concealer to these spots to eliminate darkness. You may dab on highlighter proceeding the concealer for added brightness.
Line the waterline--or inner rims--of the eyes with soft pencils, or eyeshadows applied with a brush, to create a sultry effect. Eye doctors advise against this step, called "tightlining," to prevent infections yet you will observe tightlined eyes on celebrities, models, homemakers and students alike.

Benefits

Wearing eye makeup can help you look younger, and relatively well-rested even without your usual six or eight hours of sleep the night before. For instance, you can give your eyes a brighter and wider open appearance by curling your lashes and coating them with lengthening mascara. Blending concealer on the area underneath your eyes makes you look refreshed, as your eyes appear somewhat larger. Applying light-reflective eyeshadows on the eyelids creates the illusion of radiance. As for wrinkles around the eyes, patting light-deflecting foundation over them makes the skin seem tighter and smoother.

Features

There are additional tools used to cosmetically enhance the eyes.
Create your ideal brow shape with eyebrow stencils. You can even avail of specific shapes, such as the "Marilyn Monroe" brow or the "Audrey Hepburn" brow.
Enhance eyelashes further with eyelash curlers, which bend lashes so that they point upwards rather than downwards or straight ahead. You can also apply fake lashes, which come in strip form or in individual clusters, for a lusher lash line.
Use eye-safe glitter on the eyelids, as well as on the inner and outer corners of the eyes for playful or fantasy-inspired looks. For similar purposes, you may also adhere small gem-like decals to the outer corners of the eyes using skin-safe glue.

Considerations

Base the texture of your eye makeup on your skin type. Your goal is to keep your makeup from creasing, fading and smudging. Creme-based eyeshadows are best suited to dry skin, while powder or cream-to-powder eyeshadows are ideal for oily skin. As for mature skin, satin-finish eyeshadows in flesh and natural tones are most flattering.
Don't let what you perceive as clumsiness prevent you from experimenting with trickier types of makeup. For instance, you can more effortlessly apply liquid eyeliner by resting your elbow on a flat and steady surface directly in front of a wall mirror. Tilt your head backwards and half close your eyes. Draw about four dots along your upper lash line. Connect these dots, keeping the eyeliner as close to your lash line as possible so that no spaces are visible in between the product and your lashes. If you draw on a slightly uneven line, simply clean up the jagged portion with a cotton swab lightly dipped in eye makeup remover. If you have a shaky hand, you can apply the rest of your eye makeup after the liquid eyeliner so that all messes are eliminated before you lay down any eyeshadow.

Warning

Practice good hygiene when applying eye makeup. Do not share the cosmetics you use on your eye area. Sharpen your eye pencils on a regular basis to get rid of bacteria. Clean your makeup brushes after every use, or at least once a week.
Professional makeup artists should clean their brushes in between clients. They should also never double dip into eyeshadows, which should be scraped instead onto an artist's palette or other clean, non-porous surface. Makeup should be applied with brushes rather than with the fingers.
Being careless with the eyes can cause infections and inflammations. If you wear contact lenses, insert them after makeup application if you have not yet perfected a technique that prevents makeup from falling into your eyes (see Resources). These loose particles may find their way underneath your contacts, causing irritation. Remove makeup thoroughly at the end of the day or before going to bed to keep eyes healthy.

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