Things You'll Need:
- Tweezers and mini scissors Brow color Oil-free moisturizer Eye primer Eyeshadow base Creamy salmon-hued concealer Translucent powder Mid tone to dark eyeshadow Lighter version of your first eyeshadow Creamy eyeliner pencil Cotton swab Eyelash curler Mascara False eyelashes (optional)
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Step 1
Groom your eyebrows by tweezing the strays outside your brow line and in between your brows over the bridge of your nose. Trim the hairs that extend past your brow line as well. Your brows frame your eyes and the rest of your face, so you won't look quite as polished if you neglect your brows. Bring out their shape by filling them in with a brow pencil or with a stiff angled brush dipped in brow powder. Choose a shade that's slightly lighter than your brows if they are dark, and slightly darker than your brows if they are light. Use soft strokes to simulate the appearance of fine hairs.
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Step 2
Begin eye makeup application always with clean skin. Pat an oil-free moisturizer on the undereye area to get it ready for concealer. Prep your eyelids for makeup by smoothing on an eye primer from lash line to browbone. When the primer absorbs into your skin, apply an eyeshadow base, also from lash line to browbone. This will keep your eye makeup from creasing, as well as make your eyeshadows pop and appear more vivid.
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Step 3
Press a creamy salmon-hued concealer under your eyes and on the inner corners of your eyes by the bridge of your nose to brighten up your eyes. Blend away any evident lines in your application before powdering over the area with translucent powder to set the concealer. A salmon tone concealer will camouflage shadows in your undereye area without creating the raccoon effect that a too-light shade of flesh tone concealer will.
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Step 4
Bring the focus to your eye color by choosing a shade of eyeshadow that complements it. Use purple eyeshadow if you have green eyes, green eyeshadow if you have hazel eyes, blue eyeshadow if you have brown eyes, and brown or bronze eyeshadow if you have blue eyes. Match the texture of your eyeshadow to your skin type as well so that your eye makeup stays on throughout the day instead of fading. Use powder eyeshadow if you have oily skin and creme eyeshadow if you have very dry skin. Apply a mid tone or dark eyeshadow from lash line to slightly above the crease. Blend until just under the browbone for a somewhat smoky effect. Balance out your eye makeup by also rimming your lower lash lines with the eyeshadow. Under the arches of your brows, smooth on a much lighter version of your main eyeshadow color (see Resources for an alternative eyeshadow application method).
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Step 5
Enhance the shape of your eyes with a creamy eyeliner in black if you have dark features or are going for a dramatic look; otherwise, use a darker version of your main eyeshadow color. Work the product into your top lash line--you aren't drawing a line on your eyelid so much as making your lash line look thicker. If you want more definition however, feel free to move slightly higher on your eyelid. If the line appears crooked to you, smudge it lightly with a cotton swab for a smoky look.
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Step 6
Curl your eyelashes to further open up your eyes. Apply mascara on your top lashes by touching the mascara wand to the base of your lashes and wiggling it all the way to the tips. This minimizes clumping; however, any clumps can effortlessly be dislodged with the mascara wand. Apply mascara to bottom lashes by holding the mascara wand vertically instead of horizontally to lightly coat the lashes and avoid giving yourself unnatural-looking spiky ones. Use a waterproof formula if smudging has been one of your issues with mascara. While not an eye makeup must, try using false eyelashes to add glamor to your look (see Resources for details).
