Behind The Eyes - Enhancing Eye Makeup Techniques

As superficial as some may view makeup, I’ve never met a woman who didn’t respond positively when her exterior was finessed. When our spirits sore, the inner beauty that expresses itself visually through us is untouchable. But sometimes we need a little help from outside to make that connection inwardly. One feeds the other. So go inside, but when you come out, don’t forget about your exterior window treatments. Coloring your exterior:

That is the hundred-dollar question. What eye shadow color, how many colors, and where do I put them? Believe it or not less is sometimes more in this situation. More is more when it comes to winning the lottery, but too much makeup can detract from the features and instead of enhancing for romancing, the face looks like it was high jacked by a group of gay terrorists.

If you have mastered your own eyes with a simple, but effective eye design, then you are licensed to build on that premise and add more colors hence increasing dimension. But know the basics before you compete with “that girl” that’s sits at the next cubical.

One version of a basic, but beautiful eye needs two colors, one light and one dark for contrast. The darkest color usually takes the focus and attention of the eye treatment, therefore placement is everything. Most of us are privy to the fact that if you have slightly wide set eyes (Oprah) then you should focus the darkest color towards the middle and inner corner of your eyes. If you are close set (Babs) then go in the other direction, softly putting emphasis on the outer corners. If I’m boring you I do apologies. So here are some universal, no brainer recipes that look good on most of us. Wide set girls please pass first diagram and go to 2A …Thank you.

Eye Make-up Technique 1A - Close set gals, and most of their pals - general population: (The simplicity with this treatment works correctively with close-set bombshells or balanced bells. With a fresh lid and shading on the outer corner, the darker shading will add incredible dimension to the lids with a bit of lift and extension at the same time.)

Apply an off white, cream, or a pale milky pink to ¾ of your upper eyelid starting at the inner corner. Take the second darker color, and with a small brush shade the outer lid with your chin slightly lifted in the mirror (let them make their own breakfast). Shade from the outer corner inwardly. And for God sakes, line the top eyelid with some eyeliner liner to finish it! 

EYELINER SEGWAY:

Do's
Do line just the top lash line.
or
Do line both top and bottom lash line

Dont's
Don’t line just the bottom lash line - it drags the eye down, looks bottom heavy, and has the look of the top ten worst music videos of 1982

Eye Make-up Technique 2A - Wide set wonders or slightly turned down / droopy eyes: (This little classic design keeps the viewer focused at the center of your peepers, where the most flattering focal point of your eyes reside)

Apply a light to medium light, fresh color on you entire top lid. With a slightly fluffy, medium size crease brush, initiate the second, darker color in the middle of the eye socket. Rock the brush back and forth, creating a half moon in the crease area, slightly approaching the inner corner. Although the darkest color is traveling towards the inner corner, it must be delicate and tapered as it arrives. The finished eye contour must look centered detracting from the “ outward problem”.

Shopping for Colors

With regards to what colors to choose, the highlight colors mentioned early are neutral enough due to the fact that they are highlighters. My only caution is if you have pink lids because of veining or skin sensitivity, stay away from pink highlight shadows.

When choosing a dark contrasting color, there are many approaches. Here is one. Choose an accent color that is opposite of your own eye colour. The two colors side by side (your natural eye color and the eye shadow) intensify each other instead of competing. The opposite color doesn’t necessarily mean you work with it in its purest form. If you have blue eyes, I’m not suggesting you plaster your eyelids with pumpkin orange. You could choose a dynamic gray that has a breath of orange in it. Recognize the difference between classic shades (straight colors) and contemporary shades that contains nuances of a second supporting color whispering through.

Blue eyes: Try a “ browny orange “ the amount of orange may be extremely subtle but effective in popping those babies.

Hazel green eyes: Perhaps a pimento brown – this contains a subtle red undertone that is cooled & tamed by the dominating brown.

Hazel green eyes with yellow flex will dance when accompanied by grays & taupes that have a soft violet support.

Brown eyes: What shade of brown are you winking with? Do you see yellow brown? A speckle of green?

Once you determine the other supporting colour that makes up the brown in your iris, grab the colour wheel and go shopping. At the very least take this concept to the boutique or makeup studio with your next visit. Remember, there is always a little magic when opposition works harmoniously.

Eye Makeup Ideas

Use eye makeup ideas to enhance your eyes and hide any flaws. Learn about your options here.

It can be great fun to experiment with eye make up. Many women stick to a few “safe” neutral tones and leave it at that but there are many different ways to make up the eyes. Don't be afraid to try the tips below.

The right eye make up can enhance your eyes and hide any flaws. Types of eye make up include eye liner, eye shadow, mascara and fake lashes. Here are a few eye make up ideas.

Daytime Look

Use these eye makeup ideas for a daytime look. A daytime look should be fresh and subtle. You can apply a brown or black eye liner (brown is best for fair hair and skin) around the eyes or only on the top lid, and blend it gently using your finger.

Next, apply one shade of eye make up. A light color is good for daytime use. Brown or peach eye shadow looks nice with blue eyes. Browns, forest green, hazel or violet eye shadow is pretty with green or hazel eyes. If your eyes are brown, you can wear pretty much any eye make up color.

Finish up with a coat of mascara to match your eye liner. Brown or black mascara is best for daytime use, but maroon or navy blue can also look good, depending on the rest of your eye make up. If you want a simple, natural look, you can apply a small amount of pale eye shadow (taupe or light pink perhaps) and a coat of mascara.

Smoky Eyes

This is a great look for the evening, whether you are going to a party or out with friends. The smoky look suits most people. To get it, you need to apply a neutral tone, such as beige, over the whole lid, to work as a base for the eye liner.

Dip an eye liner brush into dark shadow (choose black, brown, charcoal or black mixed with bright blue) and tap off any excess powder. With your eye closed, press the brush along the eyelid into the base of the lashes. Repeat this for more color and under the eye too if you choose. Smudge the eye liner upwards with a cotton swab, until you have the desired effect and both eyes look the same. For more in depth information on smoky eye makeup please see the smoky eye makeup page.

Dramatic Eye Makeup

Another of the eye makeup ideas to consider is dramatic eye makeup. This is a lot of fun to do. Remember you can experiment as much as you like with dramatic eye make up and remove your efforts easily if it goes wrong! It is possible nowadays to get eye make up in pretty much any color and you can also use false eye lashes or glitter to further enhance your eyes. 

One dramatic eye make up style is to first apply black kohl to the upper and lower rims of the eyes. Then prime the eyelids by dusting them with some loose powder. Next, choose shades of the same color, which are going to be blended. You might choose three shades of purple, or bright orange, peach and yellow. With dramatic eye make up, anything goes!

Apply the lighter shade all over the eye area, from the brow to the eyes. Apply the medium toned shade to the eyelids. Using an eye shadow brush, apply the darkest shade along the crease of your eyelid. Blend the shadow using the brush. You can use pressed powder to tone down the effect if it is too much. Finish with a couple of coats of dark mascara or false eyelashes and you’re ready to hit the town!

I hope that these eye makeup ideas will help you to look your best for any occasion.

To find all the eye makeup you need please visit the Makeup Secrets Revealed store that brings you the best in cosmetics and skin care from New York and Switzerland. Top of the line makeup and skin care products to help you look your best for all occasions.

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Edgy Eye Makeup Ideas

All it takes to give an edgier look to your eye makeup, is take a few of these eye makeup ideas and experiment with colors outside your normal palette. Push the makeup boundaries further by playing with eyeliner color, application techniques and colored mascara. Here are a few ideas:

Bling
For something really wild and sumptuous, try pairing up eyeliner colors to create a double line. Pick the base eyeshadow color and apply. Add some gold eyeshadow behind your eyelid and blend lightly.

Use a thick line of dark mahogany eyeliner, and then draw a thin gold line over it, near the lashes. Add some fake eyelashes or gold mascara on the tips of your lashes. This technique definitely makes your eyes stand out and get noticed.

Gothic
For very gothic eye makeup, go with black, black and black. If you use eyeshadow, stick to dark and smoky shades. Line each eye, top and bottom, in black eyeliner. Add a few coats of jet black mascara and you're finished.

Dramatic
Sometimes it's all about the drama, and your eyes are no exception. Cover your eyelid and area below the eyebrow with a shimmering eyeshadow a little lighter than your natural skin tone. Make sure it looks even and doesn't start too close to your nose.

Add a very light dusting of any fun eyeshadow hue to the eyelid, such as lilac or jade. The light eyeshadow and fun eyeshadow should combine and result in a very light version of the fun color.

Carefully line your eyes with glittery silver eyeliner. Do not use the eyeliner at the front of the eye, near the nose. Start back a tiny bit and line both the upper and lower lid. Have the lines meet in a small point on the outside of each eye to give a subtle cat-eye effect. Now apply your black mascara, dust a little silver glitter over your eyelids and you're good to go.

Easy Eye Makeup Tricks

Could you use a few easy eye makeup tricks? If you're like most women, you've got plenty to do each morning when you're trying to get out the door for work. You'd love your makeup to look fabulous, but you don't know what to do without setting aside a solid half hour for your eyes alone.

If you want to make your eyes appear closer together, try applying light colored eye shadow to your eyelids. Next, add a medium shade of shadow to the inner corner of your eyelids and blend it out to the outer corner. Apply eyeliner all the way across your eyelid and apply two light coats of mascara.

If you want to make your eyes appear farther apart, use a light colored eye shadow across your entire eyelid and sweep it just past the inside corner of your eye. Follow with a darker shade, but start the application at the middle of your eyelid and sweep it outward. Blend well. Apply eyeliner, but don't start at the inner corner of your eyelid. Instead, start near the inner corner of the eye and sweep out to the outer edge of the lid. Apply several light coats of mascara, concentrating on the outer corners of your lashes.

To emphasize the color of your eyes, use a contrasting tone of eyeshadow. If you have light colored eyes, use a darker shadow. If your eyes are dark, use a lighter eyeshadow. For blue eyes, use a charcoal or dark tan eyeshadow with a dark brown or black eyeliner and mascara on both upper and lower lids and lashes. For brown eyes, use a peach, pink or light green eyeshadow. Again, use a brown or black eyeliner and mascara. If you have green eyes, try lavender, pink, beige or brown shadow. Use brown or black eyeliner and black mascara.

You can use a darker shade in the creases if you like, but dark shadow over much of your lid will make your eyes recede and look smaller. Use shades like peach, pink, gold or tan shades for the lid. Now apply an even lighter shade right in the middle of your eyelid. You can also try using a pastel shadow on the inner corner of your eyes and a darker shade on the outer corner.

Lined Up
Apply a thin line of eyeliner, right at the base of the lashes. Try using a softer color of eyeliner than a severe black. Smudge the liner slightly to avoid a harsh line.Curl your lashes and then apply mascara. Use two or three thin coats of mascara and be sure to let each coat dry in between applications. Place the mascara wand at the very roots of your lashes and pull it smoothly all the way to the ends in a single, smooth stroke. Eyebrow Action
Shaping your eyebrows will also make your small eyes look larger. Leave the inner part of your eyebrow a bit thicker and create an arch. Use an eyebrow pencil or powder to fill an any sparse spots of your brow.

How to Apply Eyeshadow

To learn how to apply eyeshadow, start by identifying which colors flatter your eyes and your skin tones, without competing with them. Once you know what looks good on you, practice your technique with the classic three-tone look that accentuates lid, crease and brow bone.

Colors

Eyeshadow colors need to pair well with not only your eye color but also your skin tone. Ideally, the eyeshadow color should stay darker than your skin color and should make your eye color sparkle.

Choosing the exact same hue as your eyes can actually create a dull effect, rather than a sparkling one. Blue eyes look fantastic with browns and coppers, not purples and pinks. Green eyes tend to sparkle with purples or light browns.

Hazel eyes look amazing with a hint of green or light purple eyeshadow. Brown eyes can pull off most colors, such as green, purple, blue and brown. If you're lucky enough to have those elusive lavender-colored eyes, there's not much that can keep them from looking lovely, but avoid any heavy purples that drown the special color out.

Application

Always tap excess powder from the brush when applying eyeshadow. Using small amounts of makeup to build up the hue gives you greater control over the look. It's easy to apply more color if needed, but it can be messy to remove heavy color if you overdo it. The same goes for cream eyeshadow, but be warned that cream eyeshadow can crease easily.

For a more powerful and natural look, avoid using only one shade of eyeshadow. Your eyes look best when they're accentuated, not made a solid block of color. Ideally, you should apply a base hue, a midtone hue and an accent hue.

Exact placement of the three eyeshadow hues depends on your eye shape and the look you desire. The base hue is darkest and should go in areas you want noticed. The midtone blends the base and skin tones to help look natural. The accent works to accentuate delicate areas and is usually worn near the upper brow.