We’ve all been told the eyes are the windows to our soul — maybe that’s why they’re such an important part of flirting! Want to look great at work and at play? Gorgeous eyes are the place to start, and these expert eye makeup tips will help you get there.
Stay Hydrated
“The key to flawless makeup and stunning eyes starts with a daily moisturizing cream,” says makeup artist and stylist Katie Stoner of Secrets of Hair Design & Day Spa, in Butler, Pa. “Before you apply any makeup to your face, you should always moisturize the skin, including eyelids, with a daily moisturizing cream.” Want a DIY hydration fix? Even a little dab of olive oil under your eyes and at the corners works wonders. And, believe it or not, adding moisture actually helps prevent greasy skin during the day, because your skin has no need to produce additional oils.
Stay Bright
“To perk up tired eyes, try an eye brightener with caffeine to help de-puff and brighten dark circles,” suggests Christina Farrell of TheMakeupBlogger.com. One to try: Anastasia Cooling Eye Brightener. Apply it under concealer, on top of the cheekbones and on top of the brow bone for the best effect. When choosing an under-eye cream, look for mica and albumin among its ingredients. Mica has reflecting properties that bring out the brightness under your eyes, and albumin alleviates puffiness.
Pump It Up!
We know we should tone our legs to look our best in swimsuits — and the same applies to our faces! Before applying makeup, try the quick Facial Magic exercise technique. This mini-workout lifts your brows, creating a greater distance between your eyebrows and lashes and letting more light in your eyes.
Here’s how: Place the three middle fingers of each hand under your eyebrows, with your palms flat against your face, keeping your eyes open. With your fingers, push your eyebrows up and slightly outward toward your temples. While holding up your brows, slowly push your forehead muscle toward your fingertips for a count of five. Repeat twice more, holding the contraction for 10 seconds, closing your eyes at the seventh second.
Cover Up
To mask dark circles and exhaustion, look for a water-resistant concealer in a peach or salmon tone, suggests Farrell. It’s best applied after your normal foundation. Pat in the inner corners of the eyes and under the eye. For extra brightening, use a light-reflecting setting powder.
Find the Right Color
When choosing an eyeshadow color, avoid matching it too closely with the color of your eyes. Blue eyes should stick to warm browns and soft champagne shades. Green and hazel eyes look best in warm taupes, deep purples, golden browns or light peach. Brown eyes? Lucky you — all colors suit your tones. If you’re fair, stay away from dark shades; if you’re darker-skinned, you can opt for bolder colors — but don’t overdo it! “Eye makeup should enhance your eyes and natural beauty, but not be the first thing someone notices when they see you,” says Stoner. If your shadow tends to disappear during the day, apply a primer first.
Get Smoky
“For an easy and extremely flattering smoky eye, experiment with bronze!” suggests Farrell. Bronze shadows and liners enhance every eye color and create a natural, yet sultry look for evening. One to try: Make Up Forever Aqua Shadow Sticks in 2 and 3. Liberally apply these sticks right near the eyelash line, using the darker color on top and the lighter shimmer on the bottom lash line. Then, with a cotton swab or makeup brush, smudge the shadows together.
Widen Your Eyes
For thick, gorgeous eyelashes, start the mascara at the bottom of the eyelash and wiggle the wand in a back-and-forth motion all the way up and outward. Apply two coats.
