Be an Artist at Home

Applying eye makeup is can be as simple as putting on some mascara to as detailed as putting on false eyelashes for a very dramatic appearance. As they say, the devil is in the details. Most women want to learn how to make their eyes more attractive and have a little bit of ‘pop’ without being overly glammed up. Some of the essential steps to applying eye makeup are included here and as you learn to bring your eyes out, you will add to your knowledge base.

The Tools and a Clean Palette

Before an artist can create a masterpiece he has to have the right tools and before you can apply your eye makeup you need the right tools. You should always make sure you start with a clean face that has been properly moisturized. If you use foundation, you will want to apply this before starting on your eyes. The other tools you need include, but are not limited to:

• Primer: This will go under your eyeshadow to help keep it looking fresh all day.
• Concealer: If you have dark circles or other imperfections, you might want to use this help hide them.
• Filler: This relatively new product helps to plump up the under eye area and fill in lines.
• Mascara: Choose one that is non-clumping. You should also look at the different types available, such as waterproof, hypoallergenic, thickening and lengthening. You can also get different colors if you like.
• Eyeliner: You should always have a good black on hand in both pencil and liquid form. You can also have different colors if you want to bring out certain colors in your eyes.
• Eyeshadow: The sky is the limit on colors; however, keep in mind that you are accenting your eyes, not painting them. Choose colors that will enhance them. Often, women find several colors they like and stick with those.
• Tweezers: Your eyebrows are part of your eyes and if they get out of shape you can quickly pluck those stray hairs.
• Eyebrow Pencil: Sometimes, as women age, their eyebrows become too thin. An eyebrow pencil can help fill in the gaps.
• Brushes/Applicators: Some people prefer to use sponge applicators for applying eye makeup; however, for a professional look and ease in applying, brushes are recommended. There are many different types of eye makeup brushes including: base brushes, crease brushes, highlight brushes and blending brushes. You can also get an eyebrow comb/brush if you would like.
• Eyelash Curler: This is a tool that will help curl your eyelashes before applying mascara or after, depending on whom you talk to.

Once you have your tools and a clean palette you are ready to get started.

Create Your Masterpiece

The first thing to keep in mind when applying eye makeup, particularly eyeshadow is that a little bit can go a long way. You should always start out light and build on it rather than starting out heavy and having to start over. Also keep in mind that what you wear to the office and what you wear for a night out are usually very different, at night you can go a little more dramatic. Finally, before starting, feel your eye and learn the shape of is so that you know where your mobile eyelid is (the part of the eyelid that moves when your eyes do), feel your brow bone; your eyeshadow should not go above it.

Brush Your Way to Perfect Eyes

Start out with your base brush or a medium sized eye makeup brush if you are just starting out and don’t have a full set. Use this to apply your color choice to your mobile eye. As you apply the eyeshadow work the brush slightly upwards to get color up toward the brow bone but not on it.

Next, apply a second, slightly lighter color, to the brow bone area. This will highlight your eyes and bring them out. If you want to use more colors, you can add them to the crease of your eye or the outer corners.

Once you have applied the colors you want on your eye, you need to use your blending brush to smooth the colors so that they don’t look like crayon marks where you can see the start of one and the end of the other.

You should try to make the second eye look like the first so that they are equal. If your eye shadow is dramatically different on each eye you will look unbalanced and the attention you draw won’t be the attention you really want.

Finish the Look

You are now ready to apply your mascara and eyeliner to complete your look. You should make sure your mascara doesn’t have clumps and brush it on in upwards sweeping motions. Eyeliner should be lighter during the day than at night.

Learning how to apply eye makeup is fun and at the same time helps you look beautiful and ready to face the world with confidence and poise.