Eye makeup is worn to draw attention to your eyes for a dramatic appearance, and can be as simple, or as elaborate as you want it to be. Learning how to apply eye makeup is important for those who want to look professional and stylish on a budget. What’s nice is that you can manipulate eye makeup to match your overall style of dress because it’s very versatile in color, textures and formulas.
Here we are going to learn about makeup products used for creating beautiful eye makeup, how to apply them properly and professionally, plus some great tips worth knowing.
For basic eye makeup application, you’ll need a few products, including: 2-3 eyeshadow tones or colors, eyeliner, concealer, eyeshadow primer and mascara.
You can also jump to read about applying false lashes.
All of the products mentioned above are manufactured and sold at drug stores, department stores, supermarkets and on the internet.
For those who have little experience with eye makeup application, it is best to begin with less expensive products so you can discover what colors and textures you appreciate more. Because women have different eye shapes, you should keep the following points in mind.
Eyeshadow Formulas
You will be better off purchasing an eye shadow palette that offers a variety of tones.
Other formula options for eye shadows are:
- cream eyeshadow,
- eyeshadow pigment,
- and liquid eyeshadow,
- also note that the most common formula of eyeshadow is pressed powder.
Eyeshadow Texture
It’s important to know what your options are when it comes to eyeshadow texture. The labels on eyeshadow packaging will help you identify which texture the eyeshadow has.
Here are descriptions for all of the main textures.
- Matte
Leaves your lids with no shine at all. These eyeshadows are best used as a base for other shadows to mask discoloration on your eyelids (if they match your skin tone). Find matte textures in pressed powder or cream shadows. - Satin
Texture gives you a slight shine without too much shimmer. You can use satin eyeshadows as a base for other eyeshadows if you want a clean and glamorous look. Find satin textures in pressed powder eyeshadows, pencil or liquid formulas. - Shimmer
Offers sheer coverage that sometimes allows your skin to show through. Eyeshadows that are skin-toned work great as a highlighter on your cheekbones, brow bone, and the bridge of your nose. You can apply shimmer eyeshadows over matte shades to make them pop. You can get a shimmer texture with powder, liquid, or pigment eyeshadow formulas. - Frost textured
Are considered to be full coverage, but will vary in coverage depending on the brands and colors. Keep in mind that this type of eyeshadow is best for young skin since it tends to sink into wrinkles.Frost textures are found in liquid, powder or cream shadow formulas.
How to Apply Eyeshadow Properly
Before applying your eye makeup, be sure that you’ve applied foundation (how to choose foundation) and concealer (about concealers).
When you buy an eyeshadow, the colors will usually come in sets of 3 or more with tones ranging from light to dark; this makes it easy to get depth and dimension.
Typically, eyeshadow you will apply:
- the lightest shade to your brow bone, inner corners, and upper part of your eyelid.
- The medium shade works best when applied toward the inside corner, and blended out toward the outer corner of your eye.
- The darkest color will go in the outer “V-area” of the eye, which is known as the outer corner, and it will add dimension.
Tip: Blend the color out to remove harsh lines, and use a brush or your finger to pull the color into your crease.
Read more about eyeshadow.
Eyeliner
After you’ve blended the eyeshadow, the next step is to apply eyeliner. You can use any formula of eyeliner that fits your taste or is the easiest for you to apply.
The different formulas are pencil, cream liner, gel, liquid, or cake eyeliner.
How-to Apply Eyeliner:
- Apply eyeliner to the top eyelid as close to your lash line as possible;
- Start the line slightly toward the middle of your eye closest to your nose.
- As you move the liner out toward the outer corner of your eye, gradually make the line thicker.
Mascara
Mascara is the finishing touch that makes your lashes fuller and has the ability to make your lashes look longer.
How to Apply Mascara:
The best way to apply mascara is to use a side-to-side motion while keeping your eyes looking down.
It will keep you from getting mascara on your eyelid, thus preventing you from having to re-do your eye makeup.
- Use small, light strokes to separate your lashes and create more volume and length.
- Be sure to remove the clumps of mascara out of your lashes so that the lashes look more natural.
- You can apply more than one coat to get the effect you want.
False Lashes
If you’re going on a date or out with friends, you might think about using false lashes since they are easy to apply and give your look more drama.
The main products you’ll need to do this are false lashes and fake eyelash glue.
- Once you have your eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara applied, remove the false lashes from the package.
- Put the glue on the lashes, and then place the lashes onto your eyelid as close to your lash line as possible.
- Let the glue dry, and then use an eyelash curler to press the false lashes in with your real lashes.
- Take your eyeliner over the false lashes again to make your liner look smooth and flawless.
Use these instructions as a guide to create a simple, yet professional makeup look that flatters most eye shapes. As you gain experience and get more comfortable with the basic eye makeup application, you will find yourself creating new looks by using different colors and techniques.
You’ll also want to purchase makeup brushes for easier blending and application; but please note that they can be expensive if purchased all at once.
