Your eyes are the most expressive feature on your face. And eye make up can help to define your eyes and enhance their natural beauty. Here are some general guidelines for applying eye make up.
Eyebrow Pencil: An eyebrow pencil can add shape, fullness, and definition to your eyebrows. To apply this product, begin by finding the natural arch of your eyebrows. Hold your eyebrow pencil in a straight line so that it intersects the inner corner of the eye and the eyebrow. This is where your eyebrow should begin. Use light strokes of the pencil to define the eyebrow. If your eyebrow does not reach this point, use short, feathering strokes to fill in the brow. Next, hold your eyebrow pencil diagonally so that it touches the outer corner of the eye, the outer edge of the nostril, and the eyebrow. This is where your eyebrow should end. If your eyebrow encroaches beyond this point, remove the hairs with a tweezer. Finally, hold your eyebrow pencil parallel to your eye, across the bridge of the nose, so that it touches both the inner and outer corner of the eyebrow. These two points should occur along the same line. If one side falls lower than the other, use your tweezers to even them out. Once you have defined the parameters of your eyebrow, you can begin to outline the brow and fill in any sparse areas with your eyebrow pencil. Finish the look by brushing your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush to smooth them and blend the pencil strokes.
Eye Shadow: Your eyes are the most expressive of your facial features. You can change the look of your make up dramatically by changing the color and intensity of your eye shadow. Eye shadow application will vary depending upon the time of day and the look you are trying to achieve. But here are some general guidelines for applying eye shadow for a natural, daytime look.
You may choose to use several eye shadow shades to highlight your eyes. Most women use three shades: a light, highlighting shade, a medium tone, and a darker shade. Begin with the lightest shade and apply it under the outer edge of each eyebrow. Blend the color inward towards the inner corner of your eye. It is OK to cover the whole lid with this shade, as you can apply the other shades directly over top. But starting from the outer edge and working inward ensures that the most intense highlighting stays on the outer portion of the brow bone. Next, apply the medium shade of eye shadow to the eyelid beginning just below the eyelid crease and working downward and outward. Finally, use the darkest shade of eye shadow to define the actual crease of the eyelid. Apply this shade in a light, smooth stroke, and be sure to blend it in seamlessly to the other shades.
Eye Liner: Eye liner helps to define and contour the eyes, adding color and making the eye lashes appear fuller. It also helps to complete the look of eye make up, giving it a more polished look. Eye liner may be either black or brown: those with light hair (blondes, brunettes, and redheads) should use a brown eye liner. Darker brunettes and those with black hair should use a black eye liner. To apply eye liner, use the very tip of the liner to place a light stroke evenly across the eyelid, staying as close to the base of the eye lashes as possible. Start at the inner corner of the eye and work outward. You may choose to use eye liner on your upper lid, your lower lid, or both.
Eye Defining Pencil: An eye defining pencil comes in a variety of colors and can be used to add polish and a hint of color to the eyes. It should be used on the lower lashes only and applied in the same manner as eye liner: with a smooth, even stroke that begins next to the inner corner of the eye and moves outward. Apply your eye defining pencil with a light stroke and blend it with a cotton swab to avoid the appearance of a harsh line.
Mascara: Mascara is used to frame the eyes, darken the lashes, and make them appear thicker and fuller. To apply mascara, remove the brush from the tube and apply to lashes evenly, starting at the base and working your way out to the tips. Reinsert the brush into the mascara tube and apply the product in the same manner to the lower lashes. Next, while the mascara is still wet, use a lash brush to comb the eye lashes, separating them and removing any mascara clumps. Apply second coat of mascara in the same manner.
