Do you believe your eyes are the windows to your soul? If this is the case, make sure that your eyebrows, lashes, and lids provide the luminous and expressive framework that will invite others to see the beauty within!

To create the illusion of bigger, more dramatic eyes, start with foundation. Make sure that the skin tone around your eyes is even. If you apply liner, mascara, and shadow to eyes that haven't been cleaned, moisturized, and "made up" with foundation and powder, the results will be less than perfect. (Note: The following two steps can be reversed.)

Eye Liner

Next, you will want to line your eyes. Some people prefer liquid liner over pencil; whatever medium you choose, make sure that your lines are even, unsmudged, and do not run. Line the entire top lash line and extend the line a little at the corners. If you prefer to line the lashes under your eye, make sure that you start the liner at the outer third of your eye and extend it just a bit beyond the corner. Dark, neutral colors will deepen your eyes; frosted, light shades will make your eyes appear smaller and may make the "whites" of your eyes appear less than white.

Eye Shadow

The next area you will want to focus on is shadow. Entire books have been written on the application of eye shadow. When in doubt, use neutral or subdued tones such as brown, gray, or plum, and use them sparingly. Raise your eyebrows, tilt your head back, and lightly brush a small amount of shadow in the hollow that appears between your lashes and eyebrow. Blend a little shadow in the area between your upper lashes and the hollow so that it doesn't look like you've drawn a line above your eye. Keep in mind that less really is more when you're working with makeup. If you're not sure how to use a particular cosmetic, it's best to leave it out of your makeup routine.

Eyelashes

Eyelashes are a terrific eye-opener. Curl them before you apply mascara; at the base, halfway up, and then at the tip to create a rounded curl (rather than an "L"). Blondes usually look best in brown mascara, and brunettes look best wearing black mascara. Unless you have blue or purple hair, stay away from blue and purple mascara.

Eyebrows

For picture perfect eyebrows, choose a pencil or powder in a shade that complements your skin tone and hair color. Fair complexions should use a blonde or light brown shade, olive complexions should use brown, and African-American skin should use dark gray tones. Pencils should be used only to fill in sparse areas, not create eyebrows where none exists. After you've filled in your eyebrows, set them with a clear or slightly tinted eyebrow gel.

Tips


Pencil Eyeliner

For a really sharp point, leave your eyeliner in the freezer for a few minutes before sharpening. You'll get great definition and more control from a better tip.

Eye Shadow

Dampen your eye shadow brush and brush a layer of damp face powder to your lids before applying shadow. Your eye shadow will stay in place longer.

Eyebrow Gel

Eyebrow gels come in a variety of colors: clear, lightly tinted (for blondes), and brown (for brunettes). Always use a gel that complements your hair and skin. Do not substitute mascara for eyebrow gel; it will clump and smear on your skin.