Begin with the brows
If you want to create expressive eyes that are absolutely eye-catching begin with the brows. The eyebrows are like the frames of the eyes and by removing excess eyebrow hairs you will create a cleaner, sharper and more defined look which is surprisingly more effective than applying any amount of make-up. In general the eyes should have a defined arch that has a slightly higher point to the right of center in the right eye, and slightly left of center in the left eye. If you are unsure about how to shape your eyebrows then consider making an eye-brow waxing appointment at a spa or with an esthitician. You can then continue to follow this basic shape by tweezing out any stray hairs that come up in the weeks or months that follow. Also, when tweezing or removing eyebrow hairs always remove the stray hairs from under the arch as oppsed to from the top of the arch and following the natural curve of your brow.
Over the years the style or the amount of brow hairs left or removed has gone in and out of fashion. In the thirties and forties it was often considered fashionable to remove the brow hairs altogether and simply pencil in the shape of the brow. In the late seventies and early eighties the fuller, natural brow was made popular by the movie star and model Brooke Shields. Keep in mind that sometimes when brow hairs are removed they don’t always grow back. Also, as we age our brows begin to thin out. If you want to keep a more youthful appearance be selective of the stray hairs that you remove and avoid the temptation to over pluck. If you find that there are areas of the brow that appear a little sparse you can easily pencil in a few extra brow lines with an eyeliner pencil. To do this keep your eyeliner strokes short and small and choose a brown, black or tan coloured pencil that best suits your eye brow colour best. After plucking the brows always wipe the brow area with a natural anticeptic such as witch hazel or rose water to prevent infection and to reduce puffiness around the eyes.
Choosing the right shadow and shade
Before applying any colour to the eyelids and brow bone, first apply a skin tone foundation to the area. This is a necessary step to ensure that the make-up goes on smoothly and evenly. There are no set rules when choosing a colour to decorate the eyes and one should let creativity be your guide. Still, keep in mind that if you are going to the office and want to create a softer more elegent look, stick to just one or two colours in softer pastels, or natural creams and browns. These shades are more subtle and business like.
To play up the drama for an evening out or a day of fun, add several layers of colours. For smokey eyes try grey, burgundy, deep purple or topaz blue. Top this with a charcal grey or a black eyeliner for a smokey dramatic and sophisticated look. Ulternatively, play up your sense of fun and whimsy by layering bright upbeat colours such as amethyst, ocean blue, orange, yellow or emerald for a more youthful and eye-catching look.
If you are looking to bring out or compliment your own eyecolour, there once again are no majour rules as to what suits one best. Still, some general guidelines is to try to add colours that contrast your eyes in order to bring them out more. For brown eyes the world is your oyster. Try shadows in blue, purple and green. For blue eyes, go for brown, cream, gold, orange or yellow. For the unusual green eyed, try purple or mauve. If you are interested in exploring this idea of complimenting or contrasting colours that suit one’s individual eye colour, try out Almays shadows which are available in compacts to enhance ones eye colour. Let creativity and experimentation be your guide. Still, for best results, it is often advised to stick to just two or three colours of similar shades for one great look.
Also, it is important to choose make-up that not only looks good, but is also healthy for your skin. Choose natural mineral make-up whenever possible. Almay has a great collection as does bare Essentials .
Eyeliners and Mascara.
Eyeliners usually come in two different forms, pencil or liquid. Pencil is often the more popular choice as it is easier to use and has a long lasting affect. If you do not have a steady hand, choose the pencil over the liquid to create more definition to your eyes by simply tracing or outlining the outside of the eyes, as close to the eye as possible. If the line goes on too heavy, use a smudge stick to go over the line to create a softer more whimsicle look. Always sharpen your liner pencils before using them to get the best affect.
If you have a steady hand try a liquid liner. Some people prefere this as the liner goes on more easily and is rather like painting. Still, it can become a little messy as the liquid does come out a lot faster then when using a pencil liner.
The final touch to eyes is to add a layer of mascara. But before you apply the mascara take a moment to curl your lashes with an eye lash curler. Ideally this should be done after eyebrow plucking and just before any eye-makeup is actually applied. Simply place the lashes in the curler and press them between the curler. It is much like a curling iron for the eye lashes but without any heat. This is often considered an essential tool by most make-up artists but is a step often skipped by the average person. This simple step can make a big difference in the end result for creating expressive lashes.
When chosing a mascara for your eyes there are all kinds of colours and shades available. Black is often the classic choice but unless your hair colouring is ebony you may want to consider trying brown. Brown is still classic but a little softer and less harsh than black. Again, there are many colours of mascara to chose from but just remember to keep in mind what impression you are trying to make when choosing a colour. For dramatic and best results L’oreal has a great collection of liners and mascaras that look glamorous and are also healthy for your skin and body.
On a final note, it is best not to share eye make-up with others to prevent contamination and disease. Ideally mascara should be replaced every six months. Liners should be replaced every year. But ultimately make-up should be fun and enhance your natural beauty.
