How to Apply Eye Makefup

• Step 1

  Begin with clean skin that has no remnants of yesterday's makeup. Apply an eye makeup primer from the lash line to the browbone. This creates a smooth surface for your eye makeup and helps it resist creasing and fading throughout the day. Once the primer absorbs, smooth an eyeshadow base on, also from lash line to browbone. This will make your eyeshadow pop instead of appearing murky or too sheer.

• Step 2

  Brighten the eyes by camouflaging any darkness in the area. Dab a creamy salmon-tone concealer under the eyes and in the inner corners of the eyes by the bridge of the nose, where the recession creates shadows. A concealer with salmon hues is preferable to one with flesh tones for the undereye area, as you may end up with raccoon eyes if you choose too light of a flesh tone. Pat away any lines in your application and set the concealer with translucent powder to keep it in place for the day.

• Step 3

  Disguise sparseness in the eyebrows with a brow pencil or powder applied with soft, short strokes to mimic the appearance of fine hairs. Choose a shade that matches the color of your brows or is slightly lighter if your brows are already dark. You may also enhance the shape of your brows by bringing out the arches instead of just filling your brows in. If you think you've overdone your brow color application, comb your brows into place with a spooly brush to lift away excess product.

• Step 4

  Stipple on an eyeshadow of midtone intensity from the lash line to slightly past the crease. Press the color on rather than sweeping it onto your lids to get the most pigmentation as possible from the product. Use an eyeshadow brush with a flat head for the most precise application. Run the brush along your lower lash lines to transfer some of the color onto your bottom lids for balance. Take a clean fluffy eyeshadow brush and use a windshield wiper motion to blend the eyeshadow from the crease upwards to just under the browbone. This gives you a subtle smoky effect. (See Resources for more eyeshadow styles.)

• Step 5

  Bring out the shape of your eyes by making both your top and bottom lash lines appear thicker. Use a skinny eyeliner pencil to work color in between your lashes. Choose black or dark brown for the most natural look. Do not neglect to do this, as your eye makeup will appear unstructured and unfinished if you go without a hint of eyeliner. Those with small eyes needn't worry about overwhelming the eyes with makeup, since you actually aren't lining your eyes so much as enhancing your lash lines. If you want to line your eyes more thickly however, you can also use a liquid eyeliner (see Resources).

• Step 6

  Curl your eyelashes. Apply mascara to both top and bottom lashes. Use a waterproof formula to prevent smudging if this is one of your concerns. Dislodge any clumps in your lashes with the mascara wand. To give your eyes a more polished look, blend a sheer shimmery highlighter under the arches of your brows and on the inner corners of your eyes.

• 3
• Eye makeup primer Eyeshadow base Creamy salmon-hued concealer Translucent powder Brow color Spooly brush (optional) Midtone intensity eyeshadow Eyeshadow brush with a flat head Fluffy eyeshadow brush Skinny eyeliner pencil Eyelash curler Mascara Sheer shimmery highlighter
• Eye makeup primer
• Eyeshadow base
• Creamy salmon-hued concealer
• Translucent powder
• Brow color
• Spooly brush (optional)
• Midtone intensity eyeshadow
• Eyeshadow brush with a flat head
• Fluffy eyeshadow brush
• Skinny eyeliner pencil
• Eyelash curler
• Mascara
• Sheer shimmery highlighter
• You may apply a basic oil-free moisturizer on the undereye area to help concealer go on smoothly, but avoid rich creams, which should be worn at bedtime. Applying rich eye creams under makeup will cause your makeup to break down, crease and fade.
• You may apply a basic oil-free moisturizer on the undereye area to help concealer go on smoothly, but avoid rich creams, which should be worn at bedtime. Applying rich eye creams under makeup will cause your makeup to break down, crease and fade.

References & Resources

• Using one eyeshadow to create multiple effects
• Adding contour to eye makeup
• Applying liquid eyeliner using different techniques