Eye Makeup Hack

[Sally Stone]

I have long struggled with getting my eye makeup to look right.  I have droopy eyes (which have become more pronounced with age), so, when my eyes are open, the lids are nearly invisible.  Despite this, for years I applied lots of shadow to my eyelids, hoping I could somehow get them to look good.  Then one day staring at myself in the mirror I realized that concentrating on my eyelids was mostly a waste of time.  With my eyes open, my lids are barely visible, so it wouldn't matter how expertly I applied shadow on them, it wouldn't have much effect.  It was an epiphany really, but I realized that I should put eye shadow where it can be seen.  We all close our eyes to apply eye makeup and while it may look okay when first applied, not too many of us walk around that way.  It might also look really good when we are asleep, not so much when we are awake.  

 

So, I have concentrated on applying color to the parts of my eyes that are visible when my eyes are open fully.  For me, that is the area outside the lid, down around the outer corner of the eye and then underneath the lower lash.  My technique starts with a dark shade of shadow (black or dark brown) applied in a narrow line, down in the crease from the outer corner halfway around the eyelid.  Then I blend it.  Next, I take a lighter shade of shadow (for me lately I am using reds and pinks) and trace color just outside the crease.  I take that color all the way down and around the outside corner of my eye and then halfway across the lower lash.  Again, I blend the eye shadow really well and I feather it out away from the corner of the eye.  Finally, I take the lightest shade of shadow (very pale pink or a peach color) and apply it along and just outside red shade.  Again, blend well.  This all results in eyes that are expressive and they pop with color that can actually be seen when my eyes are open. 

 

Plan your eye makeup application by looking at your eyes when they are fully open instead of with them closed.  I think you'll find the results more effective.     

[Jani]

Nice idea Sally.  My spouses eyes are like yours.  I just sent her a copy of your post.  Thanks! 

Jani