Conquering Eye-poking Fears

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

Hey ladies!

Just wanted to make a mention here in the beauty thread that I have conquered my fear of poking myself in the eye while applying eye makeup. It takes patience, lots of practice, determination and not giving up if you do poke yourself in the eye (which I have done).

Until recently all I was able to do was mascara. I had this tremendous fear of poking myself in the eye so I would start freaking out whenever that mascara wand would get too close into my comfort zone. Well it took some time and practice and of course some deep breathing relaxation to remind myself that it's ok and nothing bad was going to happen. Eventually I started applying mascara like it was no big deal.

But then there was at that other eye makeup eye-poker that was also looming....eye liner!

I never thought I would get over that fear because at least with mascara you were going to the lashes. With eyeliner you're getting right up next to the eye. *scary!*

Well today, I'm not sure how I was able to do it or why but I was able to go ahead and in making little line strokes (as suggested in numerous youtube videos) I was able to line my upper and lower lid. I'm not going to say I did it perfectly but I didn't end up with raccoon eyes that's for sure. I probably have a little ways to go yet and I'll get there when I find a better eyeliner pencil and can get a finer point to it but I at least wanted to celebrate the success of being able to do it and getting over that fear which I never thought would be possible.

So if you too are scared about eye liner and/or mascara and are worried that you're going to poke your eye with it, just keep me in mind that with some time and practice you can get over your fear and even if you do poke yourself in the eye just take some time out, relax and recover, and try it again.

...getting really up close to a mirror also helps.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Thanks Lizzie

I just sort of squint lightly to help safeguard not poking my eye, but I do know what you mean. It is such a setback when you poke your eye with eyeliner. Kind of kills the whole mood.

Brenda

[TassieTiff]

Have you considered closing one eye... And doing one eye at a time... Just a thought.... I have been doing the war Paint for so long now... I am in and out of the Bathroom in 3 minutes

Sometimes less is more... BUT... One thing I have learnt... Is if you get the EYES right the rest Doesn't matter much.... And of Course the foundation/Concealer if you Have Acne or scars...

A bit of Bling... Nothing over the top.... And you are ready for lifes Rat race

regards Tiff

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Hey ladies!

Hey Lizzy M

Just wanted to make a mention here in the beauty thread that I have conquered my fear of poking myself in the eye while applying eye makeup. It takes patience, lots of practice, determination and not giving up if you do poke yourself in the eye (which I have done).

Until recently all I was able to do was mascara. I had this tremendous fear of poking myself in the eye so I would start freaking out whenever that mascara wand would get too close into my comfort zone. Well it took some time and practice and of course some deep breathing relaxation to remind myself that it's ok and nothing bad was going to happen. Eventually I started applying mascara like it was no big deal.

I dont have a great call for mascara, its way too much for work and I seldom go to places where it might be called for.

But then there was at that other eye makeup eye-poker that was also looming....eye liner!

I dont use the stuff, like lip liner I make a mess of it and find it just too fiddly

I never thought I would get over that fear because at least with mascara you were going to the lashes. With eyeliner you're getting right up next to the eye. *scary!*

Well today, I'm not sure how I was able to do it or why but I was able to go ahead and in making little line strokes (as suggested in numerous youtube videos) I was able to line my upper and lower lid. I'm not going to say I did it perfectly but I didn't end up with raccoon eyes that's for sure. I probably have a little ways to go yet and I'll get there when I find a better eyeliner pencil and can get a finer point to it but I at least wanted to celebrate the success of being able to do it and getting over that fear which I never thought would be possible.

I know the feelling and have learned how to apply it without jabbing my eyeball, since mine is water proof I have to use a makeup remover to get it off and dang girl does that sting if you get it in your eye.

So if you too are scared about eye liner and/or mascara and are worried that you're going to poke your eye with it, just keep me in mind that with some time and practice you can get over your fear and even if you do poke yourself in the eye just take some time out, relax and recover, and try it again.

...getting really up close to a mirror also helps.

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Sometimes less is more... BUT... One thing I have learnt... Is if you get the EYES right the rest Doesn't matter much.... And of Course the foundation/Concealer if you Have Acne or scars...(or still have a trace of facial fur)

regards Tiff

[TassieTiff]

Joanna,

Despite the warnings to he contraryI Pluck Each ndividual Hair around the chin.... ( It takes Hours) BUT.. It is free... And the Five O'Clock shadow doesn't show till 11 PM.... WIN WIN.... IT saves on foundation as well

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

Joanna,

Despite the warnings to he contraryI Pluck Each ndividual Hair around the chin.... ( It takes Hours) BUT.. It is free... And the Five O'Clock shadow doesn't show till 11 PM.... WIN WIN.... IT saves on foundation as well

Im in my third month on HRT and my beard growth has slowed to the point that I can use consealer most of the time and only have to touch up shave before work or if my wife and I go for dinner. Most of the time I dont think others notice it as much as I do.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

Have you considered closing one eye... And doing one eye at a time... Just a thought....

I'm still not muscle coordinated enough to full close one eye and keep the other open, plus I read if you squint you won't get a good line so I actually did my eyeliner with both eyes open. Same with mascara.

..and Joanna, mascara is part of my daily routine. It's at the point now where I don't consider my face done until I put mascara on. Lip liner I don't bother with. I'm able to survive without it.

and speaking of since it's been a few months I decided to throw out the mascara I was using and bought a new fresh one. Covergirl Lash Blast (waterproof of course) in very black. Supposedly it gives your lashes volume. It will be interesting to see how it works compared with my usual brand (Maybelline Great Lash)

[Guest Ev.]

I know this topic is kinda old but I just wanted to ask, how do you actually remove eyeliner? I have no experience whatsoever with makeup, yet ^^, was wondering the other day though about this. Blush and concealer and all that stuff would be simply I'm assuming, I haven't a clue how eyeliner is removed though. Saw a few vids on how to apply it, never to remove. :x

~Ev. <3

[Guest sarah f]

I myself just use warm water and a hand towel. Make sure you remove it all because I was questioned before after I thought I removed it all but I played it off.

[JJ]

Many people just rub it off-easy But over the years that will cause sagging and wrinkles on your eyelid from constant stretching.

Being male I way always careless -my mother always used cold cream or make-up remover and I have looser skin on my eyelids where she had none even 10 years older than I am now.

You can get the makeup remover at the same place where you get your makeup.

I also know that beauty experts have a fit over using soap on your face. Ever. It dries your skin and leaves a residue that clogs pores and gets absorbed eventually dulling your skin. I never used soap because of an allergy-and looked 35 at most when I was 50! Always got comments on my skin. Until sun damage caught up with me but that's another issue.

Thank heaven I no longer worry about it!

JJ

[Guest Penelope]

I am long sighted in one eye and short sighted in the other. Closing my left to apply liner to it is easy. Close my right and all is a blur; so I have to leave it part open.

One of the joys of middle age, I guess.

Ms P.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

I know this topic is kinda old but I just wanted to ask, how do you actually remove eyeliner? I have no experience whatsoever with makeup, yet ^^, was wondering the other day though about this. Blush and concealer and all that stuff would be simply I'm assuming, I haven't a clue how eyeliner is removed though. Saw a few vids on how to apply it, never to remove. :x

~Ev. <3

Me too! Aways saw how to apply it, but? How to take it off? Well, they make products for that and it takes some experimentation.

First, assume the eyeliner, mascara, lid color accenting are a separate problem from the general removal of all the other makeup applications (powder, blush, lipstick, et cetera). So remove eye area makeup with a special liquid formula that won't irritate your eyes, even if it accidently gets in them. This is where you have to experiment to find what works best for you - because different people react differently. I once used simple make-up removal product for my eye area, but it was too irritationg to my eyes - so I experimented and found an eyeliner/mascara 'only' removal formula that worked better.

Now then see if your mascara/eyeliner is standard or longwearing. Longwearing requires an oil base formula to remove it - personally? It burns a little. So I avoid the longwearing makeup because I don't like the removal process. Longwearing lipstick is another matter.

DON'T use tissues, use a makeup removal pad. I found a nice combination pad and removal fluid product that really works well for me. I use a pad and clean until there is no color. Instread of wasting a pad, I use what's left to take off my lipstick. NEVER EVER use toilet tissue! A face cloth is not good either except in an emergency - and most mascara will not wash out of the cloth, later in the wash.

And the face? NO SOAP! Use a fascial makeup cleanser formula - or in an emergency, coldcream. Coldcream is very greasy and you will want to wash it off later with soap and water, which is bad. But whatever, at the end 'blot' dont wipe.

Finally, when DO YOU use cold cream ot exfoliant scrub? Saturday morning when you are rested, and aren't going anywhere for a few hours. Let the skin rest afterward. Scrub off that extra dead layer of skin and remove those flakey parts! Do this EVERY weekend to work up a beautiful complexion. When done, always blot your face dry - and apply a moisturizer - and it can be rubbed on in this application, fingertips usually.

A last hint? This seems contradictory but it works. When APPLYING makeup, add moisturizer first, using a broad brush - dabbing it on to not clog the pores - then put your concealer and foundation on top. GREAT results - smoother finish.

Elizabeth Anne

[Guest Donna Jean]

.

I use good old fashioned Cold Cream....

It takes off all kinds of make up....

And, what Lizzy said on the moisturizer!

Donna Jean

[Guest Foosnark]

One of the worst moments of my life was trying contact lenses. The eye doctor managed to get one in, and then getting it out again was nearly impossible. I wouldn't keep my eye open, and wound up crying in frustration, and then in embarrassment, which just made it worse.

In addition to eye-poking fear, I have very twitchy eyelids. I can just about handle mascara, though it's not necessarily as even as I'd like. Eyeliner though? Eeesh.

I've tried pencil, which doesn't seem to do anything at all... no marks unless I rub it on my fingers. And now I've tried liquid, and only managed a weird smear.

Also... eyelash curlers. I just bought one, having read that you're supposed to use one before mascara... and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to actually get it anywhere near my eyes! Maybe they are set too far deeply in the sockets and/or my brow's too prominent, but I find it really difficult to do anything other than poke my cheeks with the wrong part and not get close enough to be useful. I already have lashes that I practically trip over, it's just they are invisible without mascara, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it?

[Guest Alexandra89]

The first thing I learned how to use on my eyes was an eyelash curler. I've never been scared of any eye make-up tool since.

[Guest Julie T]

Foosnark

Honey, it can be a challenge I know. Sally has eyepokephobia really bad? She is learning how to do better, and you might ask her, just having had a make-up makeover. I think it involves a longer applicator brush for the mascara.

Honey, lick the point of the eyeliner pencil to make it gooey and liquid. That works better for me. It isn't really anything shown in the beauty books, but both my exes did that.

And Foosnark? I would suggest you totally, absolutely and intentionally on purpose, by-pass false eyelashes?

Julie