Must Know Eye Makeup Tips to Take you from Newbie to Pro

There is no better feeling than leaving your house knowing that your makeup game is on point. However, when it comes to eye makeup, it is either hit or miss. We have all been late to something due to the never-ending wrestling match with our eyeliner or given up mid-way through a smokey eye. But, with a few simple tricks you will find that you can not only cut your time in half but also be the envy of your coworkers and friends. Mastering the perfect eye look is much more than luck. It takes patience and practice. Here are some great makeup tips to help elevate you from cat eye amateur to full glam goddess. So, grab your favorite liquid eyeliner and nude palette, and treat your eyes to something special. Here is everything you need to know!

Eye Makeup Tips That Will Simplify Your Life

Steady as she goes

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to the perfect cat eye is you’re only as good as your steady hands. A lot can get in the way of your stability. From nervous hands to strained muscles, nothing can kill your cat eye more than bumpy lines. The biggest piece of advice we can give you when it comes to getting that line straight is to keep your hands steady. The best way to do this is to steady your dominate arm on a desk or a low surface. Once your arm is steady you will find that you have more control over your liner which will lead to a more precise point. This trick works with all eyeliners. Pencil, liquid and even gel liners have met their match.

Sharp lines

Nothing says “winged pro” more than a line sharp enough to cut your favourite fruits. However, a sharp line might seem like a theory to you and much less of a reality. But, did you know that you have all the tools you need for a perfect line right at your disposal? All you need is a credit card and a felt tipped liquid eyeliner. A felt tip is your best bet for a straight line because the blush tipped ones can feather your line slightly which can show up in the final look.

As before, steady your arm and line up the straight edge of the card starting at the edge of your lower lash line and line it up with the tail of your eyebrow. Use short storks and create the base of your line following the guide of the card. Connect the top of the line to the mid-point of your upper lash line and fill in the space between. Connect the mid-point of that line to your inner corner and…bam! You have one killer winged liner without a skip or bump.

Start with a good base

Your face makeup is only as good as the base you start out with. The same logic can be applied to your eye makeup as well. While there has been speculation about whether or not eye shadow primers actually help but there is no denying it once you see your favorite shade show up in all it’s glory. However, there is no need to spend your hard-earned money on those pricey primers that do little more than make your eyelids tacky. In fact, you already have everything you need for the best base right in your makeup arsenal.

Grab your favorite flesh-toned concealer and apply a tiny bit all over your eyelid and blend up towards your brow bone. Depending on how high your want your eye shadow look to go, you need to cover the whole area. The concealer will help to brighten your shadows, while also giving them a nice base to stick to. Next, you’re going to want to set your base with a shadow that matches your skin tone. Use a fluffy clean brush and swipe the shadow over the areas that are primed. After this step you are set to try out your favorite looks no matter how bold or muted.

Blend away

The most important part of any eyeshadow look is to blend away to your heart’s desire. Nothing ruins an eye look quicker than harsh edges. This is why the most important tool you have at your disposal is perfectly fluffy blending brush. These long tapered brushes do the best job of cleaning up edges and pulling your look together seamlessly. We all know the fear of depositing too much pigment and even the most aggressive of blending will still leave you looking like a clown. The best way to ensure that your colors will blend together perfectly is to get a little help from a neutral shade. Grab a clean fluffy blush and dip into a shade that resembles your skin tone and use it to soften any pigment that may have gone astray.

Spoon crease

We have all seen those insane Instagram videos using household items to elevate your eye make up game. While most of them are ridiculous, once in a while a hack comes along that is so genius that we wonder what we did before we knew of it’s wonders. Using a spoon to achieve that perfect cut crease is actually really easy to do and is perfect for beginners who are looking to step outside of their comfort zone and learn something new.

To start you will need a find a spoon that fits your eye shape fairly well. Close your eye and press the spoon against it with the curved side facing outwards. Grab a small blending brush and start slowly depositing color, using the top edge of the spoon as your guide. Once you feel like your look is bold enough, remove the spoon and blend out the edges.

Light up your eyes

The best way to fake it until you make is to add some sparkle to your eyes. This is a great way to trick people into thinking you got a full night of sleep even on your latest nights. There are three parts of your eye that, when highlighted, will make you look wide awake and ready to take on the day. The best part about this trick is that you can totally customize your look because you can use a matte or glittery shade to do this trick. You can even use a foiled eyeshadow if you are looking to really make those eyes pop.

Grab a shade light enough, so that it will show up on your skin tone.Grab a small flat brush and dampen it slightly with a setting spray. Dip into the shade of your choice and add a touch of shadow to the inner corner of your eye, your brow bone and right in the center of your lid. Your eyes will look bright and your whole face will look more awake. This trick also works great on a full glam face or even a “no makeup” kind of day.

Center glow

Super glam eye looks are much easier to achieve once you have the right tools and tricks. One eye look that has caught some serious fire over the past year is ultra-sparkly eyes that will bring some major attention with every bash of your lash. To make this look stand out with very little effort all you need is a medium sized flat eye brush, flesh toned concealer and glittery shadow. This look works best with a highly pigmented shadow like a metallic or foiled pressed powder.

Do your base your base eye look like you normally would and blend a soft brown or brick color into the crease for dimension. Next, take your flat brush and dip it into your concealer and place it right in the center of your eye lid. Don’t go up any higher than your crease and try to not extend it out too far on your lid. The concealer will give you a clean space to work on, while also giving your shadow something to stick to. Pack your metallic shadow right over the concealer and press in for best results. You will be left with a super bright eye look that will grab some serious attention.

Riot girl

The 90’s have been back in full swing. With coffee brown lips and grungy eyes, it can be difficult to stay on top of this throwback. However, there is no reason why you can’t channel your inner riot girl like a pro. The tip to keeping your eyes intense has everything to do with your lower lash line. This is often forgotten about when creating the perfect eye look but getting a snatched lower lash line can make all the difference between a look and the LOOK.

To stay true to the riot girl era you will need to grab a warm toned shade like a brick red or deep pink. Using a small detailed brush, lightly sweep your rusted shade on your lower lash line, starting out small and building it up. Finish off with a deep brown eyeliner in your lower waterline to pull the grunge eyes together perfectly.

One and done

While it seems like most eye looks are big, bold and complicated, there is something truly beautiful in the simplicity. This is also perfect for those of us who just don’t have the time to spend blending out a smokey eye. There are plenty of potted eyeshadows that are full of multichromatic glitter and shine that can change depending on how the light hits you.

These shadows come in different forms. From cream to gel, there is a perfect potted shadow out there for you. The best part about these types of shadows is that there are true “one and done” applications. All it takes is one clean sweep on this product across your lid with your fingers to achieve that perfect look. The best part about this look is the way the pigment shifts and moves out in the sun.

Customize your colors

One way to keep your eye makeup looking fresh is to customize your color choices based on your eye color. This will not only help your eyes pop but will help your narrow down your color choices. This is especially true if you’re like us and have a hard time picking out colors from your massive shadow collection.

For blue eyes, you want to stick with neutral brown and black tones. Start with a bone shaded base and blend a soft warm brown into your crease and drag it under your lower lash line. Finish up with a jet-black water line and mascara. Green eyes really pop when paired with cool purple tones. Add a touch of color with a pearl toned purple in the inner corner of your eyes and an eggplant shade in your waterline. Dark and brown eyes will lighten up with a touch of gold and copper. These shades will help to bring out the sparkle in your deep brown eyes, which will give your look more dimension.

Heated curls

Mascara is the ultimate holy grail product for any makeup lover. A quick coat of mascara pulls any look together with very little effort and often leaves us feeling naked without it. However, if you were born with board flat eyelashes you know how hard it can be to keep those lashes perfectly primed and curled all day long. While heated eyelash curlers are marketed for people just like you, most of them don’t do much to help your lashes keep their curl.

The best way to get heat your curled lashes is to grab a metal lash curler and your hairdryer. Hold the curler by the grip and use your dryer to blow warm air to the curling part of your tool. Only keep the heat on for around 10 seconds, just to warm it up. Make sure to test the heat out on your hand before using it on your lashes because the skin around your eye is much more sensitive. Firmly clamp the curler on your lashes for up to 45 seconds and release. You will have perfectly curled lashes that will not only hold a curl all day but will also help your mascara to coat more evenly.

Working the V

This next trick is perfect for you if you find that you’re not quite ready for smokey eye status yet. This trick gives a gradient illusion, which is one of the bases for smokey eyes. Start with a neutral shadow all over your lid. Next, find a shade slightly darker than your base shade and grab flat brush that is perfect for depositing color. Take your darker shade and work it in a V shape at the outer corner of your eye. Make sure that you don’t drag the color too far onto your lid, try to focus most of the color in the outer third of your eye. Make sure to blend with a clean fluffy brush to smooth out the edges. This will not only make you look like you know what you’re doing but it will also give the illusion that your eyes are pulled upwards giving you a cat-eye like effect.

Tape it up

If you’re a stickler for straight clean lines and find that you are terrified of attempting the dreaded winged liner, this trick is perfect for you. All you need is a little tape and felt or brush tipped liquid eyeliner. Use the tape as a guide for your liner by starting at the outer edge of your lower lash pointing up towards the tail of your eyebrow. You can even take it one step further by creating the cat-eye shape you desire with the tape. All you need to do is fill in the space between for a sharp look. Don’t worry if you mess up, this trick takes some practice and that’s why we are lucky enough to be blessed with concealer.

Frame for your face

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when attempting to slay your eye makeup game is to neglect your eyebrows. Your eyebrows are the perfect finishing move for your face. Grab an eyebrow pencil that is stiff enough to be precise but waxy enough to glide on effortlessly. To take your look one step further, grab two different tones of eyebrow pencils. One that matches your roots and one that is slightly lighter. Use the darker shade to make feather like strokes to your eyebrows starting at the midpoint and working your way to the tail. Use the lighter shade to make hair like upward strokes to the front of your eyebrow and brush in place. This will make your look appear more natural. Make sure to finish up with eyebrow gel.

Save it for last

This next tip made us a little skeptical but can really elevate your eye game. The idea is to save your face makeup for last and start out with your eyes first. By doing this you can get as crazy as you want with your eye makeup without worrying about wrecking all the beautiful work you’ve done on your face. This is especially true when it comes to dark and glittery eyeshadows. You can easily clean away shadow fallout with a makeup wipe and then work on your base.  This is also a great way to clean up your shadow with a touch of concealer.

Know your eye shape

The great thing about the eye makeup is that it is completely customizable to you’re eye shape. Moreover, working with your particular eye shape can help you learn how to work up your most desirable features. With the right shading and highlight placement, you can take your eyes from small to large or straight to cat eye. So, don’t feel like you can’t work with what you have. Makeup isn’t about changing you but bringing out what already makes you amazing.

Doe eyes

One of our favorite eye makeup looks that is perfectly on trend for the fall are wide doe eyes. These doll-like eyes are a great way to appear more awake and refreshed. This is also a great way to give yourself a youthful look. When it comes to creating this look you have two options depending on your skin tone. You can either go with a stark white liner for a dramatic look or a nude beige shade if you want to be subtle. Take your eyeliner and work it on your lower waterline making sure to build up pigment until your line is opaque. Take the tip of your pencil and rag the line slightly into your inner tear duct. This will extend the appearance of your eye. Finish up with a healthy coat of mascara on your lower lashes and be prepared to stun.

Be bold!

The best advice we can give you when it comes to elevating your make game is to be bold and take chances. You never know what will work for you without trying. The best part about makeup is that it is not permanent. You can always wash away things that don’t work for you and start over with something fresh. Makeup is a great way to showcase some creativity, so don’t be shy. Go ahead and give that emerald green shadow that has been collecting dust a try! Some of the hidden treasures buried in your vanity may surprise you.

Wrapping it up

While eye makeup can appear to be challenging and overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and tips there is no reason why you can’t slay any trend that comes your way. Just remember that makeup is about much more than looking pretty. It is about self expression. So, whether you like to live a modest life or are not afraid of bold neon colors, step out of your comfort zone. Good luck and stay beautiful!

from Beauty And Tips Magazine