I haven’t highlighted an article in a while… I came across this one on Yahoo’s Shine that I thought might be helpful to some:
Article courtesy of Yahoo Shine! and can be found by clicking on Yahoo link. To see full article and pictures follow the link.
Wondering how to accentuate your eyes in a natural-looking way? Lancôme’s Sandy Linter, head makeup artist at New York’s Rita Hazan Salon, shows how a neutral smoky eye can work wonders.
“Start with an eye shadow base – something that’s tacky so that it holds the shadow” says Linter, who used Lancôme Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base in Nude. “If your eyelid is dry you can use a concealer, but if your lid is warm you really do need a base that will pick up moisture and keep your makeup looking smooth”
Choose a Dark Pencil
“When you want to enhance your eyes, you should use a dark liner-navy, charcoal, brown, or black to contrast against the whites of your eye and eye color,” says Linter. “You should also use pencil because it’s easily manipulated.” Linter applied it along the upper lash line in “little dashes,” working from the inner corner of the eye to the outside edge. “The shape should get gradually thicker as you move away from the edge of the nose,” she says.
Perfect Your Eyeliner
After dotting lids with liner, Linter connected the dashes: “A tiny eyeliner brush softens and perfects the line.” She then used a pointed cotton tip to push the line “up and out” at the corners.
Layer Makeup For Longer Wear
For the crease color, Linter lined eye sockets with taupe pencil, a lighter shade than the one used along the lashes. Starting under the brow bone, she extended the line to the outer corners to create a “V” shape. “It’s an old trick that opens up the eyes,” she says. Next, she retraced her steps with gel liner and powder shadow in similar taupe hues using a dome-shaped brush (“layering your makeup makes it last all day and through the night”). To add drama, she winged color up and over the brow bone, toward the end of the eyebrow.
“A neutral smokey eye is all about playing with dark and light,” says Linter, who used the shimmering ivory-pink shade from Lancôme’s Color Design palette in Coral Crush on lids. “Having darker tones surround a lighter one gives shape and definition, the light on the eye makes it pop.”
Wear Liner Under Lower Lashes
“A lot of people don’t like using pencil under the eye, but I like it because I think it makes the eye look more finished,” says Linter, who swept Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl in Black Coffee, the same liner she used on top-underneath the lashes, softening the line with a cotton swab. Because the inner corners of eyes “tend to get wet,” Linter only placed liner along the outermost portion of the waterline.
Don’t Forget to Curl
“Curled eyelashes make everyone’s eyes look bigger,” says Linter. “Make sure to fully cup the lashes in the curler-pinch close to the roots so that you’re not just bending hairs at the ends.”
Apply Mascara
“Mascara also brings out your eyes. Instead of using the whole wand, I just use the tip, separating lashes as I go,” says Linter “This way, I don’t apply too much mascara at once and lashes don’t get stuck together.”
Mind the (Eyeliner) Gap
When faking a thicket lash line, don’t dispel the illusion. “I can’t stand seeing a space of skin separating the eyeliner from the eyelash,” says Linter. To fill in gaps, she used a small, stiff brush to apply gel eyeliner in hard-to-reach places.
Use Light Concealer
Brighten the eye area by using a sheet, translucent concealer or highlighter around the eye. One to try Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch.
Whiten the Inner Corners
To have a truly eye-opening experience, employ white eyeliner too: “Adding white to the inner corner of the eye makes you look less tired,” says Linter.
Provide Arch Support
“I like when brows bring attention to the eye area in a soft way that’s not too manicured and cosmetic-looking,” says Linter, who adds that, “Natural brows are more innocent. Over-tweezed arches make you appear older.” To have your brows reach “their full potential” Linter suggests brushing them up with a clear brow mascara.
Finish Your Look
Complement your smoldering smokey eyes with a touch of bronzer under the cheekbones for definition, and creamy pink blush on the apples of the cheeks “to make your eyes look lighter,” says Linter. Add rosy lipstick and gloss to your pout and you’re ready to go!
What do you think about this look and tips? Were there any useful tips that you got from this, or any that you know that are not in this article, you can share below?
Mae's Beauty 