Preparing the eye for makeup

Before putting on eye makeup, be sure to prepare your eyes first. Preparation is the key to having eye makeup wear all day, or night, and look its best in the process.

Before applying any makeup, be sure that your face and eyes are clean. After washing with your favorite cleanser, pay close attention to the condition of your eyes and surrounding areas.

If there are traces of makeup left on your eyes, use eye makeup remover to clean them. Use cotton swabs to clean the area underneath your eyes to remove the makeup and makeup remover, too. Remember to be gentle since the areas around the eyes are very delicate.

Use your facial cleanser and then rinse your face and eyes again. You don’t want any residual oils on your face.

Using a cotton sponge or other applicator device, gently apply eye makeup foundation. If you need to use under eye concealer or other corrective creams before applying your main foundation, now is the time to apply them.

Other than concealers, the eyes should always be the last area of your face that receives makeup. Apply your other facial makeup in the usual manner. Most women set their foundation with powder.

The same powder that is used to set your foundation is a great way to prepare your eyes to receive eye makeup as well. Gently brush your eyes with a small amount of face powder.

You’re ready to apply makeup to your eyes.

Eyeliner tricks for day and night

Eyeliner is used to provide a dramatic effect, or applied gently for the girl-next-door look. Here are tricks for using eyeliner.

Pencil eyeliner makes the eye look softer. It’s best for daytime use. One of the tricks of getting a good, clean line with a pencil eyeliner is to have a soft point on the tip of the pencil. Sharpen as necessary.

Hold your thumb and index finger together with the pointed tip of the eyeliner pencil in between them for a few minutes. This will warm the tip, making application easier.

Hold the pencil in one hand, and use your other hand to gently hold the area to the outside of your eye. Keeping your eye closed, gently run the pencil close to the base of your eyelashes, while the other hand gently pulls the eye to keep the skin taught.

Just like you use powder to set your foundation, use a small amount of eyeshadow that is close to the color of your eyeliner to set the pencil. This will make the pencil wear longer.

Liquid eyeliners are best suited for evening wear.

You’ll get the best lines from liquid eyeliner if the applicator brush is clean and not overloaded with liquid. After removing the eyeliner applicator brush, drag it over a clean piece of tissue to draw off excess liquids.

Use small brush strokes and refill the applicator with additional eyeliner liquid as needed to get the best results.

Eye shadow for day and night

The best eye shadow combinations for daytime use are those that give a girl-next-door look.

You can’t go wrong using soft brown tones during the day. Put the lightest shade on the very top of your eyelid, just underneath your eyebrow.  Then put a soft shade that’s a bit darker than the first, on the main part of your eyelid.

Follow these by putting a small amount of a darker brown in the crease of your eye. The biggest mistake many people make is putting it on too thick or too dark.

Using your finger or a cotton swab, gently blend the edges of all of the colors. This will give a muted look that is perfect to wear in the day.

There’s nothing quite as sultry as smoky eyes during the evening. This look begins with at least three different eye shadow colors -- light, medium and dark.

Apply the medium shade across the entire eyelid, but not near the eyebrow.

Apply the darker shade in a sideways V shaped pattern. The point of the V begins at the outer corner of the eye.

Then apply a very small amount of the lightest color in the inside area of the V, over the other colors, simply to highlight the inside of the V.

Finally, apply a very light amount of the lightest shade right under the brow, blending it with the darker shades. Use a cotton swab to blend the edges for a softer look.

Your eyes look beautiful.

Mascara tips and tricks

Using mascara gives the eyes a finished look. Here are some simple tips and tricks to help your mascara look the best, and wear the longest.

Apply mascara last. You’d be surprised how many people apply their mascara first when applying makeup. Don’t. Your mascara should be the last piece of makeup you apply.

Use a mascara primer. It helps your mascara wear longer and better.

While many professionals recommend using a special mascara makeup brush, with these tips you can get great results from the mascara brush that comes with your mascara.

Clean off the brush after every use. Pour a small amount of mascara remover into a paper cup. Dip the wand into it. Swish it a few times. Using a clean tissue, gently wipe off your mascara wand. Do this after every use and your mascara will last longer and look more beautiful on your eyes.

Do not pump your mascara wand in and out of the makeup tube.

Apply the thickest amount of mascara at the very base of your eyelashes. Then move out to your outer lashes.

Several coats of mascara can help your lashes look long and full. Let the mascara dry between coats and reapply several times.

When applying mascara to the lower lashes, hold the mascara wand sideways. Using the tip of the wand, apply the mascara in short, little strokes. Alternatively, you can use the tip of the wand and move your hand sideways to apply mascara to your lower lashes.

Removing makeup from the eye safely

Removing eye makeup is essential for health reasons. It also helps make the eyes look their best when applying eye makeup again. So what’s the best way to remove eye makeup? You’ll find several ways here.

Many companies sell eye makeup remover that is specifically designed to help loosen and remove mascara, eyeliners, and colors. Whether you use your own, or use a ready-made product, the process is the same.

If you don’t want to buy an expensive remover, you can use Vaseline or mineral oil – both of which can be used to safely remove makeup.

Using a cotton ball or cotton pad, saturate a small part of it with the oil. Close your eye. Gently press this cotton ball against your eye and hold it there while you count to 50. Count slowly so that the oils have time to work.

The goal is to let the mineral oil or Vaseline work at loosening the eye makeup, especially the mascara, to make removal simpler.

Then, using short, gentle strokes, dab the cotton ball down your eyelashes towards your cheek.

You may need to repeat this process several times to remove heavy eye makeup. You may also want to use a cotton swab to remove eye makeup from your lower lid and the corners of your eye.

After your makeup is removed, wash your face with your favorite cleanser. Be sure to wash (gently) around your eyes to remove any traces of the oils used to remove your eye makeup.