by Paula Rosenberg

Created on: August 12, 2008

Believe it or not there is a process and an art to applying eye shadow. The steps are simple but if not followed they can result in either wearing off before your day is over or the dreaded raccoon eyes.

1. Make sure that all previous eye make up has been removed. It is wise to invest in eye make up remover. It is gentler then traditional make up remover and is the only way you will be able to remove water proof mascara.

2. Apply base to the lid of your eye. Base helps eye shadow stay in place. It keeps it from rubbing off or falling down to the eye socket where it will leave dark lines. Aura cosmetics sell a shadow magnet in three shades to match with different skin tones. Base is almost like putty. You place a little on the tip of your index finger and then gently spread over the lid.

3. Apply your base shade with a brush. It is important to have eye shadow brushes on hand. They work ten times better then the eye shadow sticks that are provided in the eye shadow compact. Your base color should be natural and close to your skin tone. If you have a warmer tone skin then it is best to use a beige or brown color. If you have fair or cool toned skin a shimmery pink works well. Using the brush apply to your lids and all the way up towards your eyebrows.

4. Highlight the crease. Take an angle brush and apply a rich color to it. You will then gently press across the crease of your eye. You have a small bone in the crease that acts as a helpful guide while you are tracing. For warm tone skins a dark brown, mocha, olive green and goldenrod are perfect shades. Those with cool skin tones can try using plum, charcoal, navy, or light brown.

5. Apply the final color and coat to the lid. This is the icing on the cake and what will really make your eyes pop. Again use an eye shadow brush and gently apply the color over the lids of your eyes. Lighter colors make your eyes look bigger and darker colors make them look smaller. If you have deep set eyes but like darker colors a great trick is to apply your final color only to the outside corners of your eye lids rather then all over. You will still get the pop effect but this won't make your eyes look smaller. Make sure that your final color complements your crease color so that they blend well. If you used brown or olive for the crease go with a lighter brown or spring green for the lid. Lilacs, pinks, and purples work well with plum. A light blue, blue-green, or dark pink will complement navy. Any gold, yellow, or rust shade will work nicely with goldenrod. If you used charcoal for the crease then a pink shade will suit you well for the lid.

Remember your eyes are the first think people notice about your face. They should pop, sparkle, and look amazing. Following the above steps will help you achieve this fresh look.

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