by Grace David

Created on: August 30, 2007   Last Updated: August 07, 2009

One of the best ways to make the most of your face and natural features is to emphasize the better qualities that nature has already given you. You've got to have a decent canvas to start with to create a good painting, and so weather it be your eyes, lips, or cheek bones for example, you need to make the most of that! The trick in applying make-up effectively and professionally is to remember that in most cases (unless your trying to look like a drag queen), less is more. Therefore I think that it is advisable to pick one of your features that you wish to emphasize, and tone down the rest.

Lets start with eyes. The first thing that you need to decide is which color is right for you. Brown eyes, bring out those deep chocolate tones with blue, purple and green colors. These all contrast with your eyes and make them seen deeper, as is the same with the colors that you should use for blue eyes. Brown, beige, dark green and orange/yellowy colors will bring out the natural colors in your eyes better than if you go for co-ordinating colors. Smoky eyes are always a hit for the evening anyway, so on special occasions blacks, grays, and other dark colors suits everyone, just be careful not to over do it! The next trick is to decide which way to apply the colors to make the most of your eyes. If you have heavy set eyes (the eye lid is quite thick and sets 'deep' into your eye area) then apply the dark colors to the lids, blending with lighter colors toward the brow. If you have lightly set eyes (smaller and appearing less skin on the lid) then all you need to do is the opposite to this. Start with a light color, then sweep a darker color over the crease of your eye lid, eventually going back to a lighter color again at the brow (never do dark at the brow, you will just look like you have a black eye, not a good look!) to give a shimmery look. If your eyes are neither lightly set or heavy set, then lucky you, you can do both!

Once you have applied the base colour on the eyes, you need to make sure you blend other colours well and in the right way. The way I was taught, and find it easy to remember is to think "V for Victor", strange i know, but it works! Close one eye and brush the chosen colour over the lid of the brow, and make a v shape at the outer corner, bringing the colour down so as it touches the lash line. This will define the eyes and blend colour well.

Apart from the base layer on the lid if you have heavy set eyes, then you should always make the colour which

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