How To Create “Eye Catching” Nighttime Eye Makeup

Tips and Tools for Creating a Nighttime Eye Makeup Look

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” but if that’s the case, then the cliché implies that eyes are a very important part of beauty. Women know this is true; as they use endless amounts of mascara, liner, and eye shadow to make their eyes look just right. But are you confident about applying your eye makeup? Many women do their best, but can feel overwhelmed when it comes to doing their makeup, especially their eyes. Maybe it’s doable for day time, a little mascara and shimmer and you’re good to go, but what about night time eye makeup? An evening out is the perfect time to make a statement with your eyes. Following are a few tips and tricks that will give you the tools you need to have beautiful nighttime eyes.

Your makeup is only as good as your tools. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have the tools you need to create a nighttime look for your eyes.

1. Eye Primer: Eye primer is a lot like face primer, but more creamy in texture. It’s a great way to prepare the eye for eye shadow and ensure that shadow doesn’t crease or fade. When you’re going to all the effort to do a nighttime eye, I highly recommend prepping the look with an eye primer, for long lasting, beautiful eye makeup.
2. Mascara: It’s impossible to have those flirty nighttime eyes without fluttering lashes. That’s where mascara comes in handy. It’s available in many forms, but the two most important decisions are waterproof, and non waterproof. Unless you’re going to a wedding, or an event where you know there will be tears, non-waterproof mascara is much more effective. Waterproof mascara can be dry and flaky, and clumps more easily during application.
3. Eyelash Curler: A girl’s best friend, an eyelash curler is a great way to give those lashes more vavoom. I recommend investing at least 8 to 15 USD in one of these. Any cheaper and they are a waste of your time.
4. Eyelash Comb: A great tool to make sure you’re lashes aren’t clumping together. I recommend using a metal comb instead of plastic.
5. Eyeliner: Eyeliner is available in many forms. There’s liquid, pencil, and gel, or you can use eye shadow as eyeliner. Pick the one that’s right for you; I recommend a pencil as it’s the easiest to use. For night times you want your eyeliner to be black or possibly dark brown (skip the bright colors for evening or maybe, altogether).
6. Eye shadow (Light, Medium, and Dark): Eye shadows are a great way to create contouring and add drama. The shades of light, medium, and dark that you choose would depend on your skin tone, eye color, and the desired effect you want to achieve. The lighter your skin the lighter the colors you want to use. If you have a darker skin tone then you would want to choose darker colors (a gold color could make a beautiful lighter shade). Additionally, for green eyes plums, coppers and bronzes are beautiful, blue eyes are accented well with coppers, raisin, and cinnamons, and brown eyes look beautiful with gold, bronze, and any other jewel tone.
7. Makeup Brushes: While some women opt to use their fingertips, the most effective way to apply eye shadow is with a makeup brush. A synthetic blend will do, but to get brushes that are long lasting and effective, I recommend finding ones made of sable. The two brushes that you’ll need for eye shadow are:

• Eye Shadow Brush: Small, rounded and, flat, an eye shadow brush is the most important tool for applying shadow to create detailed looks.
• Blending Brush: A blending brush is effective to blend your overall look and to apply eye shadow in larger strokes.

• Socket Line: The line where your eyeball ends and your upper eyelid begins, also called the “crease” of the eye.
• Outer V: The outer corner of your eye along the lash line and below the socket line,
• Brow Bone: The area directly beneath your eyebrow.
• Inner Corner: The front corner where your eye begins, including your tear duct.
• Fall Out: Loose eye shadow that falls after and during eye makeup application under the eye.

1. Before beginning any makeup application, it’s important to first cleanse your face, washing eyes thoroughly. This gives you a clean and healthy canvas to work with.
2. First apply face makeup. When you are done with your face makeup, dust under your eyes with translucent powder. This will help remove any fall out when you’re done with your eye makeup application.
3. Apply eye primer from the lash line to bottom of the brow.
4. Let primer set for two minutes, and then remove excess with a cotton ball.
5. Apply a base of color on your eyelid and a little past your socket line with your medium eye shadow (using your blending brush).
6. Apply a thin line of eyeliner along the upper and lower lashes allowing the line to get wider in the outer corner of the eye.
7. Use a Q Tip to smudge the line so it looks soft and natural.
8. Use the dark shadow along the outer edge of the eye along the lash line and in the outer V of the eye (use eye shadow brush). For proper blending take a clean blending brush and softly blend after applying.
9. Apply the light eye shadow color to the brow bone and in the inner corner of the eye for a little high lighting (using the eye shadow brush)
10. Curl lashes. Get the eyelash curler as close as you can to your eyelid without pinching the skin. Clamp down softly at first, until you feel more comfortable.
11. Apply two coats of mascara, not letting the mascara dry between coats.
12. Use the eyelash comb to separate and perfect eyelashes.
13. Dust the fallout away from under your eye with a large brush.

Voila! You should be looking at sultry, nighttime ready eyes! Of course with dramatic eyes like these, you should wear understated lips like a nude color, or just a touch of gloss.

Now that you know how to create a truly “eye catching” look, you can start playing with other eye makeup techniques. Eye makeup is a great way for women to add drama to their look without picking up a clothes hanger. Watch out, all eyes will be on you tonight!