My Eye Makeup Makes Me Look Like A Clown!

[ 25 July 2007 ]

Eye makeupPhoto by Lorraine MD

“Recently, some of my relatives gave me an AMAZING make-up kit. It has great color selections, especially in the eye make-up department. At the young age of 13, I want to keep my make-up relatively subdued, but whenever I put on anything other than a sheer beige color, I can’t help but feel like a clown! You often wear bright, crazy eye make-up, and I was hoping that you had some tips for wearing them with confidence.”

My best advice to you is to experiment, experiment, experiment! Take digital photos of the different looks, put them on Flickr or Livejournal & get people to tell you what they like best. I used to go out looking horrific, but it took me years until I realised!

The other option is to attend a short makeup course (which is a fabulous use of time & money, since you’ll know how to do your makeup properly forever) or to get a makeover at a cosmetics counter. I suggest booking a time & asking a lot of questions!

The internet is a great way to see what other people are doing with their makeup. Have a look at the MAC group on Flickr for inspiration. Look at the latest MAC looks & boggle at the work of Pat McGrath.

The thing with eye makeup is that everyone’s eyes are a different shape, so what works for me may not work for you, & vice versa. I know most women put eyeliner on the inside of their eye, but if I do that, I look like a squinty-eyed freak! I also recently discovered that putting dark makeup along the bottom half of my eye makes me look old & kind of like I’m dying. Not good, argh! When I wear bright colours (like green or blue or purple or red), I really only do a line of it behind my top lashes & leave it at that — if I put the colour over my entire eyelid, it just swamps my eye & it’s too much. If I’m using a neutral colour, like a soft pink or gold, I can put it over my eyelid & it looks great. So, again, it’s all a case of experimentation.

Good luck!


Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala <3


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Comment

  1. I tried to walk past Myer today, but instead I walked IN and bought two MAC shadows. Eep!

    Another website I really like for tutorials is www.specktra.net. Look for help in the forums section!

    <3 Kat! · Jul 25, 02:31 PM · #

  2. last year my work had a free 2 week hair and beauty course. im totally going to do it this summer if they offer it again.

    i like playing around and trying things out. ill use the same colours and do each eye differently to see what looks best.

    <3 sarah · Jul 25, 03:07 PM · #

  3. I want to see pictures of you with crazy eye makeup!

    <3 Kayla Lane · Jul 25, 03:15 PM · #

  4. I love specktra!

    I’ve been wearing makeup for about a year now and crazy colors are a must for me XD. It takes a while to get used to, but experimenting is very fun. Rainbows are one of my favorite things to do…rainbows and glitter!

    <3 Carmen · Jul 25, 03:20 PM · #

  5. I’m definately with you on the makeup counter I don’t wear makeup often (Sheer laziness and lipgloss is my lifesaver). I rely on experts to help me when I do though.

    <3 Kay · Jul 25, 03:20 PM · #

  6. speaking of which, which are some places you would reccommend to go for a personal make-up short course??? I am dying to go to one of those. I am in Sydney.

    <3 xuxu · Jul 25, 04:20 PM · #

  7. This is some great advice, thanks so much! I’ve already been practicing, and have found some things that I like. I’ll be sure to try out the rest, too. I also have a salon near-by that will teach you to apply make-up for a pretty cheap price.

    Keep up the great work,

    <3 Wendy · Jul 25, 05:38 PM · #

  8. i’ve experimented so much with make up i already know what i like and don’t like on me. but what i sometimes do is to go to make up counters when they launch a new product, and ask them to show me how to use it. most good companies, like mac, shu uemura, rmk, chanel and etc, would train their staff well and retrain them whenever a “new” skill comes up on the market. of course, try not ask them to show you how to use a million things when you don’t intend to get anything at all. i usually ask only for things i have actually intended to buy. you can also go to a reputable brand and ask if they do make overs. most of these brands will schedule an hour-long one, and whatever you’ve paid for the make over is usually fully redeemable. yay!

    <3 gilda · Jul 25, 09:33 PM · #

  9. I’ve always wanted to do a make-up course. But I’ve been too scared to because I pretty much suck at it, and I’m only 16.
    It’s a pretty irrational fear, really :P

    <3 Miri · Jul 25, 09:54 PM · #

  10. well now IS the time to make all your fashion mistakes. you don’t want to be doing it when you’re older!! besides, i think you get away with really outrageous things when you’re young. :) have fun!!

    <3 gilda · Jul 25, 11:41 PM · #

  11. Miri, I agree with Gilda here! You’re at the perfect age to experiment and go WILD! When I was your age, I was addicted to this orange eyeshadow I had. I wore it all the time, above my eyes and below. I paired it with other bright colors. At 37, I have to be a bit calmer, but I’m telling you, when I was 16, I had fun!

    Also, Gala, thanks for this post! I have a cousin who is assistant manager at a local MAC counter. It never occurred to me to go see her for help, but I’ll be going this weekend!

    <3 tee tee · Jul 26, 01:38 AM · #

  12. the easiest thing to do is to go to a makeup counter and get a one on one, hands on consultation. pick a great brand you’re willing to commit to for a while (mac, stila), schedule an appointment and just say exactly what you’re looking to learn. be ready to buy product, as it will take the artist a good amount of time to do your whole face and teach you how to do it. ask questions and make sure you can do your makeup once you get home. don’t be afraid! makeup is art!

    <3 ashley churchill · Jul 26, 02:15 AM · #

  13. tee tee> wow orange eyeshadow!! i love it!! and i love pink and red!! haha! i’ve never tried it below my eyes though… i’m trying to think of you from your pictures, with the orange and it’s quite a funky image. ;)

    <3 gilda · Jul 26, 04:14 AM · #

  14. I’m no makeup expert, but back in high school I got “Making Faces” by Kevyn Aucoin, an amazing makeup artist to the stars. It helped me learn some basics.
    I highly recommend that book. He was AMAZING.

    <3 Ruth · Jul 26, 05:38 PM · #

  15. Posting pics on Flickr and getting opinions on different looks is a great idea!

    ~Jen

    <3 Makeup Forum · Jul 31, 12:13 PM · #
 

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