Did you know that eyeliner was the first type of cosmetic used in ancient Egypt? Around 6,000 years ago, men and women were using eyeliner made from kohl to trace their eyes. Dramatic eyes are “in” right now, and they actually don’t have to be as difficult as you might think. Whether you want to do a cat-eye, midnight eye, rainbow eye, or totally white eye… the options seem endless.
Are you interested in enhancing your look, but aren’t sure what you should do to make your eye makeup really pop?
Keep reading to get our top 4 tips for dramatic eyes (even for a beginner).
- Use High-Quality Products and Brushes
With eye makeup, color is king. You want an eyeshadow that is going to stay the same color on the skin as in the pan, seem solid in the pan, and stay pigmented throughout the day. Find a finely milled eyeshadow that feels creamy to the touch to know that it is of good quality and will keep its pigmentation.
You also want to make sure that there is minimal (preferably no) fallout of the shadow and that it blends out easily. You can test this on your hand to see what it looks like.
You have to use quality makeup brushes if you want to have a good result. Remember that just because something is expensive, that doesn’t mean it’s the best of the best. A good makeup brush, for example, is going to have dense bristles, an even shape, and a wooden or plastic handle.
It might seem like a good idea to buy a set of makeup brushes, but if you’re just starting out, you should buy brushes as you need them. For eye makeup, most people will need an eyeliner brush, an eyeshadow brush, and a brow brush. Depending on your own style and what type of makeup you like to do, you might need more (or fewer) brushes than that for just your eyes alone!
Before you shell out hundreds of dollars on an expensive professional set, you should practice with lower-priced brushes so that you can find what works for you and so that you can easily recognize what a good brush looks and feels like.
- Opt for Eyelash Extensions
For very dramatic eyes, there is no way to beat the classic eyelash extension. It will give your eye more depth, create a more dimensional look, and lift your real eyelashes so that they accent the rest of your eye makeup.
So… what are lashes for, and why do you want to use them? They help your eyes look more feminine, but they also create the illusion that your eyes are bigger than they actually may be. Alternatively, some lashes can help your eye look like it’s a different shape, but it depends on the type you get.
You can add false eyelashes at home if you don’t want to get extensions at a spa or salon. To do this, simply purchase glue or magnetic false lashes to use at home and follow the instructions on the package. It may take some practice to get them right, but once you figure out how to make them look natural, you’ll never want to leave home without them.
- Choose the Right Colors
Dramatic eye looks are only as dramatic as the colors you choose. You will want to go with bold colors that wouldn’t look natural on the face, such as dark, smoky eyes or multicolor eyeshadows.
If you want to go with a smokier look, you should always opt for dark browns, blacks, or blues. You can create a combination of different shades to give your eye more dimension and accent the natural creases and edges of the eye.
Another option is to go with a rainbow or multicolor look. You can lightly blend the colors together or create starch lines that make your eyes really stand out.
If you’re feeling really creative, you can opt to try a pattern. Some people like to experiment with floral patterns, animal prints, or even actual pictures of nature scenes.
- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Speaking of getting creative, part of doing a dramatic eye look is going to be getting out of your comfort zone. If you’ve never tried to do a dramatic look before, it can be hard to figure out how to do the basics and get it to turn out the way you want.
It may be helpful to look up videos online to get started, but there are some basic tips that will help you begin. For a dramatic look, you want to either go with a darker color than normal or a color that is abnormal, like blue, purple, or pink.
Consider making the eyeliner thicker toward the outer corner and extend it past the edge of the eyelid to create a cat-eye effect. If you don’t want to do a cat-eye, you should still make sure that the eyeliner extends from the outer corner of your eyelid all the way into the inner corner (near your tear duct) as close to the lashes as possible.
Tightline your eye before applying your mascara and then false lashes. If you want to use eyeshadow, you should do this before you start with the eyeliner. Remember that it’s perfectly okay to mess up your makeup; you can always try again!
Get the Dramatic Eyes You’ve Dreamed of With These Tips
With these ideas for dramatic eyes in mind, you’re ready to try your hand at a whole new appearance. If you need even more inspiration, check out some of the latest eye trends to see what other people in the makeup world are doing with their own looks.
Get creative with your makeup and try new things to find the best dramatic eye for you.
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