Tell me about your eye makeup routine please

[AngelDelightIsIndeedDelightful]

Hi all,

Recently I posted about having my long hair chopped off and following some really helpful and encouraging posts, I went ahead and did it. Since then, as I've been doing my hair every morning, it's encouraged me to go the whole hog and make myself up properly every day for work. I'm a lazy moo who has hardly bothered with hair or makeup for years, got stuck in a rut really. Didn't feel very good about myself etc, so what was the point. Anyway, the haircut and some weight loss has really lifted me and I have a new spring in my step (that sounds dramatic, but it really is true). Dh is starting to think I'm having an affair

I'm struggling with my eye makeup though. Whatever I do, the eyeshadow just doesn't look smooth or even. I end up slapping more on in an attempt to even it out, which really doesn't help.

So, what is your routine? Do you use a primer/foundation/powder/something else?

I bought new eyeshadow and brushes in case that was the problem, but it hasn't helped.

Any tips gratefully received!

Do you put foundation over your eyelids before the eyeshadow? And which brand of eyeshadows are you using?

I carry my foundation and powder over my eyelids to help things stay put. Either that or I use MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as a primer. Most eyeshadows these days should go on smoothly, so if you take a larger eyeshadow brush and smooth over a base colour, say a beige for example, take it all over the lid but not to the brow bone. Then take a smaller brush and dip it into a darker shade, and work it into the outer corner of the eye socket. blend, blend, blend. You can either stick like that and use mascara with or without liner, or go further with a highlight shade (a cream, say) on the brow bone.

The best thing for you to do would be to watch a couple of eye make up tutorials on YouTube, the ones by Makeupgeek are fantastic.

Congrats on your new confidence!

I wouldn't bother doing foundation everyday if you've got away without it this long - save it for more special occasions and people will notice you've gone the extra mile.

How are your eyebrows? They can make a big difference to a look.
Try only using liquid eyeliner and mascara on your top lashline only.
Bit of Benefit's Benetint on the cheeks (experiment putting it on apples, cheekbones or under cheekbones to see which suits you best.)

I only started doing eye make-up a couple of years ago when I moved from (bottle bottom) glasses to contact lenses, and lost a bunch of weight - different person! Had no idea where to start, but was recommended to go to Laura Mercier counter in John Lewis and ask them what to do. They will do you a free makeover and explain what they are doing and why, write it all down for you and usually give you samples to try for yourself at home. Have done this in three different branches now (for make up for different occasions - I wasn't taking the mickey with free samples!) and they have been unfailingly helpful. They've always asked what look I was going for and how much time/effort I want to give it.

I swear I don't work for them!

I think if your skin is at all oily, foundation and powder before eye-makeup is a must. You also need to have a sort of neutral colour all over the lid as a base before you start to work with any colour. It should be quite similar to the colour of your skin. A good undereye concealer is an absolute, absolute must too if you're going to wear any other eye-makeup. Clinique Airbrush is the best one I've found as it's very easy to work with (almost a liquid).

The Lisa Eldridge website has excellent tutorials and so do many of the websites of cosmetic companies (Smashbox has some really good ones as does Bobbi Brown).

Putting foundation on your eyelids will help the powder stay put- unless you use a really slippy foundation!

I apply foundation all over, then mascara, then a thin line of pencil top lid and bottom but only 2/3rds of the way.

Then I use a pale beige powder all over the eyelid, and add a deeper greyish brown in the socket and on corner of lids, taking a tiny bit under bottom lashes. then i add more mascara, and more, and more, as my eyelashes are minute.

I just discovered cream eyeshadows and they are AMAZING!
My current loves are Nars, Guerlain and Dior.

Urban decay eyeshadow primer - your eyeshadow will glide on and not budge all day.

I never wear shadow during the day - just liner and mascara.

I never used to bother with eye shadow before, just eye liner, but I've fallen head over heels in love with Chanel's quadras. They stay on all day (even without primer) and look polished, not showgirl, and the color combinations are to die for. Unlike Dior, they don't burn and irritate my sensitive eyes,

I have pale gray/green eyes, pale skin and blond hair, and black eyeliner and beige or brown eye shadow look dull on me. Now I've discovered that silver or gold or purple eyeliner plus pale pastel eye shadow really open up my eyes and intensify their color. My favourite palettes ATM are Chanel Lilium and Sparkling Satins, but I'm probably picking up either the mauve-purple Vanites or blue Lagons later this week when I'm going to the airport - and will also try on some green and blue Chanel pencils.

I discovered all this when a professional make-up artist made me up. I'm a working professional, my work environment is conservative, I can't look like a disco ball there, but Chanel's grays, greens, mauves, pinks, apricots and subtle metallics look just fine. Discovering flattering color has been a wonderful experience for me - go for it!

Thanks all. I don't put foundation on my eyelids at the moment, but will def give that a try. I'm not afraid of colour, my eyes are my best feature (lovely blue colour) so more than happy to show them off. I don't wear lipstick, so can get away with heavyish eyes I think.

Will have a look at the online tutorials and also get myself down to a counter for some hands on help when I've got some time off over Christmas.