Advice on eye make up, please

[RadioActiveTeddy]

In my 50s and at present just pop some green eye pencil around my eyes and some black mascara on. Want to move up a stage and make my eyes look just a little more done, but not too much as tend to emphasise lips and don't want to look too made up.

Guidance would be appreciated.

I suggest a taupe/lightish brown eyeshadow to take the lids a few shades darker than they are naturally, and a little darker shadow in the outer corners (which you could build up or keep light depending on how you're feeling). I'd apply the lighter shade with a brush and the darker shade with my finger. Use a matt colour for everyday and one with a bit of a sheen for glamming it up.

If you find the shadow runs into the creases of your eyelids, try applying a bit of translucent powder first.

You could also try applying a bit of eyeshadow mixed with water as an eyeliner - either leave it as it is, or allow to dry and smudge in for a softer look. Some shadows are specifically made for wet and dry application, but you can do it with the normal ones too.

I've recently got into Lisa Eldridge's videos and her Quick Smokey Eye might give you some ideas.

Hope this helps

Thanks lilac - really helpful.

The best eye make up looks require about four colours and LOTS of blending. (google eye shadow map/diagram for ideas)

1. If you are just starting, I would start with two colours - the precise colours depend on your eye colour. If you are using green eye pencil, I'm guessing your eyes are either brown or green... so to start choose a neutrally beige/cream base and a medium brown colour.

1. Buy two brushes - a blender and a shading brush.

eg:

www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/145/265/Products/Brushes/Eye/224-Tapered-Blending-Brush/index.tmpl

www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/145/290/Products/Brushes/Eye/275-Medium-Angled-Shading-Brush/index.tmpl

1. Apply the light base colour all over eye lid up to eyebrow.

1. Apply darker colour just along where eyebrow crease is from outer corner to about the mid point of the brow. It should be placed so the crease is in the middle of the band of colour you apply. Sort of dot it on with the shading brush gentle.

1. Close your eye and blend like a crazy fool! That means use the blending brush in circular motion all over the darker colour. It takes longer than you'd think. Blend blend blend - until all done.

Once you get the hang of this, then you can start adding in an under brow highlighter, a mid colour towards the nose etc.

This is a simple two colour map.

1.bp.blogspot.com/-ez5oJy1lJUI/UT4pYBdlgFI/AAAAAAAAEqI/_2VwMqfD7IQ/s640/map.png

Mostly it's about blending properly with quality brushes.

Oh and don't forget to finish off with:

1. eyeliner at the least on the upper eyelid
2. curl your upper eye lashes.
3. apply mascara to upper eye lashes.

Interesting map, Self, which reminds me to say: make sure your eyebrows are neat and any gaps filled in with light strokes of (a sharpened) pencil or powder. I find eyebrow pencil works better for me than powder but it's probably coz I'm too impatient to fanny about with the powders .

Either way, use light stokes and build up colour gradually - it sounds slow but it'll take less than 30 seconds once you've done it a few times. And it really makes a difference.

I also dye mine once a month with brown eyelash dye (don't use the black - too stark) - takes 2 minutes and is a great improvement. I think there's a Lisa Eldridge video somewhere on her site for eyebrows that might be worth a look, too.

Thank you Self - I found the map very helpful in visualising whats required.