The Eyes Have It: Part 1

When it comes to makeup, you should think of your eyes as the focal point in the masterpiece that is your beautiful face. There are some basic rules to creating the perfect look, but for the most part, it’s all about channeling your inner da Vinci or Van Gogh.

Before you begin, there are some basic guidelines to follow to make sure your look lasts throughout the day — prepping and priming are where it is at. Make sure that before you start, you have a clean, dry and moisturized face. Before applying any makeup, you want to make sure you're using an under-eye cream or gel as a foundation for anything you're putting on or around your eyes. This will help minimize pores, reduce puffiness and redness and lessen the appearance of fine lines. There's a large measure of these types of products out there, ranging from the super affordable drugstore finds, to the luxury products available at the makeup counter of your nearest department store.

Now on to the priming. I personally use a pale pink cream-based primer, because I'm so fair, and I have visible veins on my upper eyelids, so I like to save a step and conceal and prep those all at once. Otherwise, you can use a nude or clear primer; it’s all about preference.

Use your ring finger to apply primer in a thin layer from lash line to eyebrow and allow that to dry. Then, using a light shadow (anything from eggshell to a light pink color, depending on the look you're going for), swipe a thin layer over the primer to set it into place. I like using a pearly white, because it brings a slight iridescence to my lids right under my brow bone and the center of my eye, which actually makes my eyes look bigger. That's also great tip to remember if you wear glasses, like I do, because glasses tend to make your eyes appear smaller. Now that you're prepped and primed and ready to go, let the creative juices flow.

Make sure to check back for the next edition of The Eyes Have It — Part Duex: Dramat-eyes!