Makeup Basics - Eyes - What You Need In Your Makeup Bag

Hi Bellas,

This is part two in my "What You Need in Your Makeup Bag Series".  I'm covering all the basics that you need when it comes to eye makeup.  Check out my first post on skincare and face makeup here.  From eyeshadow to liner, to mascara make sure to check out this post for everything you need to know!

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When it comes to eyes, maybe find this one of the most fun parts of doing your makeup.  A little liner and eyeshadow can totally transform you from drab to fab!  In this post I show you the basics - how to get an everyday look and make it last.  When you get more advanced you can start adding fun colors and more advanced products like false lashes...but that's another post.  Let's get started!

EYES

Eyebrow pencil/powder – Many people underestimate the power that clean, sculpted brows can make.  Brows really help to frame your face. Eyebrow pencils are an easy way to fill in sparse areas and give you a nicer, fuller look.  Many may not realize this, but the fuller the brows, the lounger you look!  Rimmel makes great, inexpensive brow pencils.  I use their Hazel brow pencil all the time.  MAC does a great job as well (Maybelline has a dupe) but my favorite pencil is by Tarte.  

You can also use a matte eyeshadow and an angled brush to fill in your brows.  Remember to always choose a shade lighter than your brow color - nothing is worse than too dark, heavily filled in brows.  For those who just need a bit of taming, use clear mascara - any brand will do.

Mascara – Throw on a little mascara and you're good to go!  Lashes are the ultimate definition of flirty, feminine beauty.  The kind you choose really depends on your preference.  Do you like length or volume?  L'oreal voluminous is a classic drugstore that many makeup artists swear by.  I also like Covergirl Lashblast.  You can go waterproof (holds curl better and doesn't smear) or regular (looks more natural and the formula is smoother) - it just depends on your preference.  Many people choose black but blonds and fair haired beauties might want to go for brown.

Eyeshadow base – Just like Face Primer, eyeshadow base holds eyeshadow on longer and prevents creasing and fading.  It also makes eyeshadow more vibrant.  You can do the old school method of using creamy concealer or even a cream shadow.  However, if you have oily lids I recommend ones geared toward controlling shine - Urban Decay Primer Potion, Two Faced Shadow Insurance, or L'Oreal Decrease just to name a few.  For normal to dry skin, I like creamy bases in a neutral tone that help grab onto eyeshadow and can be used with any color combination.  Try MAC paint pots in Painterly or Soft Ochre, Paints in Bare Canvas or Sublime Nature.  NYX makes some great bases as well.

Eyeshadow- Eyeshadow is truly a transforming product and people seem to have the most fun with it.  Before you go with crazy colors, you'll need to start with the basics.  You’ll need a highlighter color for your browbone - something that is a few shades lighter than your skin tone (MAC Shroom, Ricepaper, Brule, Bamboo) a good, neutral lid color (MAC Woodwinked, All that Glitters, Bronze, Satin Taupe) and a darker contour/crease color (MAC Espresso, Brown Down, Embark, Sketch).  These are all in the brown/neutral family and they are MAC eyeshadows that work on everyone.  The easy thing to do is go to the drugstore and find pre-made quads that tell you where to place the colors.  I recommend the Wet n Wild Vanity Palette and Maybelline Quads.  NYX also has amazing shadows.  Another option is to build your collection with the popular 88 palettes (Ebay or www.sedonalace.com - use code renren for $4.00 off) to get a bunch of colors for a cheap price.  They have sets with bright or neutral colors options.

Eyeliner:  If you’re starting out, pencil liner is the easiest.  You can go for smudgeproof - they tend to be drier but last all days.  Kohl pencils are great for smudging.  I recommend starting out with the basics - black and brown, or maybe even plum if you're of a fair complexion.  Gel liner is also a good option and it's a whole lot easier than liquid liner.  Use with an angled brush. There are a lot of options out there, ELF makes a good, cheap one, and MAC's fluidline in blacktrack is great.

These are just some of my suggestions…I’m not sure which skin tone you have so I made recommendations based on colors that I know work on everyone…most of my suggestions are MAC products because that’s what I know best.  Hope this helps and good luck!

Stay tuned for the next post - Makeup Basics - Lips and Tools

FTC Disclosure:  Post not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned.

Atlanta Makeup Artist