Unlike you, I'm relatively new to makeup and beauty products. It's taken me time to advance from clownish to "not embarrassing." But I'm still a far way from good.
I've hit a plateau and can't seem to move past it. I need help understanding how to apply makeup. I have problems figuring out what to do with my eyes.
Most gals line their eyes to add attractive definition. And they enhance their lashes (e.g., with mascara) to draw further attention to innate femininity.
When I was young, I had beautifully long and lush eyelashes. But as old women will tell you, age takes its toll on that. Mine are reduced to sparse short ones now. Even worse, you can barely see them because of a peculiar feature of my face -- due to genetics, my eyelids overhang and cover up the tops of my eyes. (My mom looked the same.) My long eyelashes used to poke out but now they're almost completely concealed by the lids.
The eyelids also completely obscure the top of my eyeline, so putting liner there disappears from view. The only place I can put visible eyeliner is on the bottom. Without any definition above it, that looks odd.
A while back, I asked a friend to try to help me. She used liner and false eyelashes. The result (shown above) is better than what I achieve on my own, but it was a lot of work. I will move in this direction -- with good and bad results -- until I find a suitable way for painting my face.
Any suggestions?
A lot of places give make-up lessons - treat yourself as a Christmas present to you! I know some places here: Aveda, MAC, Clinique - check around your local mall and ask in the make-up areas in large department stores. Large spas often offer it as well, and you could have a secluded area if you feel self-conscious. They might be offering deals for the holiday too.
ReplyDeleteFalse eyelashes take a while to get the hang of - I'm still working on it!
i think your eyes are called 'hooded eyes'. there are plenty of women who have them, and plenty of makeup tutorials online that specifically work for that particular kind of eye shape!
ReplyDeletethere are tons of great resources online, and i've found that one of my favourites is reddit--it's a huge forum site with many different categories for users to participate in, and their makeup section is huge. the ladies there are super nice and helpful if you want to participate, but i've also found it helpful just to look at the pictures and tutorials they post for inspiration and guidance. you can find it at http://www.reddit.com/r/makeupaddiction
good luck! i'm also a bit of a learner as my mom never wore makeup when i was growing up and actively discouraged me from using it, especially when i was young. i taught myself everything and it took a LONG time to get where i am today--even so, i feel like a newbie when it comes to a lot of stuff, and i sort of have one default look that i do every day just cos i know how to do it.
Thank you, mouse. I'll check that out.
DeleteLashes are a great solution to this problem. And like all makeup application: practice makes perfect. And...the more you do it the easier and faster it will be. Watch lots of Youtube vids! There is some great advice out there! Keep at it! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa.
I really have no helpful tips on makeup, but I wanted to tell you I think you have gorgeous eyes. The color is to die for. (from?)
ReplyDeleteMakeup is uncharted territory for me (still haven't figured out how to apply liquid eyeliner properly!), but I'm wondering whether eyelash extensions might be useful? I've heard good things about them. I suppose it depends whether you'd be comfortable having enhanced lashes all the time vs putting on falsies when you need/want 'em.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good suggestion. I've toyed with it. Yes, it would be full-time, not temporary, so I'd need to accept that. But it would solve this problem.
DeleteI think your makeup always looks lovely and that you do a better job at it than I do.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Luan. Very sweet of you to say.
DeleteI think you look amazing here! Your eyes are gorgeous. I can see the amount of work that has gone into this.
ReplyDeleteMy husband also has green/hazel eyes.
I suffer from the same heavy eyelids. Aside from having surgery to correct the problem (I'm not willing to go under for that) it is a struggle all the time getting the makeup to look okay. I do get eyelash extensions. My hair is naturally blond and my eyelashes are basically invisible without mascara or the extensions. Since my eyes don't like makeup I get extensions. I'm lucky to have very long lashes of my own and although I've been getting the extensions for about 3 years now they don't seem to have damaged my lashes at all.
Not sure how that would work for you though when you are at your regular job during the day.
bisous
Suzanne
I think the liner looks good on you. You might try a softer color. Navy would look good with your eyecolor.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I think this make up looks fabulous. You have come a long way dear Ally :)
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest checking out you tube tutorials.
You're gorgeous in that photo! You can find great makeup tutorials on You Tube and Pinterest
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered Youtube for makeup tutorials. I have NO idea how to apply makeup. I have specifically been looking into how to cover my under eye circles (hint, it's impossible). I think this look is great on you, but I never would have noticed in other pictures that your lashes don't look long and fabulous. While I completely understand wanting to make changes/learn how to do this, I also think you look beautiful as is!
ReplyDeleteI think you look beautiful here. There's a book by Kevyn Aucoin called Making Faces where he makes people over into movie star looks, and he details the steps he did to achieve the look. Lots of secrets I've never seen elsewhere are in it.
ReplyDeleteI have the worst time applying eyeliner to the tops of my eyes as well so a lot of the time I just go with out it. if you carefully build up your mascara and use black that should help with lash definition though. I tried fake eyelashes a few times and it was awful. I gave up. Definitely check out the YouTube videos others have suggested and remember that a full face of makeup is unusual for most ladies. I skip makeup 95% of the time, and I think that's pretty normal. Other friends do just a little bit of this or that. Whatever you do it should be fun.
ReplyDeletesince your lids hang over and cover your eyeliner, look into tightlining and waterlining your eyes. it's where you deposit eyeliner right at the base of your lashes from underneath (and can be extended a little into the waterline if you wish), kind of filling in the gaps between the hairs. it defines the lash line and gives the illusion of wearing liner.
ReplyDeletehere's a couple quick tutorials:
http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/11/gif-tutorial-how-to-tightline-your-eyes.html
http://www.xovain.com/how-to/how-to-tighline-your-eyeliner-gif-tutorial
make sure to use the right mascara, too - look for volumizing and/or lengthening...or you can even try 3D fiber lashes (younique is most popular brand).
I saw your thumbnail when I want to check my page, and this photo struck me by how happy you look here!
ReplyDeleteYour friend did a really excellent job! You look sensational, Ally.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest lining the waterlines of your eyes with white eyeliner to help them standout more, as well as (as your friend did here) using false lashes. The two together are a surefire way to open up and make anyone's lovely peppers appear larger.
♥ Jessica
I don't have any makeup tips but i just had to stop in and say that when i saw your picture come up in my feed I actually said "WOW" out loud. You look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteFalse lashes do take a little bit of time to get used to, but I think if you find the right pair (of course, you always have to cut them down a bit to fit your eye), you could learn to glue those babies on in no time. Anyway, I'd suggest Googling make-up tips for hooded eyes. Most make-up tutorials are made for the boring average eye and thus might not be the best advice for your own eye shape. Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence, and many other celebs all have hooded eyes, so I'd suggest checking out what they're doing too!
ReplyDeleteThose eye-lashes seem to do the trick, because I do love those eyes! :)
ReplyDeleteEver thought about going to Sephora or MAC.. I'm sure they have tons of tips for all kids of faces, eyes and bone structures. :)
Ah, here is where I part company with you guys. I feel uncomfortable walking into Sephora and asking for help. I might ask for assistance in finding a product, but I'd be awkward asking for more guidance on how to apply makeup. I need to know the person I'm talking to is okay with the unusual idea of a man wearing makeup. Not everyone is.
DeleteI think you should keep trying at the false lashes. Just cut them in half and put them on the outside only. I use tweezers to put them in place. Otherwise, I would suggest only lining the top eyelid, as the liner on the bottom gives a heavier look, and can make someone look older. Please don't line the insides of your eyes. It's really dangerous. The last piece of advice I have is to put some highlighter (white sparkly eyeshadow will work) in the inside corners of your eyes. It makes your eyes look bigger. I hope some of that works. It's hard to give makeup help without seeing someone in person.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestions. Thank you, buddy. I learned about cutting the eyelashes in half. That helps a lot with me 'cause my eyes are curved and the full lashes don't want to bend that much. Haven't tried the white idea but like it.
DeleteOh my gosh, I love this look! I can't really tell how long (or rather, how short) your lashes are from your other pictures, but I am LOVING L'oreal's False Fiber Lash mascara (gold tube). It really gives amazing length.
ReplyDeleteFor other makeup questions, are you comfortable having a pro give you some tips? I'm guessing you might not want to stroll into a Sephora for a proper in-store makeup look, but maybe have a Mary Kay consultant come to your house? They do color sessions where they teach you what colors look good on you and how to apply them.
i think she did well and i agree with the falsies. i have hooded lids as well so my shadow isn't always showing. frustrating, right? it will get faster and easier to do the more you practice.
ReplyDelete