Learn how to apply your eye makeup like a professional makeup artist…invaluable knowledge not only for your pageant competition, but for impromptu interviews, videos, photos, and everyday as well. Highly-pigmented makeup colors are recommended and provide the most brilliant, longest-lasting color for anytime use, and are especially suitable for photography, video and stage. The strong color pigment will hold up against the harshness of stage lighting and camera flashes, avoiding a washed-out makeup appearance.
Keep in mind these basic eye makeup principles:
Pigment – The amount of pigment within an eye shadow plays an important role. The more pigment an eye shadow contains, the more color depth you will see when you apply it. Sheer eye shadows do not provide depth. Select high-pigment eye shadows for the most versatility and staying power.
Texture – The texture of an eye shadow is also significant and will help determine its placement on the eye. Is the shadow a shimmer, frost, or matte? Matte tones are typically best for basic contouring of the eye, while shimmers and frosts can highlight areas at the center of the eyelid or beneath the eyebrow.
Placement – Color placement is another important aspect: light colors help an area appear full, while dark colors make an area recede and add defininition. Bright tones can be blended with darker colors to mute the brightness and add a colorful accent.
To begin, start with a basic, definining ‘contour’ of the eye:
Place a dark eyeliner at the base of the eyelashes. Follow with a light-toned eye shadow applied onto the lid and up toward the eyebrow. Add a darker color in the outer corner of the eyelid. Blend the darker color into the crease as well. This is a ‘natural’ eye shadow contour. For a more dramatic eye using high-pigment eye shadows, simply add more product to intensify and darken the tones.
Enhance by adding an ‘accent’ to the eyes:
Place a bit of shimmer or frost on the middle of the eyelid, or blend a small amount of a bright color carefully into the darker tones you’ve already applied. Curl the eyelashes to open up the eyes. Apply a lash conditioning product, let dry, then apply mascara last. Use several coats to thicken, but let each coat dry completely to avoid clumped lashes.
Comb the eyebrows and fill in softly with brow color, if needed. To smooth the eyebrow hairs, finish with a clear brow fixative for a groomed look.
For extra drama, try a fabulous pair of false eyelashes to complete your look! Apply these carefully with a clear adhesive after eye makeup is finished. If possible, avoid using mascara on false eyelashes; when finished wearing, they can be removed, stored and reused again.
Plenty of practice time will dramatically improve your makeup skills. To get the same results as a professional makeup artist, do several ‘makeup rehearsals’ prior to your pageant so you’ll feel confident and calm on pageant day.
