I am an african american woman with large eyes. They dont pop out but they are wide and besides my lips they are the first thing you notice when you see me. I wanted some tips on what is or is not appropriate make-up for my eyes. I would like to wear eye shadow, mascara, and eye liner like normal people but sometimes it just looks spooky, so most of the time I dont wear it at all. Not wearing it at all was ok when I was younger but in my line of work, I think the way I look makes a big difference. Any suggestions?

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I am an african american woman with large eyes. They dont pop out but they are wide and besides my lips they are the first thing you notice when you see me. I wanted some tips on what is or is not appropriate make-up for my eyes. I would like to wear eye shadow, mascara, and eye liner like normal people but sometimes it just looks spooky, so most of the time I dont wear it at all. Not wearing it at all was ok when I was younger but in my line of work, I think the way I look makes a big difference. Any suggestions?

I have very large eyes as well an my advice is, if you want to highlight your eyes which you should, you can use the simple triangle procedure- choose three eyeshadow colors and using the medium/middle value eyeshadow color (the color that isn't too bright/isn't too dark) "draw" a line from one corner of your eye to your brow line and the other corner to your brow line and fill it in with the color. Don't make the line very heavy- just enough so that you can see where to fill in. You should have three triangles- one at the far corner of your eye, which you should fill in with the darker shade, one that you first filled in, and one at the inner corner of your eye that you should fill in with the lighter shade.

Sounds more complicated than it actually is…

Here's what I do in regard to eyeliner and mascara. I just line the upper eyelid with a liquid eyeliner to make my eyes look even bigger- however if you want to "close in" the eye, then use the liner to line the bottom lid as well.. I like liquid eyeliner better because the line stays put, unlike a kohl eyeliner. The trick is to use a liner that is more like a felt tip pen than a flimsy brush, so that you have more control over the line and to practice, practice, practice, using it. My favorite liquid eyeliner is by a brand called isadora which is sold at your local walgreens. Once I line the eye, I then use maybelline great lash in black and apply like 3 coats to my top lashes and nothing to my bottom, again because when I do I always look like a racoon.

Now if none of these tricks do it for use- Iman has a great book as well as check out the book Making Faces by the late great make-up artist Kevin Aucoin.

I have large eyes as well, and they are the ones that I really dress up. I’m all about the low-maintenance makeup, with the very big exception of my eyes.

Use a pale pink/nude eyeliner on your lower lash line to really give your eyes a pop, white may be too stark as is the case with most people ! If you have brown eyes, use a purple or green eyeliner on the top lid and very finely smudge on the outer edge of the lower lash line. Use a dark shade thats more black than green or purple and it won’t be like “CRAZY EYESHADOW /LINER LADY”, also use a very thin line, almost lining the inner waterline but not that close. If you have green eyes, I think purple and brown liners work and blue eyes brown colors work. Wearing brown liner won’t give your eyes as big a statement.

Use a bit of lengthening mascara like Maybelline’s Lash Discovery on the outer lashes, starting at the very base and going to the very tip. Its a bit like a “primer” for the more volumizing mascara like Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft. I would maybe look into an investment in very dark green/purple mascara to only use as a final coat since you have big eyes - might as well show ‘em off.  A bit of the lengthening mascara like lash discovery on the outer lower lashes may or may not be a good idea

Use a light neutral, whatever suits your skintone, since my skintone is alot like that of Aishwarya Rai, I use pale yellows and beiges with a very fine shimmer. Apply it to the very middle of your lid, like when you are looking straight ahead - where your pupil sits, if you have the nudy pink eyeliner maybe apply it to the pad of your index finger and rub the color on. Then apply the pale neutral to the inner corner of your eyes and underneath the brow bone.

The big idea in this case is to use a very light hand while apply the liner and shadow colors.

Some of these tips may not work for you, so its a good idea to leave one eye bare to see whether or not that is the look your going for.

OK, here goes.....I have large and dare I say beautiful green eyes.  They are my best facial feature.  I’m in my 40s now, so I’ve had a lot of time to experiment with different ways of shading my eyes.  I will let you in on my secrets....at least this is what I do.  First, I start with a light beige matte shadow and brush it on from the lashline to the brow.  If your eyes are also deep set, which mine are, take a color that you like, but NOT a really dark one, and brush it on from the outside corner to just where your pupil is when you are looking straight ahead.  Blend the two so there are no visible lines.  (The second shadow can be anything from a darker version of the beige shadow to a color that you like, blue for example). But under no circumstances should the second color be black, dark brown, charcoal or anything that dark.  It will only look far too dramatic, when your eyes themselves are already dramatic enough, and it will really look like you’ve dipped yourself into a shadow pot.  When I line my eyes, I prefer a cream eye liner (like Loreal’s HIP line or any of the lines that Sephora carries).  I also prefer a slanted or angled brush instead of a skinny eyeliner brush.  Anyway, line your eyes with a dark shade (this can be very dark, even black if you like) starting on the upper lashline from the inner corner to the outer corner.  The line should be thicker from the pupil (again, while looking straight ahead) to the outer corner.  You will have to experiment to find what you like best.  Although I prefer not to line my lower lashes, I do every once in a while when I wear bangs.  Under no circumstance should you line your eyes all the way around.  On the lower lashline, start from the center to the outer corner and blend the beginning of the line into the lashline.

When you apply the light shadow, be sure and include the dark area next to the nose.  This widens the area and will make you look fresh.  I also never use frosted shadow.  The effect is too dramatic for daytime and looks too made up for evening.  Be sure and use two coats of mascara on your upper lashes, concentrating the second coat on the outside lashes. Only occasionally do I mascara my lower lashes.  Having the lower lashes lined and marcaraed seems to make my eyes look even bigger.  Only when I wear my bangs straight down do I do my lower lashes and use liner on them.  Also, be sure that your brows are shaped well.  If they are too thin, they will only make your eyes look like they are popping out of your head.  I see that all the time when I’m out.  Girls have so overplucked their brows that they look not quite human.  The brow should start at the inner corner of the eye and end just beyond the outer edge.  My best advice is to have them done once professionally at a good salon.  It’s worth the price.  If you’ve overplucked, STOP IMMEDIATELY.  You need some seriously shapely brows when you have big (and beautiful) eyes.

Try out what I’ve said and see how it works for you.  Sorry that I can’t give you a diagram.  I used to work for a cosmetics company and it was always appreciated when we would draw out the instructions.  Sorry.  The most important thing I guess is not to wear too much shadow on your eyes.  It’s aging, makes you look like you haven’t slept, and other people usually don’t find it attractive.  However, a few false eyelashes on the outer corner every once in a while is still fun!!  If you have questions let me know!!!