Trust us on this: There’s no need to be afraid of eyeshadow. Yes, it is admittedly one of the trickier makeup steps to master; and yes, when you have small eyes without sufficient real estate on your eyelids to properly follow most of the eyeshadow tutorials out there, it’s easy to feel even more intimidated by all the pretty palettes you feel you can never use.
Don’t believe that – you can use those pretty palettes too!! When you know some tricks for how to make eyeshadow work for smaller, Asian-shaped eyes, not every attempt at applying eyeshadow has to end in disaster. Ahead, 5 ways to use eyeshadow to enhance Asian eyes, using the very aptly-named Eyes Wide Open and Tropical Escape Colour collections from Elizabeth Arden.
Use brown eyeshadow to create a crease.
This isn’t about those scarily exaggerated cut-creases you see on Instagram – props to the mad eyeshadow blending skills it takes to achieve that, but what we’re trying to achieve here is subtle, natural definition, especially on monolids.
How to: Achieve this by applying the Enhance shade on the inner corners, and the Define shade on the outside corners; both about 1cm above the lashline. Blend well to create a natural-looking gradient effect, and avoid colours with too much shimmer.
For this look, try:
Custom Eyeshadow Trio in Not So Nude; wear this with a healthy pinkish glow on the lips, using the Sheer Kiss Lip Oil in Pampering Pink.
Brighten the waterline, especially when using darker colours.
This is a common trick – line under the lower lashlines with a light colour to open up the eyes. It’s especially key when wearing darker colours though, as those can easily overwhelm small eyes when not balanced out.A palette with both light and dark shades will come in handy here.
How to: After applying the Enhance and Define shades, use a sponge-tip applicator to line the lower lashlines with the Highlight shade; line the upper lashlines as well if you want an extra widening effect.
For this look, try:
Custom Eyeshadow Trio in Something Blue; keep brows looking natural but well-defined with the Statement Brow Gel.
Don’t be afraid to play with warm hues.
Warm, peachy hues on the eyes have been in trend for some time now, but for eyeshadow amateurs, it might be daunting to try – we understand the fear of risking looking like you’re nursing sore eyes. You don’t have to keep yourself away from the warm eyeshadow palettes any longer, as long as you keep it simple.
How to: Pinkier hues suit skin with cool undertones better, while warmer undertones can go for shades closer to gold. Always keep it simple by wearing a maximum of two shades – preferably the lighter Highlight and Enhance ones – and avoiding too much shimmer. You’ll find that these really help to brighten the eyes, and perk up the complexion.
For this look, try:
Custom Eyeshadow Trio in You Had Me At Merlot (cool undertones) and Custom Eyeshadow Trio in Bronzed To Be (warm undertones).
For monolids, apply eyeshadow in a vertical gradient.
Most eyeshadow tutorials will tell you to apply eyeshadow starting with the lightest shade in the inside corners, and ending with the darkest shade on the outside. That generally works alright, but for crease-less lids, it might make more sense to apply colours in a vertical gradient. This more natural-looking gradient style is more suited smaller eyes, since there’s more visual balance.
How to: As usual, start with applying the lightest Highlight colour first as a base. Layer on the Enhance shade, and then the Define shade, in gradually shorter blocks. Be careful not to extend too high up from the upper lashlines, and blend well!
For this look, try:
Custom Eyeshadow Trio in Forever Plum; pair this with a bronzy complexion achieved with the Fourever Bronze Bronzing Powder.
Balance out smoky shades with warm neutrals.
It’s easy to get smoky eyeshadow colours wrong. Cool shades can be a mismatch on warm undertones, and poor blending can make you look like you’re nursing a black eye.
How to: One way to balance out the darker, cooler shades is to start with a base of a warmer colour, like a light brown, or even a muted peach. Apply the Enhance shade on the outer corners, both above and under the eye, before applying the Define shade over, and blending well. This slight contrast helps balance out the cool tones a little, so it doesn’t overwhelm smaller eyes.
For this look, try:
Custom Eyeshadow Trio in Smokey Nights; widen eyes even more with a coat of the Lasting Impression Mascara.
From now till 31 July 2017, purchase any 2 items from the collections and receive a FREE All Gone Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (worth $34). Terms & Conditions apply.
The Elizabeth Arden Eyes Wide Open Collection and Tropical Escape Colour Collection, available now at the Elizabeth Arden boutique and counters. elizabetharden.sg
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