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Monday, May 28, 2012

Beautiful eyes with SJM - #beautytips

Simple steps to achieving beautiful eyes
I have a confession to make - eye shadow scares me! The irony being, my eyes are my favourite feature!

I have always liked having blue eyes, but at times been discouraged from tackling the smokey eye look out of fear of failure. I still believe (being fair haired) that a smokey eye can be too heavy and androgynous, if not executed well. So, instead of curling up in a ball and crying, I got to work!

Below are my beauty tips to creating a strong but simple eye for any occasion:

1. EYELASH TINTING - eyelash tinting is a game changer! It not only gives your lashes a black base, but it actually improves the mascara application/effect. I would suggest getting the blue/black tint, this being the darkest tint. The brown can often leave a red tinge around the eyes. Most beauty salons offer this service at an affordable cost (approx. $20 - $35 depending on the salon). 

2. EYELASH GROWTH SERUM - no, I do not believe in horoscopes or ghosts. But, I do believe and swear by SOME eyelash growth serums. My favourite is Lash Idol (available online from the US at approx. $80 for 2 tubes). I had a bad experience with some eyelash extensions, which left one of my eyes completely bald. I ordered some of this serum and applied it twice daily to both my bottom and top lashes. Within six weeks they had completely grown back, and then some! I still use this serum and it keeps them thick, strong and long. 

3. EYE BROW WAXING, PLUCKING & MAINTENANCE - I am not a particularly hairy person at all, yet I find myself religiously waxing my eyebrows every fortnight. I also love using an eyebrow pencil to colour in and shape my brows, for that full and bold look. While your eyes are the window to your soul, your eyebrows frame them. Essentially, without a good brow your eyes can fall flat. Now, while saying this, you don't have to be like me and tint them dark, but thickness and shape are crucial. My eyebrow inspirations are Rachel Taylor, Keira Knightly and Natalie Portman. They all have square and thick eyebrows which allow their eyes to jump out at you. 

4. FAKE EYELASHES - I personally prefer the 'natural' fake eye lashes! 1/2 a band or individual lashes look the most natural, and are the easiest to apply. I would suggest placing them on the outer edge of the lashes, as this will open up your eye and give you a natural cat-eye shape. An easy and cost effective way is to also cut one band in half, this saves you money and the lashes descend from the outer edge in - similar to my eye above. If you are going to use the bands, ensure you buy quality lashes as the band is much finer and easier to manoeuvre. Mac and Gorgeous Cosmetics have some great designs - buy these online they are cheaper!   

5. USING A GOOD QUALITY EYELASH GLUE AND LASHES - for years I struggled to put on false eyelashes. These attempts would often end up with tears, red eyes and a very sticky face! I have since mastered the art, but not without some useful tips along the way. A good quality eye lash glue is essential. Instead of using those tiny tubes they often include with the cheaper products, buy a larger tube of a quality glue. This will not only last longer, but actually make the whole process a lot easier. After you have applied a small amount to the band, wait a few seconds and blow on it. This will semi dry it and allow more flexibility when trying to position on the eye. Using a cotton bud or the rounded end of your eyeliner pencil to smooth down the band. Ensure you hold this in place for at least 15 seconds before letting it dry completely.
*SJM BONUS TIP - put your lashes on first. I also think putting them on last over my foundation and eyeshadow contributed to my many bad endings. When you put them on first your skin is dry and easier to work with. Apply your foundation with a brush or sponge around them.

6. EYELINER & EYESHADOW - finish your eyes off with eyeliner on both the bottom and top lash for an extra bold and sharp look. I use the Revlon crayon for my bottom lashes (inside the eye).  This rolls on easily and there is little risk of serious pokes during application. On the top lashes (depending on the occasion) I use both charcoal eye shadow to create a thick line, or just liquid eyeliner to create a thin and more natural line. This serves two purposes.  It covers any signs of the eyelash band and also completes the eye. For day-to-day wear I only wear eyeliner on my bottom lashes, but for nightwear I thicken it all up. I still live with a fear of the smokey eye, however, I find this look works for me, particularly because I LOVE to wear a bright and bold lip colour too. 

7. EYE DROPS - my final piece of advice for fresh, bold and beautiful eyes is... eye drops! These are not only life savers on an international flight where the cabin is at zero humidity, but keep your eyes moist and clear at all times. This is especially during the winter months, when we have our heaters blasting and often become dehydrated and dried out. These are a MUST for your handbag ladies!

To finish up here are some of my favourite products: Revlon Smoky Crayon, Inglot eyeliner brush, Mac Opulash Optimum Black mascara, Face of Australia liquid eyeliner & LashGrip eyelash adhesive.

Good luck and enjoy.

SJM.


2 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah Jane, I love your blog....keep it coming! Just wondering do you have a brow specalist that you visit? Or can you reccomend anyone good in Melbourne? I like my brows but just want a bit of extra help on getting the shape right. Thanks:)

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  2. It was nice Beauty Tips for Eyes which are necessary for making the beautiful looking eyes, Thanks.

    ReplyDelete