GirlsGuideTo | Beauty How-To: Eye-Enhancing Makeup

Few beauty looks are more universally flattering than the neutral smoky eye. It works on all shapes to leave your eyes looking brighter and bigger. Make the most of your makeup and try our tips to create a beautiful eye-enhancing look.

1. Prep Your Eyelids
You’ll want to use primer or even foundation to create a tacky base that eye shadow can adhere to. Plus, the shadow will stay crease-free much longer. Try Urban Decay’s Primer Potion.

2. Line with a Dark Pencil
When you really want to enhance your eyes, you should use dark eyeliner, because the contrast against the whites of your eyes will really pop. Try navy, charcoal, brown, or black shades. A pencil is much more useful because it’s easier to manipulate than liquids or gels. Start applying in little dashes from the inner corner of your eye to the outside. Gradually thicken the dashes as you move toward the outer edge.

3. Perfect Your Eyeliner
Connect the dashes with a tiny eyeliner brush to soften and perfect the line. Use a cotton swab to push the line “up and out” at the corners.

4. Layer Makeup For Longer Wear
Use a taupe pencil, yes, a pencil not shadow, to line the eye sockets at the crease. Starting under the brow bone, extend the line to the outer corners to create a “v” shape. Then, layer shadow in similar taupe shades using a dome-shaped brush to make the look last all day and night.

5. Add Some Shimmer
To pump up the drama with a neutral smoky eye, you’ll need to play with the contrast between dark and light. Using darker tones around a lighter one give shape and definition, so apply a shimmery light shade on the eyelids to really make them pop.

6. Wear Liner Under Lashes
Most people don’t think about wearing eyeliner under lashes, but it can really “finish” a look. Use the same pencil eyeliner as earlier to sweep underneath the lower lashes. Don’t get too close to the inner corner of the eyes since they tend to get wet, and soften the line with a cotton swab as well.

7. Don’t Forget to Curl!
Curling your eyelashes is the quickest way to make eyes look bigger. Make sure to fully cup the lashes and pinch close to the roots for the greatest impact.

8. Apply Mascara
Use mascara to also bring out your eyes. Try using just the end of the wand to separate lashes as you go, which will prevent you from applying too much at once and keep lashes from getting stuck together.

9. Mind the Eyeliner Gap
When applying the thicker lash line, you want to take care of any gaps of bare skin between the eyeliner and eyelash. A simple mistake that could ruin the entire look. To fill in gaps, try using a small, stiff brush to apply gel eyeliner in to perfect the line.

10. Use Light Concealer
Brighten the entire area around the eye using a light concealer or illuminating wand.

11. Whiten the Inner Corners
To truly make them eyes pop, use white eyeliner, too. Adding white eyeliner to the inner corner of the eyes makes you look more awake as well.

12. Finish Your Look
To finish the look, simply add a touch of bronzer underneath cheekbones for definition and a creamy pink blush on the apples of the cheeks to really make the eyes look lighter. Add some rosy lip gloss and you’re all set!