Asian Eye Makeup - Tips and Techniques

"Don't try to be different, just bring out more of the beauty you already have," said Victoria Jackson, one of the most remarkable Hollywood makeup artists. Many Asian women try to make their small eyes appear bigger like Caucasian eyes by using eye makeup. I think that is a tremendous effort but not such a good makeup philosophy. Asian eyes are in fact very charming and exotic-looking. If you were born with them, you should be grateful for such a wonderful blessing nature has given you. In this article, you will learn how to apply eye makeup for Asian eyes in order to accentuate and draw attention to those slanted little eyes without making them look artificially wider. Keep in mind that these eye makeup tips are not to change what you've got, but to enhance them.

Brow Brush

A brow brush usually has stiff, angled, short bristles. It is designed for applying shadow to the eyebrows. Brow brushes with a natural/synthetic blend of bristles are better than the ones that are 100% synthetic, as they tend to be too stiff and do not spread color evenly.

Since your hair can get messy, your brows and lashes can sometimes be untidy as well.This two-in-one groomer is very useful. On one side, it has a stiff-bristled brush that looks a bit like a toothbrush for brushing your eyebrows into place. On the other side, it has a very fine-toothed comb for separating lashes after applying mascara.

A concealer brush is usually small, with firm bristles and tapered end. When shopping for a concealer brush, look for the one that has soft bristles, as you will use it under your eyes, which is an extremely delicate part of your skin. The ones with glossy synthetic bristles are the best, for they tend to slip along the skin nicely.

A good eye shadow brush should be soft, flexible and wide enough to cover half the eyelid. It should also have beveled edges that allow you to apply color across the lower eyelid without leaving obvious harsh lines.

Eyeliner brushes come in various sizes and different bristle tips such as tapered, angled and flat. The kind that I find most useful and universal is the ultra fine eyeliner brush with firm, synthetic bristles and tapered tip, because it is great for precise eyeliner application.

A smudge brush is very helpful if you want to create a smoky look around your eyes. It usually has a small head with soft bristles and rounded point. Try to find one with flexible, natural bristles; it will allow you to achieve that sexy smoky look more easily.

An eyelash curler is one special little tool that can make your normal lashes become more luscious and noticeable. Just remember to curl your eyelashes before applying mascara so that your precious lashes won't break off. Also, the rubber pads on it can easily wear out, so make sure you keep replacement pads on hand.

• Avoid using black on your eyebrows because it usually looks too heavy and unnatural with Asian skin tones. Choose lighter colors such as dark brown or mahogany instead.
• Trimming your brows to create more arch can bring out your eyes and highlight the eye makeup.
• If you have sparse eyebrows (most Asian women do), use brow pencil with color that matches your natural brow and hair color. Starting from the inside of the brow, draw in individual hairs between your natural hairs. Each stroke should be fine and featherlike, and should follow the natural hair direction. Another option is that you can use a brow brush to apply brow shadow. Brush through the hairs thoroughly with an upward sweep, using a tiny amount of color at a time. Add a little more color on the upper edge of the brow to highlight the arch and "open" your eye area. And finally, create a groomed look by coating the brows with a clear eyebrow mascara.

• Don't use a very dark shadow because that will only make your eyes seem even smaller. Light to medium brown tones tend to look great on Asian skin.
• To apply eye shadow, frst cover the entire eyelid with a light shade. Apply a deeper shade on the bottom part of the lid. Blend it into the lighter shade as you go up. Don't leave any lines of demarcation, as those lines will kill the subtle look that brings out the eyes and makes your eyes look diminished in size. Remember that for Asian eye makeup, less is more. Too much or too dark eye shadow not only fails to highlight the eyes, but also recedes them.

Eyeliner is the most crucial makeup for Asian eyes. Many well-known makeup artists such as Victoria Jackson and Bobbi Brown advise that since Asian women tend to have sparse eyelashes, they should just omit the use of mascara and use the eyeliner to draw attention to their eyes instead.

• Use a pencil or eyeliner brush to draw a line as close to the lashes as possible.
• Reapply to make it thicker and make sure that the line can be seen when your eyes are open.
• Smudge with a smudge brush to create a smoky look that will help bring out the eyes.
• Apply eyeliner under the eyes but this time draw only a soft shadow line. The lines on the bottom lids should be lighter than the ones on top.

If you have full luscious lashes, curl them first, then put on layers of mascara. Try to apply it as close to the base of the lashes as possible to keep the application looking natural. With the same rule as eyeliner application, apply mascara only lightly on the lower lashes. Also, comb through with lash groomer after applying each layer in order to avoid clumps.