Your eyes are a canvas of endless possibilities, offering you the chance to create captivating looks that express your unique style and personality.
Whether you're aiming for a subtle daytime charm or a bold evening allure, mastering the art of eye makeup is key.
In this article, we'll look into a variety of creative eye makeup ideas, drawing inspiration from different trends and techniques.
Plus, we'll provide you with valuable tips and tricks to ensure your eyeliner application is on point every time. So, if you're ready to elevate your eyeshadow and eye makeup game, read on and unlock a world of beauty possibilities.
First, some inspiration...
Cool Red Eyeshadow Makeup Looks
Red eyeshadow makeup looks are not timely just for Halloween and the festivities that follow. If you are looking for some red eyeshadow inspiration to spruce up an everyday monotonous style, then these next twenty red eyeshadow makeup looks may just hit the right spot.
But before we take you on the inspirational red eyeshadow journey, let us explore some dos and don'ts of doing red eye makeup.
How to Use Red Eyeshadow without Frightening Anyone
There are many ways to play with red eyeshadow that don't venture into the dramatic, gothic, or theatrical zone. You don't need to go all way in with bold red makeup. You can use red makeup palette to create some very gentle, sophisticated, springlike or summertime looks that are tasty enough on all eye shapes.
Here are three ways to experiment with red makeup that won't cause anyone's goosebumps, heart racing, or raised eyebrows (or, maybe, yes, but for all the right reasons):
Mixing Complementary Colours
If you think that your eyes are too blue or too brown to wear red makeup, then you can try mixing the base red colour with green, orange, or blue makeup. Complementary colours dilute the harshness of the brave red and provide nuance.
Shimmer, Glitter, and Gloss
Adding glitter and shimmer is also a fun way to recreate stale red eyeshadow makeup looks with texture and dimension. You'd be surprised how good eyes surrounded with red can look when there is that 3D reflection that provides depth and substance.
Eyeliner (Black, Red, Gold)
Most of us aren't professional makeup artists, and some days it can be hard to get inspired. If the new look in question is red eyeshadow, things can get even trickier. Reach out for the eyeliner to create red eyeshadow makeup looks with a definition that brings out the best in your face. Now you have seen how to master the basics of red eyeshadow. let's see how you can recreate some of these look rules in practice.
1. Cherry Bomb
Calling the red eyeshadow makeup blend a cherry bomb is both an understatement and an overstatement. The subtle blend of reds, pinks, and vanilla is not that bombastic, but the overall result is more than eye-catching. Add gel eyeliner to shape a nice almond eye and create contrast.
2. Red Apple
For a bit of an autumn vibe, use glittery burnt orange eyeshadow in the central part. Blend with auburn red in the outer and deep yellow in the inner eye corners. A little sparkle never hurt anyone. Dip your nails in an orange shade dip powder for maximum effect.
3. Full Red Eyes and Lips
For a more theatrical look with bouncy eyelashes, choose a deep red colour for both your eyes and your lips. The floral hairpiece that wraps up this red eyeshadow look is optional, but the face glow isn't. Use a shimmer foundation or finish with luminous powder to counter-effect the red.
4. The Eyeliner Switch
Ditch the eyeshadow and go straight for the red eyeliner if you are looking for shapely precision. Minimise the rest of the face makeup with nude lips for eyes in the centre of attention.
5. Bleeding Drama
Ok, this one might be a bit frightening. The best about this red eyeshadow makeup look is that, when Halloween passes, you can leave out the blood effect and stick to the rest of this layered rose-red creation with a silver crease accent.
6. "Genuinely" Red
If you believe too much deep red can make you look tired, try lighter orange shades. They remind everyone of the sun and will be a perfect match for hazel or light brown eyes that want to avoid looking dull. Use a brow pomade to lift that arch and open your eye even more.
7. Celestial Red
Sparkly eyeshadow diffuses a courageous red look and, when you mix it with deep mauves and peachy pinks, you can experiment with dimensionality. This look is the closest your eyes will ever get to a starry night with a cosmic vibe.
8. Classic Red Brown
A clean classic red mixed with smokey black and browns in a matte finish reveals the perfect combination for blonde hair and brown eyes. Complete with a smudge-proof mascara.
9. All-red Cut Crease
We wouldn't exactly call this look diabolic; maybe slightly devilish. Regardless of its name, the scariest part of it is having the skills to fill in the crease and add liner in all the right spots.
10. Deep Purple
You can go as far as a rich plum eyeshadow palette to link red and black eyeshadow in a pleasant medium between both. Use rich purple to bring green or grey eyes to the forefront.
11. Crimson Red
Here is another fiery combination of dark red and orange that tricks the eye with a red-only impression. This dark red eyeshadow makeup look is perfect for highlighting the green, golden dots in light brown eyes.
12. The Halo-Eye
How much red is too much red for you? If you prefer red eyeshadow mixes, this rainbow halo may meet all your requirements. A colourful palette is among drag queen makeup favourites: you won't even need professional-level skills to recreate this look.
13. Turquoise Pink
An unexpected combination of blue-green and pink eyeshadow puts an accent of green eyes. The contrast pushed the pink towards the red colour spectrum. Add lots of HD mascara for spectacularly bright irises beyond the dark lashes.
14. Spooky Glam Red
You can take an understated look from day to night by following this red eyeshadow makeup tutorial. It is all about choosing the right reddish liner and being generous with the mascara. (You might want to include the creepy stare only for Halloween parties, though.)
15. Wet Gloss
Achieve a blurry faded look that doesn't overwhelm the eye with glossy red eyeshadow. Incorporate glossy red lips and wet-look hair for a full-on fresh impression.
How To Apply Eyeliner - Quick and Easy Tips
As the old saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. They reflect your emotions and inner being and there is no better way than to make your beautiful eyes pop other than with eyeliner. Eyeliner can come in many forms shapes and sizes, you have the likes of your pencils, roll-up crayons, gel or cream pots, squeeze tubes, water-reacting cakes, wands and pen applicators.
We've all had our dilemmas when it comes to eyeliner, from the jabs in the eyeballs to the lashes convulsing in seizures when anything pointy comes near them or when you attempt to try Brigitte Bardot's trademark sex kitten look, but then end up looking like a panda bear after excessive rubbing and teary temper tantrums. Fear not, here is a guide to the many techniques on how to apply eyeliner.
How To Apply Eyeliner - Eye Shadow and an Angled Brush
Who said eyeliner is strictly wand or pot form only? For everyone out there who wants to dabble in makeup but finds the Kohl pencil eyeliner too harsh for your liking, you can often use your favourite eye shadow as a liner.
Step 1. The first step is to prime your eyes with a base, either an eye primer, concealer or a neutral-coloured powder. A little goes a long way, use your finger or a flat-tip brush and pat the primer on your eyelid and underneath your lash line.
Step 2. Get an angled eyeliner brush and dip it into your matte brown or matte black eyeshadow, tap away the excess powder and starting in the inner corner of your eyelid, push the angled brush in between the roots of your upper lashes and just gently wiggle the brush ever so slightly back and forth.
Step 3. Keep doing this motion until you reach the end of your lash line. Try to avoid swiping the eyeshadow in as that method isn't as effective as pushing the product into the lashes. The goal here is for a subtle "I'm not wearing any eye makeup" kind of look.
Pictured - Kryolan Eyeshadow Compact Cherry
Tip: If you want a more defined look. Wet your brush, dab the eyeshadow, once again tap away any excess and stay as close to your lash line as possible, gently apply light strokes.
Start in the inner corner of your eye in a patting motion. Line the rest of your eyelid towards the outer corner of your eye, and add more powder if the colour payoff isn't strong enough to your liking.
How to Apply Eyeliner - Pencil Eyeliner
Nothing like your good old basic kohl eyeliner pencil, but how many times have we tried using a pencil eyeliner and it has seen better days? Blunter than a butter knife, you try and attempt with the utmost precision to draw a crisp line but end up looking absolutely horrendous. I know I have been guilty of this numerous times.
The trick to getting your pencil liner technique down pat and looking effortless is to sharpen it. Simple as it sounds. Sharpening your pencil not only gives you the sharpest point to draw your tight line but it also rids it of any bacteria lurking in your eye pencil too. You wouldn't believe how much of a difference a sharpened pencil makes.
Step 1. For all the au natural folks out there I take a brown pencil and rim the top of my lash line all the way through, just by tracing through the top lashes, getting right into the root. I usually start from the outer top lash of my eye working my way in with a windscreen wiping motion, going back and forth as this gives you the control to intensify the eye look that you want.
Step 2. Then for the bottom of the lash line, I only rim two-thirds of my eye using the windscreen wiping technique again as not going all the way in gives the illusion of my eyes appearing bigger.
Step 3. Not that many people have tried this, but using a nude or flesh-toned coloured pencil on the tight line of your bottom lash lifts your eye look even more. Brightening those peepers up by allowing the whites of your eyes to look whiter.
Traditionally white pencil has always been used to achieve this instant eye-lift. However, the stark white can be a little harsh for makeup beginners who aren't that adventurous yet.
Pictured - Kryolan Kajal Pencil Highlight
Tip: Using black pencils gives you more of a dramatic look. However, lining your whole entire eye with black liner makes your eye appear smaller.
A tip from Kate Hudson that I read in a magazine a few years ago is with her black eyeliner she will lift her eyelid up with one finger and tight line her top lash line, (so you are kind of going underneath that area) making it look like she has fuller and thicker lashes.
How To Apply Eyeliner - Creams and Gel Liners
Cream and Gel liners are more forgiving than liquid liners. These liners are creamy and wipe away easily when a stroke or two go astray. Most of these liners that are being sold come with a brush in the packaging that you can apply the product with. Or if you simply don't like using those you can always use your own style. Whether it be a thin pointed tip brush or an angled brush.
Step 1. For gel liner I will prep my eyelid area with a base, patting it down on my eyelid and under the bottom lash line.
Step 2. I dip the bristles of the brush in the gel pot and wipe away any excess product on the rim of the pot. Starting with less product on the brush is better than starting with more as you can always add more eyeliner if you wish and build it up as taking away is more of a difficult task to do. Less is more.
Step 3. On the top middle section of my eyelid where my iris is, I draw outwards staying close to my lash line. For a basic line, I make it as thin as possible. The thicker the line, the bolder the look.
Pictured - Kryolan HD Cream Liner Aubergine
Tip: If you make a mistake this can be cleaned up via a flat-tip or pointed-tip cotton bud.
How To Apply Eyeliner - Liquid Eyeliners
The most intimidating medium out of all the liners - everyone either loves them or hates them. Practice makes perfect with these slippery little suckers as well as a steady hand. A simple method for this sleek and dramatic look is to...
Step 1. Prime your eyes with a base.
Step 2. Along your lash line place a dot where your iris is and dot along your eyelid staying as close to your lash line as possible.
Step 3. The dots should be half a centimetre apart from each other. There should be three to four dots along there.
Step 4. Place your drawing elbow on a table while the other hand is holding a handheld mirror. Now is the time to connect the dots by placing the liner along your eyelid sideways. Join the dots by starting from the inside to work your way out.
Step 5. After the dots have been connected, blend the line you have created with the inner corner of your eye. Slowly starting very small from your inner corner join a line to the middle section.
Step 6. Ever so slightly go over what you have created with smooth lineal strokes.
Pictured - Kryolan Skinliner Terracotta
Tip: The reason why your applicator should be placed sideways is because you are making the wand do all the work rather than drawing with the tip pointed at your eyelid. As for beginners, it can make your line work look wobbly.
Conclusion
Hopefully, these tips and tricks on how to apply eyeliner along with some ideas for inspiration have helped you on your way to rocking a sexy and sleek flick.
Remember practice makes perfect!
This article has been edited by Scott Peers and is based on articles previously published on AMR Hair & Beauty, written by Rachael Waine & Tako Phanoraj.