What shades of eye shadow best enhances my eyes?

Use eye shadow to enhance the natural beauty of your eyes. When trying on shades, opt for colors that complement your skin tone and eye color. Your eye shadow should not match your eye color. Natural shades look best and are always in style. Trendy colors may make a statement, but only temporarily.

The shape and placement of your eyes will affect how you apply your eye makeup. If you:

• Have deep-set eyes: Use pale and shimmery shades to draw your eyes out. Sweep it from the inner corner of your eyes to just beyond the outer corner. Apply a slightly darker shade in the crease and blend upward.
   
• Have wide-set eyes: Applying a shade a bit deeper than your skin tone from the inner corner to the middle of your lid will make your eyes appear closer. Use a lighter shade from mid-lid to the outer corners of your eye. Blend well.
    
• Have close-set eyes: First dot a concealer into the innermost corner of each eye. This trick makes your eyes appear farther apart. Using an eye liner, draw a thin line on your top lid that thickens slightly at the outer corner of your eyes. Sweep a pale shade from your inner corner to mid-lid and a darker color from mid-lid to the outer corner. Blend the two shades in the middle of your lid.
   
• Have small eyes: Use a medium-toned shade from your lash lines to the crease. Add a darker shadow to the outer third of the crease. Highlight your brow bones with a light eye shadow.
   
• Wear glasses: Pair bold frames with lush dark lashes. Tortoise-shell and horn-rimmed frames look best with well-groomed eyebrows.

What's the best way to apply eye shadow?

Follow these suggestions:

• If you're just starting out, stick with neutral tones, like beige or pale gray.
   
• Avoid applying eye shadow with your fingers. Use either makeup brushes or sponge applicators for best results.
   
• Prep your lids with a light creamy foundation and a light dusting of loose translucent powder.
   
• Apply the shadow across your entire lid; start at the inner corner near your lash line and work your way up and out to your brow bone and outer corner of your eye.
   
• In general, remember that deeper shades go on the lid and lighter ones on the brow bone.

This is an excellent casual day look!

Now for the classic three-shade blend:

• Sweep your medium shade across the entire lid.
• Blend the darkest color into the crease of your eyelid.
• Highlight your brow bone with the lightest shadow.
• Be sure to blend well so you can't see three distinct colors.

How can I achieve a good daytime or evening look?

For a polished daytime look, remember that less is more:

• Stick with neutral tones such as tan, plum or pale gray.
• After sweeping eye shadow across your entire lid, curl your lashes and apply black brown mascara.
• Draw a thin line along your upper lashes with a brown or charcoal eye liner to complete the look.

For a dramatic evening look:

• Use black eye liner on both upper and lower lash lines.
   
• Smudge the lines with a sponge to create a sultry look.
   
• Extend your liner a little bit past the outer corners of your eyes, for a more dramatic effect.
   
• Lightly dust a pale eye shadow along your brow bone to highlight your eyes.
   
• In the crease, sweep a black or dark gray shade, concentrating the color on the inner upper eye area.
   
• Curl your eyelashes and layer on two or three coats of black mascara. Create striking brows by filling them in with a dark brow pencil.