I’ve been reading Carmindy’s latest book, get positively beautiful. She takes each facial feature and spends a chapter explaining how to maximize your assets using her makeup techniques.
I was particularly intrigued by her chapter on eyes. According to Carmindy, "opposites attract". She advises using shadows, liners, and mascaras that contrast with your eye color to make them pop, but she’s careful to point out that there are no hard and fast rules so experimentation is key.
So this week and next, that’s exactly what we’re going to do here on Chic Critique! We’re going to experiment with eye makeup and see what works.
I have brown eyes, and for as long as I can remember, I have been wearing brown eyeliner and shadows. But Carmindy suggests BLUE!
Now, I don’t know about you, but the mention of blue eye makeup brings back flashbacks of high school. I attended high school in the eighties, when the only thing bolder than the blue eye shadow was the wave of mile-high bangs plastered with Aqua Net. So at first I was all, HUNH-UNH. No WAY!
But then I read on. To keep it modern, Carmindy advises using neutral shadows with blue eyeliner. She also suggests trying shades of forest and emerald green. I was intrigued.
So I hopped in my car and stopped into my faithful Sephora store where I picked up an eyeliner by Make Up for Ever in Iridescent Navy Blue. The next morning I eagerly pulled out my makeup arsenal and started my routine. When it came time to tackle the eyes, I used a pearly cream shadow on the brow bone for highlight. I used a gold shade on the lids and in the crease. And then I applied my new blue eyeliner.
Wow, did my eyes pop! I’m not sure this is the exact right shade of blue. I think I’d prefer a darker navy. But I do like the effect of using an opposite color.
Here is my normal look:
And here’s what I look like with my Carmindy eyes.
Whaddya think? I’m undecided. I still want to experiement with green.
I do have to give a little plug to the Make up Forever eyeliner. In the past, eyeliner has ended up in my eyelid as I wear it throughout the day. But this waterproof formula is virtually smudge proof. In fact, on Saturday morning I applied my makeup around 10am, went about my day, and at 6pm I was getting ready to go out for dinner. I went to touch up my makeup only to find my eye shadow and eyeliner still in tact. I was thoroughly impressed.
If you’re a brown eyed girl, what colors do you normally wear? Would you give blue a shot? If you do, let us know!
About Jo-Lynne
I have a friend who is half Japanese, therefore, has brown eyes, who for as long as I have known her has always used blue eyeliner and it looks absolutely beautiful on her.
Wow! Your eyes look great, ! Who would have ever thought blue eyeliner could make that kind of difference?
Cute! I love it!!
I think the blue looks wonderful! I can definitely tell a difference. I bet green would look pretty, too.
I have hazel eyes – I don’t remember what I’m supposed to use. I’m currently using fairly neutral shadows, though purples look good, too. But I started using black eyeliner because my eyes are really small and inset so it helps them to show up.
I think the blue looks great! It emphasizes the whites of your eyes and it’s nice for a change. We brown-eyed girls can get so tired of wearing brown, brown and brown all the time.
mzzterry – I think the key is in the quality of eyeliner. The makeup forever
glides on like butter.
I like the blue color on you a lot. It just makes your eyes pop a little bit more. I have hazel eyes and i tend to use a purple shade. It looks really good (or at least I think so!) 🙂
The blue looks great!!! I am curious to see/try a navy myself…I have dark brown eyes and often wear plum/purplish shadow which works really, really well! I sometimes use a really pale pink up near my brows and in the corners of my eyes, too. Well, off to try blue. Man, I have a hectic schedule! 😉
I think it looks great. Have you tried anything from Carmindy’s makeup line she has with Sally Hansen, available at most CVS stores? These are the products she suggests from her line for brown eyes.
“Try my opposites attract method and choose the Always Perfect Liquid Liner in “Sapphire Blue” and the Instant Definition Eye Shadow Palette in “Ocean”. Draw the liquid liner across your upper lash line as close to the roots as possible. Apply the gorgeous shades of eye shadows on your lid and watch your brown eyes come alive!” Personally, I love her products.
Oooooh! I really like the blue! Subtle, but it DOES make the color of your eyes “pop!”
Thanks for the tip on the eyeliner, too. Wet N Wild ain’t cuttin’ it!
I like the brown better…I have brown eyes too and I think maybe mixing up the eye shadow colors would be better…
But this is just my opinion…you’re eyes are pretty anyways…
looks really purty. you apply your eyeliner so smooth and nicely. i am trying, but i don’t have it down yet!
I wear green eye liner… which is really eye shadow (mineral so it’s powerdery) that I apply with a wet brush to make it linery.
I love green. But I’ve not tried blue.
I’m thinking maybe I’ll try that…
I like the blue, but I want to see what green looks like on you.
Huh! I have brown eyes too…I may try this- I think it looks really good. It looks “natural” in a weird way – I mean I would think brown would look more natural, but the blue looks great! Maybe it is some color theory thing?
It’s sorta hard to tell since you took pics in different lighting. I think the more muted (brown) is better for every day but the blue is snappier for dressier times.
I have brown eyes but blue looks terrible against my skin unless it’s navy, and then what’s the diff? And green wouldn’t be good against my skin either, which is sallow/olivey. So anyway, right now I use a dark charcoal because I have black hair, but I have used a rich purple which has a similar effect that Carminy’s talking about. Atleast, I think so!
Wow! Great suggestions. I actually like the brown better on you, but both look great! You have beautifully eyes, so it doesn’t look like you can go wrong either way. I have hazel eyes and salespeople at the makeup counters always try to do purple shades. Who knew?
I love really like the after shots. I think the blue really does add something. I have hazel eyes and I’ve been wearing brown neutral colors for a smokey look. Last fall, a friend convinced me to change a little and I love the new look. Have fun experimenting.
I prefer the brown myself… but the blue might look good for a change of scenery every once in a while!
I have very dark black/brown eyes (legacy from a Burmese ancestor) and I used to find that aqua worked really well with them. Nowadays I tend to go with black/greys/silvers but I’m tempted to try the navy.
You look lovely 🙂
I have dark, chocolate-colored brown eyes. I like to use a blue eyeliner. I also really like pink and deep plum-brown eyeshadows with the blue eyeliner.
I’m all for the blue. But as I was taught as a makeup artist, you should always find your color on an artist’s color wheel, then go to the exact opposite side to see what works best on you. Brown for blue, blue for brown, purple for green, wine for hazel. Color selection is practically foolproof, though application can be another story!