I must’ve been about 12-years-old when I first started experimenting with makeup, and each time I went to apply shadow to my lids, I always heard Jamie Lee Curtis’ voice saying, ‘The first rule of eye makeup is that you can never wear enough blue eye shadow.’
(How many of you got that movie reference?)
Now, Jamie Lee wasn’t completely incorrect in her advice. Blue eye shadow really can make your eyes look gorgeous. But when you’re a hormonal teenager who doesn’t have the foggiest clue how to apply eyeshadow properly, there’s a high degree of probability you’ll end up looking like a clown rather than a professional makeup artist.
Just sayin’…
The good news is that I am much more knowledgeable about makeup dos and don’ts thanks to the wonderful makeup artists at our local Sephora as well as the fabulous beauty channels I subscribe to on YouTube, and while I don’t shy away from the blue eyeshadow quite as much as I used to, I have a much better understanding of what colors compliment my baby blues the best.
So if you’re interested in learning how to apply makeup for blue eyes so you can make your blinkers POP, keep reading…
EMBRACE THE ORANGE
One of the best eye makeup tips I’ve ever learned is to opt for colors that are the opposite of your eye color on the color wheel. I first learned this trick from Lauren Curtis, who recommends using orange-hued shadows for blue eyes, and I am amazed at what a difference this tip has made. Lauren recommends a few great and affordable shades by Milani, but since I can’t buy that brand in Canada (boo!), my default is the Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette by Urban Decay.
Check out Lauren’s tutorial below for a fabulous step-by-step guide on how to apply orange-based shadows to make your blue eyes pop!
GO NEUTRAL
I typically gravitate towards neutral shades when it comes to eyeshadow, and while I used to think this made me boring and probably did NOTHING to draw attention to my eyes, Lauren Curtis has proven to me that brown and bronze shades can still make my peepers look amazing. In the past, I’ve always played it on the safe side and kept the shades pretty light, but now I’m not afraid to go a bit darker in an effort to accentuate my finest feature!
Skip ahead to the 1:30 mark in the tutorial below to see how Lauren gets the ultimate bronze smokey eye.
PLAY IT COOL
If you want to change things up a bit, cool shades work well with blue eyes. I try stay away from blue eyeshadows as they remind me too much of my awkward teenage years, and after watching this tutorial by Jaclyn Hill many months ago, I usually opt for a purple tone when I want to do something a little more drastic. Now, I realize Jaclyn’s eyes are more green than they are blue, but I promise you this look is a real statement-maker with my baby blues.
To see how Jaclyn gets her sexy, purple look, check out the tutorial below. And make sure to watch the entire clip as she will teach you how to transform the look from day to night in next to no time!
GET SMOKEY
If you have a big night out planned and REALLY want to amp up your look and make your eyes pop, turn the volume up with a dark, smokey eye. I used to think smokey makeup would be MUCH too complicated for me to master, but after buying The Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette and giving Lauren Curtis’ go-to smokey eye look a try, I am amazed at how easy (and sexy!) it is.
See for yourself!
To subscribe to Lauren Curtis on YouTube, CLICK HERE.
To subscribe to Jaclyn Hill on YouTube, CLICK HERE.