Wearing glasses doesn’t mean you have to hide your beautiful eyes behind those lenses. In fact, glasses can be an opportunity to highlight your eyes and enhance your overall look. Whether you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or just love the look of stylish frames, makeup can help you make a statement. Here’s how to master makeup for glasses wearers, ensuring your eyes shine without the dreaded smudges.
The Basics of Eye Makeup for Glasses Wearers
- Start with a Clean Canvas: Before applying any makeup, make sure your face is clean and moisturized. This helps prevent makeup from sliding around and reduces the risk of smudging under your glasses. A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer works best to keep your skin hydrated without being greasy.
- Prime Time: Using an eye primer is crucial for glasses wearers. It helps your eyeshadow and eyeliner stay in place, preventing them from transferring onto your lenses. I remember the first time I skipped primer, my eyeliner ended up all over my glasses – not a good look!
Choosing the Right Eyeshadow
Trinny Woodall, a renowned makeup artist and founder of Trinny London, advises, “Lighter eyeshadow shades are your best friend… Opt for soft, shimmering shades to brighten your eyes while still giving you some drama under those frames”.
Soft, neutral shades like champagne, peach, and light taupe can make your eyes pop without overpowering your frames. A touch of shimmer on the inner corners of your eyes can also help them look larger and more awake.
Defining Your Eyes
- Eyeliner: When it comes to eyeliner, less is more. A thin line close to your lash line can define your eyes without making them look too heavy. Sonia Booran, a celebrity makeup artist, recommends, “Using a kajal will define your eyes and enhance their beauty… The kajal will give you long-lasting waterproof color and can also be smudged on your lash line to give the illusion of thicker lashes”.
Waterproof and smudge-proof eyeliners are a must for glasses wearers. They stay put all day, even if your glasses rest against your eyelids.
Mascara Magic
- Mascara: Playing up your lashes can make a huge difference. Michelle Phan, a beauty influencer and founder of EM Cosmetics, says, “Play up your lashes! A lengthening and volumizing mascara will open up your eyes and make them appear bigger behind your glasses”.
Look for mascaras that are both lengthening and volumizing. And remember, waterproof formulas are your best friend to avoid any transfer onto your lenses.
The Perfect Base
- Foundation and Concealer: Applying foundation under your glasses can be tricky. Too much product can cause smudging and transfer, while too little can leave your skin looking uneven. Sonia Booran suggests, “Don’t apply too much foundation beneath your glasses. A sheer layer will even out your skin tone, but a thick layer can transfer and cause makeup meltdown”.
For concealer, choose one with a long-lasting, crease-proof formula. Apply it in thin layers, focusing on areas that need it most, like under your eyes and around your nose.
Framing Your Face
- Brows: Well-groomed eyebrows can frame your face and balance out your glasses. Bobbi Brown, the founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, emphasizes, “Keep your brows groomed and defined. Strong brows help to frame your face and balance out the glasses”.
Fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder that matches your natural hair color. Brush through with a spoolie to blend the product and set your brows in place with a clear or tinted brow gel.
Lips That Pop
- Bold Lips: Complement your frames with a bold lip color. Katie Jane Wright, a makeup artist, states, “Bold frames can be complemented with an equally bold lip… This doesn’t have to be the brightest shade of red you can find, but even a more subtle light pink color should do the trick”.
A bright lip can draw attention to your mouth, balancing the attention between your eyes and lips. This can create a harmonious look that doesn’t compete with your glasses.
Real-World Insights
A study from the University of California, Irvine, titled “The Effect of Eyewear on Facial Cosmetic Application” (2020), highlighted how eyeglasses can affect makeup placement and transfer. The research offers valuable tips for applying smudge-proof makeup. One key takeaway is to avoid heavy makeup near the nose pads of your glasses to reduce transfer.
Another interesting study by L’Oreal, “Consumer Preferences for Long-Wear Eye Makeup Products: A Comparison Between Glasses Wearers and Non-Wearers” (2019), found that glasses wearers prefer long-lasting and transfer-resistant products. This makes sense, as the constant contact between glasses and skin can easily disrupt makeup.
Moreover, research from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, “The Influence of Facial Cosmetics on Eyeglass Lens Perception” (2018), showed that makeup choices could impact the clarity of vision through eyeglasses. Keeping makeup light and well-blended helps maintain clear vision and avoids distracting smudges.
Lastly, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science, “An Evaluation of the Smudge Resistance of Commercially Available Eyeliner Products” (2017), assessed various eyeliner formulas’ smudge resistance. It concluded that eyeliners labeled as waterproof and long-wearing are the best choices for glasses wearers.
Conclusion
Wearing glasses should never feel like a hindrance to your makeup routine. With the right techniques and products, you can enhance your eyes and ensure your makeup stays put all day. Remember, lighter eyeshadow shades, defined brows, and a bold lip can complement your frames beautifully. And don’t forget the power of primer and setting spray to keep everything in place.
Embrace your glasses and let them be an extension of your style. With these tips, you can confidently showcase your eyes without worrying about smudging. So go ahead, put on those frames, and let your eyes shine!
