So I have brown eyes. One of the most common eye colors out there and if you're like me, you want to find a way to accentuate your eyes by enhancing their color. Believe it or not, this can be done easily with certain eyeshadow palettes. So before you say, "oh well I'm not into make up" or "it's too girly" or anything else along those lines, well I have news for you: Wearing make up doesn't exactly have to make you superficial or girly. Makeup done right, only further emphasizes your natural beauty and yes, beauty exists in everyone, so don't start. 

Black Eyeliner (Liquid/Pencil): Referring to the picture above, the most basic thing is black eyeliner. For me, that's all I need... well that and lip balm, but black eyeliner alone can really make a difference by complimenting and highlighting your eyes, making them look larger and sharper or often times if necessary, making them appear rounder. Pencil eyeliner is great for opening the eyes. Don't be afraid of smudging along the lower lid for a more intense look. Liquid eyeliner is great for making your lashes appear fuller if lined closely to your lashline on the top lid.  Tip 1: When sharpening pencil eyeliner, make sure to dull the tip by drawing a line on the back of your hand first before applying, as the tip can break and get into your eye.  Tip 2: Liquid eyeliner can come with two types of brushes: a thin brush and a spongy brush. I like both, but if you're a first timer, I suggest the sponge brush. I forgot the technical term for it but here is a picture of how one looks like by my favorite liquid eyeliner brand and this is the liquid eyeliner I use with a regular brush.

Mascara: Make sure to use mascara if you can, but not too much if you aren't really into it. Mascara is indeed optional but if you don't have very full lashes then I suggest to touch them up slightly. Black mascara goes with every eye color, just like eyeliner does. Tip: Never pump the brush inside the tube when applying mascara. You will unintentionally fill the bottle with air and it'll dry up the mascara, making it all chunky and unusable.

If you're like me and you have sensitive eyes, then make sure to check out which kind of mascara, liquid eyeliner and eyeliner pencil you should use. For eyeliner, I suggest Matrix or Prestige. They glide on incredibly easy and only need one application, so you don't have to go over your waterline a thousand times just to get the intensity you want. For mascara I suggest Covergirl LashBlast Volume mascara or Maybelline Great Lash mascara. Other great eyeshadow/eyeliner/mascara brands are LA Colors, a cheaper but still great quality brand and Wet n Wild, another discount brand.

For me eyes are the most important thing since they are the main focal point and the windows to one soul, so to speak. Understanding your eye shape is important and effects how eye shadow should be used greatly. Refer to the chart below:

Eyeshadow: Now onto eyeshadow, which can be complicating for a lot of people but for different reasons. Rather than going into technique or application, I'm going to be elaborating on which colors are best for you. Again the first thing you want to understand is your eye shape as well as your eye color. Why eye color? The colors you use on often times depend on your eye color. For example:

Green: If you have very bright and vivid green eyes, then earth tones are for you. By earth tones, I mean browns, beige, yellow, orange, and dark greens. Black, green and especially brown eyeliner also does wonders in making the eye color stand out a lot more.

Green/Yellow: tones are the best for green/yellow eyes. Stay away from the oranges and yellows, but if you do have to use those colors, make sure to use them in moderation. Green/yellow eyes are very cat-like and standout more with blacks, dark green, dark red and even black. Black, green, brown eyeliner is ideal.

Green/Grey: *sighs* I love this color. Anywhoo, if you have green/grey eyes then a smokey palette is the best for you. Though, and earth tones work just as well. This is one of the easiest kind of greens to work with and can match with any type of color, though I suggest staying away from pastels unless used in moderation. Green, black, brown eyeliner are all acceptable.

Blue: Another easy color to work with. Though they say violets work well with this color, I kind of disagree. I find violets too work better with brown and blue/grey eyes instead. For this, I would rather use a smokey black palette as well as a palette and a blue palette as well as pastels. Blue, purple, black, and brown eyeliner works fine.

Blue/Yellow: Blue/yellow eyes, much like green/yellow eyes, only slightly less common, should also stay away from the yellow and orange tones. Earth palettes, palettes and smokey black pallets work beautifully here. Green, black, blue and brown eyeliner for this type of eyecolor work best.

Blue/Grey: Pretty much every palette, except pastel, can be used here. Oh how I wish, I had these eyes. And indeed, with the exception of green, every type of eyeliner works well here too. 

Hazel: Yes hazel, every palette and eyeliner color applies the best to you. Lucky ducks. Though I would like to recommend using earth and tones the most, since hazel eyes have an earthy quality to them.

Light-Med Brown: Finally, a color I can relate to. Okay. So here's the deal: brown is already a tough shade to deal with but if you have light to medium brown eyes, then it's still a lot easier to work with than dark-brown/black. For this, I suggest you use a violet palette. Violet does wonders on enhancing even the darkest shade of brown eyes. The color purple, is both sultry and sophisticated and if used correctly, can make those brown eyes pop. Black, brown, violet and blue eyeliner work the best. Other suggested palettes are and earth tones.

Brown/Black: Usually, because the eyes are so dark almost any palette compliments the eyes well enough, but the palette that enhances the eyes the best is definitely the violet palette, especially when paired with purple eyeliner. 

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Still don't understand what some of the palettes are that I'm referring to, no problem. 

Smokey black palettes: The more glamorous palette is great for creating the smokey-eye effect. This palette often times contains shades of white, black, and grey and you can get them either shimmery (glittered) or matte (no-glitter). I usually prefer matte.

Earth tone palette: This palette usually contains the colors green, orange, yellow, red, brown, and beige. This palette is good to have if you are a party-goer. They work well with just about any outfit.

Pastel palette: My least favorite palette to work with but it's mainly because I have dark skin and dark eyes. This palette works best with certain eye colors like Hazel and Blue and light skin tones. (My sister and I have the same eye color but shes a lot whiter than I am and it looks just fine on her. She also has smaller eyes and pastel colors then to open them up, creating the illusion of larger eyes.)

palette: Just like the name suggests all different shades of brown can be found here. From light beige all the way to dark brown. This is the palette I suggest you always have, since it works the best on every eye color and it can be applied easily for work, school or to go out. palettes exist everywhere, even in your nearest department or pharmacy. Just because it's expensive doesn't always mean it's good quality. I sometime's find that places like CVS, Navarro and Walgreens have the best quality makeup for the cheapest price, and they're usually on sale.

Blue/Violet/Green Palette: Similar to the black palette or the palette, each of these palettes usually have their color in several different shades, from an almost white shade to a dark bold shade. Since I am a brown-eyed girl, the violet palette is my favorite.

Example: This is me with a purple smokey look. for my birthday earlier this year.
Unfortunately, I'm wearing contacts that darken my eyes and because I am blind, I kind of have to wear them.
I just didn't know the freaking color would be so dark. -.- 

The Importance of Primer: Primer is key when working with eyeshadow, especially if you want the eyeshadow to last you the night while still maintaining a vibrant color. Primer prevents the color from fading and also prevents it from running and creasing (so obnoxious). As a person living in Miami where it is not only hot but humid as hell, I rely greatly on primer before putting on my eyeshadow. One of the best primers is by Urban Decay, Kat Von D and the one I use by Loreal, which no lie has lasted me three-four years.

Eyeshadow Setting Spray/Mist: Yes, this does exist and is amazing, I tell you. Amazing! Greatest invention ever. Although primer is great to have, if you had to choose between one or the other then go for the setting spray. A lot of make up artists prefer working with spray then they do with primer. I prefer both because it's better to be safe than sorry. Basically, to use they spray, you just pretty much spray it lightly on your lids, from a close distance, after you finished applying your eyeshadow, mascara and liner. This is the last thing you use and helps set the eyeshadow. I suggest Kat Von D's Lock N Load setting mist and any of the many options from Urban Decay.

Dealing with Eyeshadow Fallout: The most troublesome and obnoxious thing you have to face when applying eyeshadow, liner or mascara. Fallout is when little specks of pigment gets on your cheek or when you mess up your liner or mascara and get it under your eye. For this, I suggest either using regular clear tape, a fan brush or regular cotton swabs. The Tape: The tape can be used before applying makeup. Place a strip of tape under your lower lid and then begin setting your eyeshadow. This will prevent fallout from getting onto your skin and creates less of a mess. After your done, just peel it off and boomshakalaka, you're done. Fan Brush: A fan brush, much like its name, is a brush that looks like a fan, seen here. Tip: I suggest buying E.L.F or as I like to call them SuJu brushes, since they're usually a dollar and found in Walmart and/or Target as well as department stores. For being such a cheap price, they have good quality products. With fan brushes, just sweep it gently over the fallout and they're gone. Cotton Swab: The most surefire way to deal with eyeliner or mascara stains. Just place it over the stain, as if you were poking yourself with it and rotate the swab gently. Don't rub or sweep, as you're only going to make a streak across your face and make the problem bigger.

Liquid (Cream) vs Powder (Pigment) Eyeshadow:  I use powder the most but found that liquid is the easiest to work with. It's not as messy, easier to control (at least for me), and gives your eyes an extra kick. Because of that, I usually use liquid shadow whenever I go out to dinner with my friends or to club or on a date or whatever. The problem is that unless you have setting spray or primer, the eyeshadow will most likely not last. This is what powder eyeshadow has over liquid. Though powder eyeshadow tends to crease, liquid eyeshadow creases even more and runs. So if you do want to use liquid eyeshadow then make sure to use primer, a powdery base and/or setting spray. It can also be set with eye shadow. Another thing, liquid is very subtle and depending on the color can give your eyes a natural looking accent but can also be vibrant depending on the brand and quality. Powder can be easy to control as well, thanks to the many brushes that can be used to set eyeshadow. A Perk is, that because it's so versatile it can be blended and defines eyes. And unlike liquid eyeshadow, low quality powder shadow can still look vibrant when placed over primer. Tip: Want dramatic eyes? Then I suggest using liquid eyeshadow as the base to your eyes and then applying a shadow of your choosing on top. In the picture of me above, I used a light shimmery liquid purple as the base and then applied a more vibrant violet on top and blended it with a darker shade of purple at the outer-v to create a smokey effect. I then did the same at the bottom.

Defining the Brows: This should probably be the first step before doing the eyes. If you're like me and have thick brows but aren't as defined then buy a brow pencil. It looks similar to an eyeliner pencil but has a dull tip and isn't as vibrant a color when applied (which is good). Tip 1: Don't use black unless you do in fact have black eyebrows, like myself. If you do be extra careful not to go overboard with it. Go over the eyebrow very lightly and only fill in what needs to be filled. Always go for the same shade or one shade lighter. Make sure you have a brow brush, that brush that usually comes in the brush sets and clear mascara. Brush forward before applying your color and gently color in your brows. Eye brows do not have to match perfectly but should look somewhat similar. Once you're done applying it, brush your brow back in place and retouch if necessary. Tip 2: Use clear mascara to set the eyebrows after brushing them in place. Only go over it a bit, just to make sure that the color and hairs are set.

Blending is Key: Always, have a blending brush at hand when working with eyeshadow. They're usually the puffy brushes. You don't want your eye shadow to have sharp edges so go over the color gently, in a circluar motion and blend the colors. Don't overdure the eyes and make sure not to cake on too much eyeshadow because it can look both unnatural and feel extremely heavy against your skin. Tip: Only use the blending brush to blend and a flat or application brush to apply the shadows of your choice. Because if you use a blending brush to apply the shadow, odds are that when you go to blend the color with a light one, you will only spread the darker color over to the lighter one and ruin the whole look.

Dog Eyes vs Cat Eyes: I personally love Dog Eyes, but because my eyes are almond shape they naturally become cat eyes. Dafuq eyes! Usually people with hooded, droopy, round and prominent eyes can pull it off the best as it accentuates the fullness of the eyes. It is also the best on those who have a wide space between their top lid and brow bone. I do not have that honor, unfortunately. Here are some examples of dramatic and subtle dog eyes: 1 | 2 | 3 | So what are dog eyes? Basically it's when the edges of the shadow are rounded to resemble a dogs eye, see here. Cat eyes work better for those with almond, small, deep set and Asian eyes as it accentuates the edges. A perfect example of a bold and intense, yet very effective cat eyes is CL. The liquid eyeliner is applied dark and thick and made to look as if her eyes are rounder starting all the way from the inner-v, then at the edge it's curled upward. Cat eyes is mostly centered on the eyeliner itself while dog eyes is more focused on the shadow and has a thinner liner with a shorter and duller wing.

Eyeshadow/Liner/Mascara Removal: This is a simple step. I first suggest using Maybelline Expert Eyes Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover, seen here. This is the one I use and is freaking amazing. It's for waterproof eyeshadow so it removes just about anything in only a few seconds. No lie. It also has natural oils, which helps moisturize the lid and lashes which is a bit of problem with some removers that dry your eyes up. All you need is cotton pad or cotton balls, one cotton pad would be enough. Using a cotton pad apply a few drops to one side and place it over one eye and hold it down for three seconds. Once your done swipe it off from the inside out and BAM! your shadow/liner/mascara has been removed. Do the same on the other side of the cotton pad and repeat the previous step. Make sure everything had been removed and after you're done, wash your face and that's it. Your done!

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I was a huge tomboy once upon a time, but as I entered 8th grade, I realized that makeup, in its own way, was an art form. I have a good hand for it, but then again, I'm an artist and believe it or not, I use makeup when I draw. It was probably the reason why it was so easy for me to get into it. Especially with all the different colors and tools, it seemed so interesting to me. In high school, I began to understand the importance of eye-liner especially for my almond eyes. I'm still a tomboy at heart, preferring chucks over heels and jeans over skirts but I do have a good amount of dresses in my closet, gladiator sandals, and wedges for when I want to dress to impress. And there is nothing wrong with it. Just because you're a tomboy doesn't mean you can't take care of yourself. Most of you are young, so you probably won't believe me when I tell you this, but there will be a day when you realize that doing your hair, makeup, nails or suddenly thinking a dress or some pumps are cute, isn't so bad after all. Embrace your feminine side and be damn proud of it. Makeup encourages self confidence but only if you apply a modest amount. If you are going for intense eyes then settle for lips and if you want bright, eye-catching lips then go for more natural looking eyes. Eyeliner and mascara alone would be sufficient in this case. You don't want to look like a clown, you just want to emphasize your features.

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it. I know it was really long and probably very boring, and I know this isn't Kpop related, but I've seen some of you guys talk about how makeup is frustrating and this and that, so I decided I wanted to help. Especially you young ladies who are now entering high school. Oh that awkward age, yikes! If there was something I didn't mention or something you guys want me to elaborate on or are curious about something, then don't be afraid to ask. ^^ And if you liked it, let me know what you want me to talk about next.

Also, I found this to be pretty interesting. It's about matching your eyes to your zodiac sign. Mine, my sisters and my bestfriends was pretty spot on.