Glossy Eyes and how to Get them

There are some trends that should stay in the magazines, and many people think that the glossy eyed look is one of them. It’s hard to wear, hard to maintain, and can even be slightly uncomfortable. Aside from all that, I can’t get it out of my head. The look is imperfect, and gets worse over time. Even with the most solid base, shadows are guaranteed to crease with a gloss over top. If you’re a perfectionist when it comes to your makeup, this is not the look for you. If you’re willing to embrace a slightly grunge, downtown look, give it a try.

There are some trends that should stay in the magazines, and many people think that the glossy eyed look is one of them. It’s hard to wear, hard to maintain, and can even be slightly uncomfortable. Aside from all that, I can’t get it out of my head. The look is imperfect, and gets worse over time. Even with the most solid base, shadows are guaranteed to crease with a gloss over top. If you’re a perfectionist when it comes to your makeup, this is not the look for you. If you’re willing to embrace a slightly grunge, downtown look, give it a try.

Start by applying your shadow primer as usual. This look works with matte or shimmery shadows but matte shadows look extra cool with a glossy finish. Pat the shadow onto your lid and into the crease. Ensure that you get a good amount of product on the lid, as you’ll want it to blend with the gloss. Next, apply your gloss. If you can’t get your hands on an eye gloss, products such as Lorac’s Liquid Lustre $16, Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream $19.50, Vaseline, or a clear unscented lip gloss will give you the same effect. Always test a product before applying it to your eyes, especially if you’re using lip gloss, as the eye area is very sensitive. Once you’ve applied it, blink a few times and distribute it over the lid. You’ll see the gloss picks up the color, and gathers it into the crease, resulting in a cool, unfinished look.

If you’re not keen on applying an actual gloss to your lids, you can get a similar effect with strategically placed glitter, as seen above, right. Apply your base color, this works especially well with metallics and shimmery black, and then apply a loose glitter, or very glittery shadow, to the center of the lid as well as the inner and outer corners. This look will not give you the exact effect but it will add dimension and brighten up a normal smoky eye.

Images: IMAXtree

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Sarah Joynt

Sarah Joynt is a Canadian beauty and fashion writer living and working in London, UK. When she's not obsessing over lipstick shades and buying more pairs of platform mary janes than she'll ever need, Sarah also acts as a publicist and events coordinator for designers internationally and in the UK.

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