Tutorial: Makeup for girls with glasses
Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 1:54PM Hello Ms. Liz! I just want to ask you some tips on how to pull off a look even if you have glasses. I can't literally see without them and I'm not accustomed into using contact lenses. And because of it, somehow I don't have enough self confidence whenever I dress up, since I kinda look like a manang because of the glasses. :( - Elle
Hi Elle! I've been wearing glasses since 5th grade (too much reading!) so I totally know where you're coming from. Now, the secret to looking stylish in glasses is simple: don't think of them at all. That is, don't feel conscious of whatever you think they stand for. Style is more about attitude than the clothes and makeup we wear. Stand straight, look everyone in the eye, and smile as if you mean it. You'll notice that people will start treating you differently, in a positive way.
But those are just words. You'll realize these things on your own soon. :) The immediate solution to your problem is updating your look - get a chic pair of glasses, a fun hair cut, and trendier clothes that fit your personality. Of course, you can also start with a makeup look that can turn a geeky face to a sexy one!
(Not that there's anything wrong with being geeky. It's nice to switch things up though.) Here's a tutorial!
Step 1: Eyebrows become more of a crucial issue when you're wearing glasses. Your glasses literally frame your whole face, while your eyebrows frame your glasses. Make sure to get glasses that compliment the shape of your eyebrows well. To start off, they should have more or less the same arch.
Regularly remove stray hairs and keep that arch up. To shade the brows, brush them with a spoolie (up or down depends on the hair growth), and paint with a brow product that's near to the color of your hair. Or slightly lighter if you're so inclined. Fill in gaps and extend where you wish (here's a separate tutorial).
Using Benefit Brow Zings with Charm eyebrow brush
The tips of your eyebrows should not go beyond the lines of your glasses. Leave a margin, so to speak! A centimeter or two should be enough.
Step 2: Prime your lids whether you're wearing eyeshadow or not. Use a base with a bit of shimmer or something skintone matte that subtly shades the lid. This lifts your lids and evens them out under your glasses. I love the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base since it has some nice shimmer, as well as the Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow in Bone.
Step 3: For a neutral everyday look, you can never go wrong with champagne eyeshadow and a light brown crease color. This works across the board for anyone. This lights up your eyes, lifts them, and just generally enhances them in any lighting. I'm using a Bobbi Brown Rich Caviar palette here.
To start off, apply the lid color. I chose a golden champagne shade.
Then pick up the matte light brown and apply it on the crease using the same brush. You don't have to be super precise since the color is just barely there, which is exactly the effect I want to achieve - soft yet defined.
And this is how it should look like. Simple right?
Step 4: Apply thick eyeliner on top if you have Asian eyes. You can use a legit eyeliner or a dark, pigmented eyeshadow. The latter has a nicer, hazier effect though, which makes it more appropriate for day wear. The thick line gives monolid or hooded eyes like mine a wide-eyed look.
So there! This is a simple day look that gives you just the right amount of polish without being too overwhelming. Just add your fave blush, a thin layer of mascara, and an MLBB lippie (I'm wearing the Etude House Dear My Essence in Lips-talk here).
For evening affairs, you can go for daring eyes that pop. Just apply another line on the bottom lid to sort of frame your eyes. You can opt to add an extra layer of black eyeliner to get a more dramatic look. Now you don't have to go all the way or use a thick line like I did - this is just my preference as I have bulgy eyes.
Some people would not recommend you line your bottom lids as this can make you look tired and droopy under glasses. I disagree with this as long as you do it right. :) Layer powder and cream products to prevent things from melting mid-day!
Add more mascara, but focus on the base of your lashes. You don't want the tips to keep hitting your specs.
As for blush, I like to wear it high on my cheeks when I have glasses on. This line, as illustrated, helps to sort of connect the line of your glasses to your face. It's just a more symmetrical, pleasant thing to look at. You get a thinner face in the bargain.
I used MAC Peachtwist here, which is a little bronzy. Any blush or contour powder will do - I just used this shade to match the lip color I want to wear.
Blushed
You can keep your lips neutral since you have strong eyes already. Or, you can go for a juicy color that's not too overwhelming. I just stained a red lipstick on my puckers then rubbed it in with a glossy balm. Voila! Instant apple red!
And that's what I recommend for an evening with glasses on. Daring, but not too much that it would compete with your frames. :)
If you have more tips on how to wear makeup with glasses, we would love to hear them! :D
Reader Comments (27)
I love it. I especially love the before/after. You look so sophisticated and powerful in the after photo! Thanks for the tutorial.
gorgeous as always liz :)
btw, where'd you get your top? it's so pretty and sophisticated and just the right color for this season :) hehehe
Learned a lot, thanks!. My eyebrow arch is not high, that's why it was so hard to find eyeglasses that will look good on me. My solution then was to stop wearing eyeglasses. I am not fond of contact lenses, so I'll have a problem when it's absolutely necessary to wear eyeglasses.
aww you did it again , the eyeliner killed it on the night time look. love it, will try this. i dont usually wear glasses as i have contacts on however sometimes contacts are so hard to put on.
love love love it, now you make me want to buy really good pair of glasses, i like plastic animal print frames.
thank you for this tutorial, really practical, i will try this next week,
mis liz, please do a tutorial naman on how to contour the nose area, kasi ang hirap ianggulo ng ilong, gusto ko kahit nakasmile ng hindi side view photogenic pa din heheh
beautyholygrail.blogspot.com
Love this! I feel like I can always go overboard with my eye makeup when I'm wearing glasses, I don't know, it looks subdued the moment I put my glasses on. One thing that shouldn't be missed out though is the concealment of dark circles in the eyes as these are emphasized by eyeglasses.
Thanks for this tutorial! I alternate between contacts and glasses but Ive recently been wearing glasses more often especially in the hospital. Contacts are just so drying :( I love the glasses that you're wearing here, may I ask where they're from? :)
Where'd you get your frames? Love 'em!
Omygad! I was about to ask the same question about this, I have been wearing glasses since I started highschool (too much reading and video games), and my childhood friend keeps on teasing me by calling me a geek because she wasn't used into seeing me with the glasses on.
Love your frames btw, what brand is it?
Thanks for this great tutorial which I can use as an everyday look, now I can practice on looking like a sexy secretary instead of looking like a geek. hehe
Great tutorial even for girls without glasses. I really like this look and I'm one of those girls that don't need glasses (and instead suffer from super sharp, super sensitive eyes that get migranes from sunlight) but want to wear them as a fashion statement. The grass is greener huh? Also, that pic of you putting mascara on your lashes looks so kikay, I love it. :)
love it! it really made a difference! so pretty on the after look! :)
I wear my glasses when I am running late so I dont have to bother with makeup.. hahahahahahaha
Also when my eye bags are especially bad so I wont have to use lots of concealer.. Hmmm. Guess thats why I am not a beauty blogger LOL
I do not wear eyeglasses. Pero dahil sa tutorial mo, prang gusto ko na! Hahaha!!! Bagay sa'yo may eyeglasses Ms. Liz. ;)
What great timing! I've been wondering about this myself, since I am wearing glasses everyday and I'm not so sure if my makeup is enhancing them or is being hidden by them. Thanks for the tutorial!
I think attitudes about wearing glasses and being a geek has changed nowadays compared to before. Video games, comics, etc. are becoming more and more mainstream so being a geek and "geek fashion" (if one could call it) is not only becoming acceptable, but chic, fashionable, and sexy as well.
Don't believe me? Check out this website!
http://girlswithglasses.com
Also, girls wearing glasses is actually a fetish for some guys ;)
As for makeup tips:
Depending on whether you are near or far sighted, you'll have to adjust your make up. I'm near sighted so when I wear my glasses, my eyes look smaller (it will be the opposite if you are far sighted). To open up your eyes, using white eyeliner on your lower waterline and light colored eyeshadow helps. It's especially pretty if you line only the top eyelid and use mascara on your bottom lashes. To make big eyes appear smaller, use dark eyeshadow and apply eyeliner all around your eyes, preferably directly on your waterline.
Whether you are near or far sighted, it is important to conceal dark circles under your eyes as the frame of your glasses tend to cast a shadow on your face.
I always learn something new from your blog. The tip for high arch of eyebrows is really what I need! Thank you, i will try the eyebrow technique tomorrow.
My eyes grade is (400 on glasses, 3.75 on lenses).
I purchased a lighter shade of neon pink hello kitty glasses to project an intelligent look (without looking old and boring)
Plus its ultra thin, rectangular lenses matched my eyes.
I believe if you wear glasses, the emphasis of your make up is on your eyebrows.If it is too thin it looks flirty, if it is too thick and super long, it looks scary not geeky.Just don't overdo it.
I really love your transformation-the make up greatly matched your complexion plus you add a little drama on your hair.
OMG you look so gorgeous! I wear glasses as well and there are people at the office who refer to me as "the nerd". I can't wait to try this!! :)
Thanks for posting this, Liz! I've also been wearing eye glasses for years and I thought I can't use eye make up when wearing them. This helps a lot. :)
My sister has BIG frames, so she gets upset when they make her look like a bush man. Is there a way for her to wear her glasses and not look like a troll, eyebrows-wise? Or should she just toss her frames and opt for a sleeker style? Thank you :)
You look great as always! Thanks for the tutorial! This is really helpful. Great for the holiday season too.
Thanks Ms.Liz!
i love this post.....it's really helpful,coz' i'm also wearing glasses sometimes and a starter on makeup like me,doesn't have an idea on how to look great with the glasses.tnx Liz for sharing.^_^
Truly a sexy look!!! ^__^
I love the comparison photos! Its cool how little tricks make SUCH a big difference! Awesome tutorial, makes me almost regret my 20/20 vision haha! Well, I could always just wear fake glasses for the heck of it :]
Great look. I find that I actually have to put on more eye makeup when I wear glasses than when I don't. :p
Love it! Love the before and after picture ! Made me smile when i saw it. Advance Merry Christmas Ms. Liz.