Super easy ways to make your boring spectacles look like a fashion face accessory
BY NABANITA DUTT
Specs can indeed make a woman look spectacular. Just ask those legions of men who still fantasize about Marilyn Monroe’s specs-wearing, bimbo-with-brains look in How To Marry A Millionaire. Or more recently, Sarah Palin, the lass from Alaska, who was forgiven all sorts of political faux pas and spontaneous silliness in her bid for the Second Lady office because she looked cute in rimless, rectangle frames. If contact lenses are not your thing, and Lasik is not an option, you too can look positively catwalk-worthy in glasses and use them with the confidence of a fashion accessory instead of a glamour-killing appendage. And we show you how to do that with 10 super easy make-up tips for wearing glasses.
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♦ Possibly the most handy beauty investment you can make if your eyesight is a problem when applying make-up. The glasses flip open over each eye, so you can apply makeup to the other – and for once, be able to see what you are doing. (Here’s a selection of these glasses from Amazon.)
2.
♦ A great pair of frames needs a well-groomed pair of eyebrows in order to look good, because – depending on the shape of the spectacles – they will show above the rim. Make sure your brows are always tidily clipped, waxed or threaded to show off your specs to their best advantage.
3.
♦ Curl your lashes before applying mascara. This way, they will arc upwards and outwards, and not constantly brush against the lenses of your glasses. Also, go heavy on the roots when applying mascara to maintain a tight curl that doesn’t go limp easily. You can also curl lashes with a spoon.
4.
♦ Black eye liner isn’t always a glass-wearer’s best friend, and professional make-up artist’s suggest that you try using softer colors like navy blue, brown and purple instead. The sheer weight of a solid black line, when seen from behind the lenses, create an impression of tired, crumply skin.
5.
♦ To keep your glass frames and eyeliner from overpowering each other, maintain similar thickness with both. In other words, balance out the frame with eye-liner of proportionate width. A thick stroke of liner for thick frames and a thin line for slimmer spectacles.
6.
♦ Eyeglasses cast a shadow under the eyes, which exaggerates dark circles and the slightest hint of puffiness. A concealer with yellow tones helps fight this nuisance. Pat away excess product from around the eye area, so your glasses don’t keep getting smudged.
7.
♦ Make your lips the focus, and feel confident wearing bold shades of lipstick with your glasses. Choose bright reds, pinks, burgundys and oranges with abandon as smart specs and deeply-colored lips make a very sexy combination. Make sure they are precisely lined though.
8.
♦ Resist the urge to sweep bright shadow on when you’re planning to wear your specs. When seen through glass, colored lids look splotchy and goopy and that in turn makes your eyes look tired. Keep your lids looking fresh and youthful with buff or neutral shadows instead.
9.
♦ Frames are available in such trendy colors these days! You can coordinate a red frame with red lipstick, for example, or purple/blue/green frames with matching eyeliners to create a cohesive color palette for your face that’s positively winning! You can match eyeglasses with your wardrobe too!
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(1) Gimme Brow fiber eyebrow gel by Benefit (2) Lash Curler by Shu Uemura (3) Long Wear Paint Pot eyeshadow by MAC (4) HD Foundation by Makeup Forever (5) Chubby Stick lip color by Clinique (6) Creamy Concealer Kit by Bobbi Brown (7) Satin Lip Pencil by NARS (8) One Step Correct 3-in-1 serum by Stila (9) Long Wear Gel eyeliner by Bobbi Brown
10.
♦ Alas, not many of us are born with a naturally flawless complexion, but with good-coverage foundation, a sweep of pearly highlighter and a contour-making stroke of blush, you can create an illusion of smoothness that shows to great advantage when topped with a smart pair of specs!
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