eye makeup

If you thought pastel eye makeup was only for pre-teens and the runway, you're wrong! You can wear lilac and mint shades (even though Easter is weeks off yet). Mark celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles reveals how any woman can conquer the fairer shades of the spectrum, no matter your skin tone. Keep reading.

As Autumn steadily approaches, it's time to consider brightening up your makeup palette to counteract the change in weather. Whether you're an eyeshadow beginner or a seasoned expert, Sephora Pro artist Sheranda Curtis has tips to make your eyes the centre of attention. Learn how to take the fear of adding colour to your look when you read more.

Whether you're in a constant battle with your eye shape or just trying to look more alert without that third cup of coffee, larger, wider eyes can be yours. Even if you weren't blessed with eyes like Zooey Deschanel, there are a few easy tricks you can pull out to make your peepers pop. Embrace your makeup, brush up on your colours, and look more alert with these simple steps:

• Try white eyeliner: Lining your water line with a white eyeliner, like Shu Uemura Eye Light Pencil in White ($30), will make the whites of your eyes appear larger. This illusion will actually make your eyes appear larger, too.
• Curl your lashes: This may seem like an unnecessary step, but curling your lashes opens up your eyes. Add two coats of a volume-boosting mascara, like Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara ($17.95), for an extra pop.
• Ease up on black liner: If you have especially small eyes, make sure to not use a heavy hand when applying your liner to your upper lid. Instead, lightly line close to your lash line. The smaller line will help accentuate your lashes, which make your eyes appear wider, while a heavy line will only weigh down your lids.
• Use lighter colours: Darker colours may draw more attention to your eyes, but they can also make your eyes look smaller. If you're trying to appear more awake and alert, opt for colours like taupe, pink, or sand. These will attract light to your eyes instead of losing them.

Trendy under-eye liner or lush lower lashes can turn out two ways: surprisingly sexy or sloppily smudged. Assuming you want to avoid the latter, never have southward-moving slip-ups again with these secrets to applying precise under-eye makeup.

Although Cate Blanchett usually veers towards the neutral end of the makeup palette, she opted for flushed salmon on cheeks and lips at this week's The Hobbit premiere. The addition of warm, rosy tones made her blue eyes seem brighter, and it's all because of the colour wheel.

Blue sits directly across from orange and red on the wheel, meaning those hues complement each other. So if you're looking to make your cerulean gaze take centre stage, bust out orange-tinged, pinky-red shades, whether they're swept on eyes, cheeks, or lips. Salmon is an ideal pick because it's a perfect mix of orange and pink. Try Aura Sheer Cheek Stain in Flush ($65) for a natural glow that gives beautiful blues bottomless depth.

Celebrity makeup artist Amy Oresman (who has worked with stars like Kate Bosworth and Hayden Panettiere) admits that the biggest makeup mistake women will make this party season is slapping on an abundance of glitter. While the Neutrogena brand ambassador admits there's a place for sparkle, she explains, "If you look like you're Christmas tree, you've gone wrong." Get Oresman's expert tips to avoid outshining the ornaments when you keep reading.

Remember when you first learned to apply eye makeup: one eye shut with the other one serving to guide you? Well, it turns out that keeping both eyes open is key to achieving perfect results every time. Ensure your eyes are framed correctly, and easily, with these helpful tips when you read more.

The smoky eye is getting a makeover this season. Gone are the days of the monotone black shadow covering the lids. Now, this makeup staple is coming in new colours and shapes. Get tips for creating these smoky eye looks from the runways whether it's winged, under-eye, or highbrow.

Up and away: As seen on the Versace runway, the smoky eye is getting a tilt. While winged eyeliner is an ever-present trend, extended eye shadow shapes are becoming more prominent, too. To get this look, bring shadow from the crease to the end of the brows. Then curve the end back around to line the lower lashes.

From down under: Shadow is no longer just for your lids. Colours (and the smoky eye) are bleeding down underneath the eye, as at L'Wren Scott. The key to mastering this under-eye technique is to use waterproof products to avoid smudging or smearing. Apply product with an angled brush so that your liner doesn't turn out too thick.

Highbrow: Burberry sent a brown smoky eye down the runway, which is a safe alternative to black. And this colour reached all the way up to the brows for a full patch effect. If you're looking to get a similar style, blend colour up above the crease. Leave just under the arch clear for a spot of highlighter.

Bond girl Bérénice Marlohe took the common smoky eye to new heights with blue and red accents at the Skyfall London photo call this week. The key to getting this palette more gorgeous than garish is to balance the severity of the brighter tones with an equally intense application of liner. To get the look, start by loading up on black liner on the top and bottom lash lines. Sweep on a shimmery marine shadow, like Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Too Cool ($11.95), from lash lines to creases, extending the hue into the inner corners and the outer edges. Finish by adding an on-trend crimson eyeliner or lip liner shade underneath the eye to lend a pop of colour. And with an eye makeup look this daring, it's wise to keep everything else simply neutral.

False eyelashes are one of those beauty products that give you a serious boost when used correctly, but can also look terrible when things go awry. "The key to false lashes anytime, whether you're backstage or at home wearing them, is to fit them to the eyes. You have to cut the band and make them shorter, otherwise they'll drag your eyes down," explains Stila key makeup artist Sarah Lucero, who created the flirty eye makeup look for Alice + Olivia's Spring 2013 show. To see her insider tricks for getting false lashes right, keep reading.