Aside from your fashion choices, your makeup and glasses should be one of the biggest representations of your style and personality. But, how do you get the two to work in harmony? Glasses and makeup are a notoriously difficult combination if you are unsure how to deal with them. However, once you know which styles suit you and how best to avoid smudges and marks on your glasses lenses, you will have the tools you need to master your makeup skills and feel confident in your glasses.
Match your glasses with your eye makeup
As a general rule, classic black and tortoiseshell frames are very versatile and will complement almost every type of eye makeup and suit all skin tones. Take a look at the below designs for example, they are both very functional and stylish.
If you choose a bright pair of frames, stick to neutral tones like light pink, brown and nude eye shadows with a touch of eye liner for definition. We’ve selected two frames that work really well with toned-down makeup.
Ideally your eye makeup should suit the overall style of your glasses and be in proportion with them. If you’re going for a gothic look or bolder, smoky eye makeup then a sleeker frame will contrast nicely. Try a thin metal design or subtle rimless frame like the options we’ve selected.
Meanwhile, chunkier frames suit a minimal makeup look. Consider putting on just a very light touch of mascara on your lashes and shadow around your eyes. This will help your bold frames to stand out more. If you prefer to combine bold makeup with big frames, choose a frame colour that matches your makeup so they don’t clash. Take a look at these examples of larger frames that grab attention and work well as the main focal point of your face.
The only time you should avoid contrasting your eye makeup with your frames is when applying winged corners with liquid liner. Make sure that the thickness of your makeup is well balanced with the chunkiness of your frame. Apply only a very gentle layer for delicate frames and a bolder winged tip for much larger designs. This classic cat’s eye shape created with liquid liner pairs nicely with classic 50s and 60s-inspired cat-eye glasses designs.
Of course, we all have our own sense of style so don’t be afraid to experiment with different frames and makeup. It’s down to you what style and look you want to go for. Express your true self and find what works for you!
Consider colour combinations
Another top tip is to match the colour of your eye shadow to the colour of your frames. This will act as a good guideline when deciding what frames will match your makeup. If you want to create a fun contrast, think about the colour wheel and what colours are opposite to each other. For example, blue is brought out nicely by orange, while red contrasts nicely with green.
What makeup colours suit my eyes?
You should also consider your eye colour when it comes to choosing your makeup.
Brown eyes
Brown eyes naturally suit warm brown, green and golden eye shadows. To really accentuate your eyes, try a bright purple or blue shade. Earthy colours are ideal for day wear while a nice midnight blue will give you a charming evening look.
When it comes to mascara, our suggestion would be burgundy or dark green. Burgundy will complement your eye colour while green will make your eyes sparkle.
For a subtle daytime look, try a nude or mauve lipstick. Blue and bright red shades will add a burst of colour to your look and contrast nicely with very deep chocolatey eyes.
Blue eyes
If your eyes are blue, go for an amber or copper-coloured eye shadow. Brighten up your look with a vibrant orange or tone it down with more neutral colours.
For a stunning finish, use a brown pencil along the waterline of your eyes along with a flick of brown mascara on your lashes. Black liner and mascara will create a more dramatic look for the evening.
Enhance your blue eyes with a pretty pink or lavender lipstick or go for a peachy colour to add contrast and bring out the colour of your eyes.
Grey eyes
For individuals with grey-coloured eyes, brown, gold, orange and smoky eye shadows will really bring out this unique eye colour. Much like blue eyes, a brown eye liner will also work nicely.
Dusky pink and purple lipstick should be your go-to colour for everyday wear. Meanwhile, coral and berry shades of lipstick will give you a more glamorous and eye-catching look.
Green eyes
Autumnal colours like red, brown, orange and gold will suit green eyes. Green eye shadow will give your eyes an alluring charm.
A burgundy or very deep purple mascara will also work really well with this eye colour, giving you a flattering look.
Complete your look with a berry-coloured lipstick or for a more lively finish, contrast your green eye colour with bright red lippy.
Hazel eyes
Hazel eyes will suit a variety of different eye shadows, particularly brown, green, gold and purple tones.
A deep purple eyeliner will really bring out the natural colour of your eyes. If your hazel eyes are more brown than green, a dark green mascara will highlight them nicely. Meanwhile, a burgundy mascara works best with green-hazel eyes.
During the daytime, stick to subtle berry tones and dusky pink lippy. Meanwhile, a bright cherry red lipstick will bring out the green in your eyes for a stunning evening look.
How to put on makeup when you can’t see without glasses?
As your glasses will likely get in the way while applying makeup to your face and eyes, it’s best that you take them off first. A magnifying mirror is a really helpful tool, especially if you are very far-sighted. The problem with using a normal mirror is that it will cause you to squint and you’ll have to rely on a blurry image when applying makeup to your eyes which can lead to countless avoidable mistakes. However, a magnifying mirror will help solve this issue, so you can see more clearly and apply your makeup precisely.
Top 10 makeup hacks for glasses wearers
We’re sure you agree, it’s so frustrating when your line of sight is interrupted by streaks of mascara and smeared foundation on your lenses. As a glasses wearer, you have more than likely experienced this conundrum. Creating the perfect makeup masterpiece can be somewhat of a challenge as a glasses wearer. That’s why we’re here to reveal all the best tips and tricks to help you apply your favourite cosmetics just right. Enjoy lasting results with helpful advice that will prepare you for every outfit and every occasion. Achieve the very best makeup and glasses combinations. Boost your confidence and showcase your most attractive features.
Prepare your skin beforehand
Make sure that you clean and moisturise your skin thoroughly. Stick to a lighter moisturiser and allow your skin a little bit of time before putting any makeup on your face. Thicker moisturiser will only serve to make your skin slippery and is best reserved for evening use.
A face primer will also come in very handy. This is a kind of cream that makes makeup easier to apply. It keeps your cosmetics in place throughout the day whilst smoothing out your complexion. It also helps to control the oil in your skin which can prevent your glasses from slipping.
Give your lips a luscious look
Match your lipstick with the colour of your frames or achieve a toned-down look with cream or a nude-coloured lippy.
Your glasses naturally pull the focus to the top part of your face so if you want to put your lips in the spotlight, liven them up with a bright berry colour like purple, or if you’re wearing a bold black frame with toned-down eye makeup, go for a bolder cherry red lipstick to add a touch glamour to your overall look. Remember to choose colours that bring out your eyes!
Keep control of your lashes
Long eyelashes are certainly fashionable right now, but unfortunately not always practical for glasses wearers. Do you find it annoying when your lashes brush up against and smear your lenses? The best way to prevent this is by curling your lashes prior to putting your mascara on.
Next, use a long-lasting mascara that is smudge-proof, or water-repellent and adds volume to your lashes rather than too much length. Apply less mascara on the tips and more on the roots of your lashes to prevent them coming into contact with your glasses lenses. If your current mascara isn’t working for you, it might be worth changing the brand to suit your needs.
Use foundation sparingly
Make sure you don’t overdo your foundation, especially on the bridge of your nose where the nose pads of your glasses will sit. Too much and you will be left with obvious red marks and smears on your skin as well as your glasses lenses. When first applying the foundation to your face, use a layer of powder and apply setting spray to ensure the makeup sets properly and your foundation doesn’t stick to your frames. Stay clear of liquid highlighter as this can be messy and cause your glasses to slip off your face. Allow the foundation time to dry before putting your glasses on your face.
During the day, when you are out and about, make sure you take a handy travel bag full of essential cosmetics with you, so you can touch up your makeup whenever necessary.
Add dimension to your face with contour
Contour is really easy to apply when you know how. Putting your glasses on will really help with this step. Very lightly sweep contour onto your face to enhance the shape. Next, take your glasses off and apply a touch more powder and blend it in neatly.
Tackle shadows under your eyes
In some lights, your frames might also have the unfortunate effect of creating shadows on your face, particularly under your eyes. To avoid looking like you have panda eyes, a good highlighter or concealer applied beneath the eyes and along your nose will help to brighten up these areas.
Accentuate your features with highlighter
Your glasses may conceal part of your cheeks, especially if they are oversized. However, by applying highlighter, using your frames as guidance, you can emphasise the line of your cheekbones. Gently move the brush down your face to give yourself a stunning glow.
Try putting highlighter on your brow bone and in the inside corner of your eyes to give your eyes the attention they deserve.
Give yourself a natural glow with blusher
Blusher will add a flush of colour to your cheeks and help you achieve a natural, youthful glow. How you apply blusher will depend on the shape and size of your frames. Make sure you keep your glasses on when applying blush to your face. The rim of the frames will guide you.
If you’re wearing small glasses, apply the blusher to the apples of your cheeks for a fuller look. Meanwhile, if you’re wearing a bolder design, aim to apply the blusher a little higher and brush up towards the temples.
Groom your eyebrows
Consider which glasses you want to wear before perfecting your brows. Bigger frames will likely cover part of your eyebrows, whilst smaller designs will highlight and draw attention to them. Just remember, you don’t want your frames to be too big and cover your brows completely as this is a sign they do not fit correctly. Either way, you’ll want to take the size of the frame into consideration before you begin touching up your brows and giving them enhanced definition.
If you choose a bold frame, we recommend keeping your brows well-groomed and defined so they have a subtle look to contrast the chunkier-looking design of your glasses. Get yourself a lighter brow pencil and then very gently shape your brows. Use brow gel to keep them perfectly in place.
If you plan to wear a thin, lightweight frame, then you have more flexibility to add extra definition. Just make sure your brows never stretch beyond the edge of your frames, or are too big that they create a distraction.
Make your eyes pop with eye liner and shadow
Your eyes can look smaller behind your prescription lenses if you are short-sighted. For this reason, it is best to use subtle cream, bold brown and beige-coloured eye shadows. A white eye liner is also a great option if you want to widen the appearance of your eyes. Boost your lashes with mascara and apply a nude liner along the waterline to add an extra bit of drama to your eyes.
If you are long-sighted, your lenses will emphasise your makeup. To avoid your eyes looking too big, make sure you use darker eye makeup. Keep your liner nice and neat and apply a smoky effect to your eyelids.
Makeup brushes for applying eye shadow come in really handy. Using your fingers can mean that your hand obstructs your view in the mirror, making it much harder to apply makeup to your eyes. However, with a brush, you can get it at the right angle, to one side, so you can see clearly and apply your makeup more efficiently.
