Did you ever wonder how or why you have dark circles under your eyes? There are many reasons why you have them, some are avoidable, and others are not.

The good news is there are plenty of steps to help you prevent, treat and/or conceal those puffy, dark and tired looking eyes. Just an ounce of prevention will allow you to look your very best, no matter where you are going.

Prevention:
The best tried and true method is to get plenty of sleep, not the couple of hours you get after parting in the middle of the week, then having to go to work or classes. The majority of us require at least seven to nine hours of sleep daily to keep your eyes shinning and bright.

Another factor can be stress. Of course it is easier said than done, but stressful events should be avoided, although that is not always possible. This is where “Me Time or Down Time” comes in. This is the time you take for yourself to relax and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit.

Allergies are one more reason for unwanted dark, under eye circles. Coughing, sneezing blocked sinus passageways, at one time or another we have all suffered with these symptoms. Allergy medication, whether over the counter or doctor prescribed, will keep your eyes looking their best.

Last but not least, and maybe the most important is not drinking enough water. Dehydration can and does take a toll on your eyes. That means at least eight glasses of water daily. Sodas do not count, and go easy on the salt.

Treatment:
Some treatments are extremely easy, using products we have right in our kitchen. Try soothing your irritated eyes with slices of cucumber, potatoes, cold used tea bags (Chamomile is excellent), wet cotton pads, and an eye mask.

Many of us have dark circles which never seem to go away, this is often caused by genetics. Try using an eye cream which has vitamins A and K. When applying, gently path the delicate skin under your eye to prevent further damage.

As a last resort, laser treatments are now available that can help diminish dark circles which continue to be present after you’ve tried every other method.

Concealment:
Sometimes we simply have no other choice; we just have to hide those telltale circles from our sleepless night or staying up too late.

All major cosmetic companies have concealing sticks. Make sure you get one that is a shade lighter than your regular foundation. If your circles are extremely dark, try going two shades lighter, but make sure, before leaving, you don’t look like a raccoon. Also try to apply your concealing makeup in an area that is well lit.

Apply in small dots around the sides of the circles very gently with your finger tips. Remember, the skin under your eyes is some of the most delicate skin on your face.

Unfortunately, sometimes dark circles are a fact of life but, by just using a few simple and easy steps, we can keep our eyes looking shiny and bright.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Prevent-Dark-Circles-Under-Your-Eyes&id=990311

Creative smoky eye make-up video by Shawnelle. Related to my last video - How to create smoky eye, here is another video on how to play with colors to create sexy, mysterious and fun smoky eye. She uses emerald, purple and blue to create three different effects. Dare to be dramatic for evening out.

Here are one of my favorite makeup brand. I used to work as Make-up artist for Laura Mercier Malaysia. I love ther products, nothing can compare with Laura Mercier finishing, the “SECRET FINISH”. Secret finish gives the radiant and healthy glow after application of make-up. Look and feel like wearing no makeup on your face, really set the akeup from look powdery.

Laura Mercier believes that a beautiful look begins with great looking skin, and has developed key products for the face that allows every woman to achieve an incredibly even, smooth - yet natural-looking complexion.

“Before applying any colour, I always create a fresh canvas - a flawless finish. Making your skin look perfect is the first and most important thing you can do to achieve a truly great look. The key is to enhance your natural beauty - whether you use all products together one day, or just a little Secret Camouflage and Setting Powder when you are on the go.”

- Laura Mercier

These key products have become her trademark, “Flawless Face.” Follow Laura’s simple and easy steps to create your own flawless-looking skin in minutes.

Step 1: Foundation Primer

Foundation Primer is a colorless gel that provides a barrier between the skin and foundation to ensure freshness and long-lasting color. Its is a lightweight, creamy gel meant to be used prior to foundation, creating an invisible layer that acts as a buffer to outside elements.

• Just as a painter “primes” a canvas, Foundation Primer - the original - was created by Laura Mercier in 1995 to “prime” the skin
• Colorless gel leaves makeup looking fresh & colour-true the entire day
• Ideal for normal & combination skin
• Vitamins A, C, & E act as antioxidants & protect the skin from harmful, aging effects of the environment
• Cooling Foundation Primer in the refrigerator is refreshing for the skin & reduces puffiness

Directions: Place a dollop-size amount into your hand and stimulate the skin by lightly massaging in an outward and downward motion.

Tips: Place the Foundation Primer in the refrigerator before use; the coolness is extra refreshing and helps reduce puffiness.

Step 2: Foundation

Laura feels that women should look as natural as possible, so she created her foundations to be used only where needed or in layers to provide buildable coverage.

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Foundation is a layerable, highly pigmented formula to be used only where needed & allows the user to determine the amount of coverage.

• Complete range of yellow-based foundations created to accommodate most women & help them achieve the most natural, “no makeup” look
• Apply very sheerly or layer for more coverage
• Never looks cakey or heavy because of the lightweight formula
• Extremely long-wearing, stays colour true, & wears evenly
• Vitamins A, C & E act as antioxidants to protect the skin from harmful effects in the environment
• Oil-free, yet non-drying
• Ideal for all skin types

*Laura’s foundation have 2 type of foundation, for Oil-Free Foudation which have 12 shades and Moisturizing Foundation which have 7 shades.

Directions: Using a dampened sponge, work the foundation from the outer portion of the face inwards towards the nose area.

Tips: If you have short hair or wear your hair back, massage a little foundation into your ears to ensure a natural look.

Step 3: Secret Brightener

Secret Brightener Pen as a weapon to fight dark circles, reduce shadows, and minimize discolorations by providing product that uses light reflecting pigments to highlight dark areas instead of covering it up.

Secret Brightener is a color-correcting highlighter that brightens dark circles, reduces shadow & minimizes discolorations.

• Color corrector instantly opens the eye area & brightens any portion of the face while smoothing the skin for a youthful appearance
• Use alone or before Secret Concealer or Secret Camouflage for optimal coverage
• #1 for fair to medium skin tones;#2 for medium to tan and darker skin tones
• Formulated for all skin types

Directions: After applying Foundation Primer, lightly stroke product on wherever needed and lightly “tap and roll” to set it into the skin.

Tips: To open the eye area and illuminate the cheekbone, apply the Secret Brightener to the lower temple, moving inward towards the apple of the cheeks.

Step 4: Concealers

An exclusive to Laura Mercier, Secret Camouflage is formulated with a high level of pigment so your skin will achieve complete coverage with little product use.

Conceal under the eye area with Secret Concealer, an emollient formula that will not dry out the skin. It is to be used under the eyes only.

Undercover combines two essential Flawless Face products, Secret Camouflage and Secret Concealer, to ensure a perfect, natural look all day.

Flawless Fix Pencils are formulated to be used anywhere on the face for hard-to-cover blemishes and touch-ups, or as a lip line perfector to mask uneven or undefined lips.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage completely camouflages dark circles, minor imperfections & discolorations.

• A unique two-shade system, one to match the skins depth of color & one to match the skins undertone
• Custom-blend your own perfect shade
• High level of pigment requires very little product to achieve complete coverage
• Always apply after foundation
• Use as an under-eye concealer only if you have darker than average shadows by mixing with Eyedration® Firming Eye Creme for a creamier, more emollient consistency

Directions:

Secret Camouflage - After applying Foundation, use a Secret Camouflage Brush to drag through both pans of product, then warm and mix the two colors on the back of your hand until you find the shade that matches your skin tone. Apply using feather-like strokes then “pat” the product lightly with your fingertips.

Secret Concealer - With the Secret Camouflage Brush use feather-like strokes to apply under and on the outside corner of the eyes.

Undercover - First apply Secret Camouflage to the darkened areas of the face - blemishes, shadows, scars, the area around the nose, shadows under the bottom lip and any other imperfections your foundation does not cover. Next, apply Secret Concealer to brighten and minimize darkness and shadows around the eye area.

Flawless Fix Pencils - apply a small amount with a sharpened pencil tip directly to the area and gently blend with a clean fingertip. To create well defined lips lightly line just outside the natural lip line prior to applying Lip Pencil and Lip Colour.

Tips: Laura suggests looking in a mirror with the best available natural daylight and apply Secret Camouflage where you see a shadow.

Step 5: Secret Brightening Powder

A lighter-than-air powder designed to set Secret Brightener Pen, Secret Camouflage, and Secret Concealer while adding an invisible lightening boost.

Secret Brightening Powder is a lighter-than-air powder used to set Secret Brightener, Secret Concealer & Secret Camouflage, while adding an invisible lightening boost.

• Transparent white colour lightens and brightens
• Micronized pigments will not settle in fine lines or accentuate shadows
• Instantly delivers a soft touch & weightless feel on the skin
• Creates the appearance of the most naturally perfected skin & maximizes wear & coverage
• Formulated for all skin types

Directions: Using the Camouflage Powder Brush, pat powder on any area needing lightening and brightening.

Tips: Use Secret Brightening Powder to set Eye Basics leaving a beautiful, clean look for a perfect base for Eye Colour application.

Step 6: Setting Powder

Laura recommends that everyone set their makeup with Translucent Loose Setting Powder because it has no color pigment and will not distort the color of your makeup. To add a slight hint of colour, use Ivory for fair skin or Beige for medium skin.

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder is an extremely lightweight, sheer & silky setting powder that contains the finest French “cashmere” talc & a unique light-reflecting ingredient that creates a “soft-focus” appearance for fine lines & imperfections.

• Sets makeup to prolong wear
• Adds a velvety finish to any makeup or a bit of colour and coverage when foundation is not worn
• Looks natural & never cakey or powdery
• Oil-Free

Directions: Saturate a Velour Puff with the powder and gently press the puff in a rolling motion to work the powder into the skin.

Tips: To prevent emphasizing lines and shadows, only use pigmented powders to flatted surfaces, never around the eyes or mouth.

Step 7: Secret Finish

Secret Finish gives the skin a radiant and healthy glow after makeup application or as a refresher for skin anytime throughout the day.

Secret Finish is a secret last step that sets makeup & leaves the skin with a youthful glow.

• Leaves a radiant look
• Skin looks lifted and tightened
• Works great after Foundation Powder application
• Instantly gives a moist & natural looking glow to the skin
• Oil-free & can be used by all skin types

Directions: Place a small dollop of product on your fingertips, rub gently so that the product spreads evenly over the fingertips, and gently pat onto the desired area of the face.

Tips: Use a small amount around the eye area to prevent it from looking tired and dry throughout the day.

Thats just a simple 7 Steps to get a Flawless Face with Laura Mercier make-up products. What else we women would ask f

for othen then good skin. Flawless face even with makeup and still look natural, radiant and glowing.

Article resource : http://www.lauramercier.com

Here is a clip on how to create a smoky eye by M·A·C Pro makeup artist Chantel Miller . Its an industry standard technique, yes I myself use the same technique but sometimes I like to mix black with other bright color.. Learn the basic, then mix and match with other color that you like. My favorite color to mix with are green, purple, gold and light blue.

Eyes occupy the most prominent place among the five sensory organs of our body. Large and beautiful eyes enhance one’s beauty manifold. Use eye-make up very sparingly, for its excessive use damages the skin around eye. Applying smoky eyes makeup can make you the most attractive and beautiful woman. It is a good choice for drawing attention.

A very important thing to take into account is the eye shadow color. Being very careful, smoky eyes are not so difficult to obtain. An advantage of this kind of makeup is that it fits any face type. Start applying the smoky eyes makeup, First, apply a perfect eyeliner and the base eye shadow over the upper lid, blending with a base brush. The next step is to apply a clean color over the eye, from eyelid to brow.

Eye makeup is the fun part of applying cosmetics. Some simple eye makeup tips. Use eye shadows that fit the character or to express mood. Apply the lightest shade you have over the entire eyelid and the medium shade on the lower eyelid. It’s time to apply dark colors for creating depth. Best place for doing that is the outer corner. Next, apply a little eyeliner, from the center of the eye to the corners. Finally, apply mascara. For dark eyes, black or dark brown is recommended. A dark brown eye shadow should be applied from the lid to crease, for a better effect. In the final, apply two layers of black mascara and work a little on your eyebrows for a strong smoky eyes makeup.

Various Types of Eye Makeup

Small eyes-Use a light shade of powder for the center of the lid and a darker shade in the outer edge.

Almond-shaped eyes Use a light shade of powder from your lashes to the brow, a medium shade on your lid, and a darker shade on the outer third of your eyelid.

Round eyes-Use light colored shadow over the entire lid and a darker shade in the crease. Apply eyeliner on both the top and bottom lids, and use mascara on the upper outer lashes.

Wide-set eyes-Use a darker shade in the inner corner, blending up and out. Concentrate eyeliner and mascara on the inner corner of the eye.

Close-set eyes-Use one color, varying from a light to darker shade. Start with the lightest shade one-third away from the inner corner of your eye, blending darker shades up and out. Use eyeliner on the outer half of your eye.

Deep-set eyes-Use eyeliner on both the upper and lower lids, remembering to smudge and soften the line.

Eye Makeup Tips

1. Use eye shadows to reflect mood.

2. Apply the lightest shade over the entire eyelid.

3. Apply the medium shade on the lower eyelid.

4. Apply the darkest shade in the outer corner of the eye to create depth.

5. Apply eyeliner with short strokes, starting form.

6. The center of the eye and working towards the corners.

7. Mascara finishes your makeup.

8. Do not wear bold eye makeup and a bold lipstick at the same time.

Article Source: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Eye-Makeup-Tips-and-Advice&id=683780