big, bright, natural eyes.

Hi ladies!

As you all should know having bright-awake eyes is one of the task that most women have to do especially for day time looks. I find that having big, bright eyes can be an easy task to do every morning before I leave the house looking like a tired panda (all those late nights with coffee and bags of tea). All you need are these four items in your make up routine and you're set to go out, looking and sometimes pretending that you are wide-awake for whatever meeting or commitments you have to attend to (especially those 6am work routines)!

Natural Eyes by nina-yap featuring matte finish makeup

1. My trusty eyeliner. 

Currently I'm using a crayon waterproof black eyeliner from Revlon. I love tight-lining my eyes to make my lashes look fuller. Tight-lining is the easiest task and I usually do it first as sometimes I run out of time to play with my eye-shadows. 

All you need to do is just use a Q-tip or cotton bud and lift your eyes where you can see beneath your eyelids. Start shading in around the top tip of your eyelids (where it's usually white). Don't shade in overly dark as I find that to look a bit more smoky eyes than a big bright eye. 

I usually use cotton bud or sometimes my pinky finger to pull my eyelids lightly on the top as by tugging on your eyelids too much, it will start to sag! I'm sure most of you do not want to experience saggy, wrinkly eyelids at an early age! 

Tip: For transition to night time, you can always tight-line on the bottom outer corners of your eyelid and smudge away! 

2. Matte eyeshadows (pssst... on lazy days, I skip this!)

When I feel up for it, I usually apply a light brown-cashew colour (Matt Gallagher from TheBalm) eyeshadow on my top lid and just smooth it over (shaping it like an almond on my eyelids). This usually takes me about 30seconds to 1 minute to smooth it out on both sides. 

Then, I will use a smudge brush or my pinky finger and tap a bit of dark brown colour (Matt Ramirez from the Balm) or if I feel adventurous a navy blue (Matt Horowitz) or purple (Matt Batali) at where your crease is and blend blend blend! 

Finally, using a lighter beige (Matt Smith) or baby pink (Matt Chung) in the inner corners of my eyes. 

Tip: Remember to have a handy makeup remover wipe and a tissue nearby to clean your finger tips if you have to reuse them! I do find finger tip application has more control. However, my smudge brush from NARS is always my go-to to tap tap before blend blend (if that makes sense!).

3. Eyelash curler. 

I do have three eyelash curlers currently that I alternate (but my favourite is still the Anna Sui one): Natio, Anna Sui, Missha. I am eyeing on getting the infamous Shu Uemura or Shiseido eyelash curlers too. 

Eyelash curlers are usually great for any types of eyes. Unless you have naturally curly eyelashes, then it's easier to use an eyelash curlers then relying upon the likes of a curling mascara (which I personally do not believe in). 

4. Mascara. 

Currently I'm using Clinique's High Impact Dramatic Mascara and Lash Power in black. They're perfect formulas for people with super sensitive eyes and do not want to be tugging on their eyelashes when removing make up. Clinique's mascara are easily removable (except that new waterproof one) and I tend to use makeup wipes to remove them. 

I love love love coats and coats of mascara as long as they're not heavy on my lids and drooooooop them down so low that my eyes cannot see the light of the day. Also, despite knowing that I shouldn't be doing this but I do curl my eyelashes after I apply mascara.

Yes, it is sticky when I try curling them again and yes, sometimes eyelashes do feel the pain but who doesn't want awesome curly lashes? 

Tip: Hence, a make up artist friend of mine advised me to firstly, warm up the eyelash mascara with your awesome hair dryer. Curl your lashes a few times (slowly making your way up on your lashes). Then, apply three coats of mascara and it should not droop! 

That's about it with my daily eye make up to perk up that lazy eyes of mine! What about your natural beautifying routine for your eyes? Do you apply coats of mascara too? x