Eye makeup for men, tips and inspiration requested

[Skatingaway]

I feel like I have a good handle on doing natural makeup. Primer, foundation, concealer, bronzer, some blush maybe (I’m blushed enough really) brows and brow gel. I’ve done clear mascara once or twice but I really have no need since my lashes are rather obscene. Mascara is over the top for me when natural. Always room for improvement, but I do feel confident In my abilities with all those things. So, eye makeup. I am intrigued, and I’ve always wanted to try. But I really am not after feminine at all. Not my jam at all. I like being a guy but I like being a well put together 50 year old that looks 30 to some. I’ve watched tons of vids and learned a bunch I have hooded normal set but downturned eyes. I’ve bought a small eye palate or 2 to play with. And I get it, but I am just not feeling it with the results. I am simply not good enough yet to make it look on par with the rest of my routine. When I use the shadows it ends up looking like a 5 year old on Ritalin and caffeine went to town with crayolas. So I am looking for tips and inspiration for some good looks that could help me ease in and get more confident doing eyes. I was thinking just under eye maybe, but with hooded down turned that might not be best. Or is it? I’d post this in men who makeup but that forum gets little to no traffic. So I ask you ladies, can you share some tips or even some ideas for looks that would look good on a guy. Subtle but maybe edgy when looked at closer. Maybe just liner to start?

[MlleJuju]

@Skatingaway Hi! Maybe it's gonna sound very general, but finding the right brushes for the style you want to achieve is key (in my opinion). I used to have my two favorite brushes that I used all the time and it was alright for my usual looks. But when I wanted to do something a bit more extravagant it didn't work, and I couldn't undertand why I couldn't achieve those kind of diffused look/no harsh line. And then I found the right brushes to blend. So, for me anyway, it's finding the brushes that works for you, the shape of your eyes and the look you want to achieve. Hope it helps. 🙂

[ibblej]

@Skatingaway If you want to avoid looks that might be read as femme, but want something a little edgy, @missjeanie's suggestion of colored liners seems like a good start. Eyeliner is mainstream enough on men that "guyliner" is in the dictionary, after all! (No really, it is!)

If you want to try a subtly colored liner without breaking the bank for your test run, NYX's Faux Blacks Eyeliners have some good choices in that genre.

Alternatively, smokey eyes are also a common eye look for men:

 

Anyway, don't worry about your first few attempts with eyeshadow looking a bit rough. No one's good at eyeshadow when they're just starting out. I know I wasn't! 😛

[Skatingaway]

Thank you so much for these. I LOVE the first 2 for sure. I was told an orange or in that hue/family of shades would bring my eyes out a lot. Sort of like the second one is very appealing to me.  That one doesn't look very hard to do at all.

[missjeanie]

@Skatingaway  I love tight lining my upper lash line for a very natural look with a dark brown liner (my favourite is the Marc Jacobs liner for this). I’m not much for edgy looks myself so can’t help a lot there.

With shadow I keep it super natural as well. I start with a matte shade that’s just a touch lighter than my natural skin tone to brighten the area a bit. Like you I have downturned eyes so I’ll take a second shade (a mauvy brown matte is my go to here), I’ll put it on a big fluffy blending brush and start blending it in at the outer corner of my eye. I concentrate it right above the outer edge, but slightly higher than the tallest part of my eye when opened. I was once told that in lieu of using an outer V like most people, those with down turned eyes should try using more of a 7 shape and this has worked out well for me. As I got more comfortable I could intensify the look with a bit of shimmer on the lid and a deeper  second colour, or add in a third to intensify. 

I generally find that liner on the lower lashes (if not doing any on the top) can make your eyes look heavy, dragged down a bit. This is just my opinion though and I’d suggest playing around someday to see what you like. 

Ohhh maybe switching up a liner colour could be funfor that up close twist? Navy or purple aren’t too out there, but still a bit different.

[Skatingaway]

Funny you said purple liner
I picked up a sapphire/purple-colored liner to see about tightlining my upper and lower to start. Thank you.