How Many Pieces Are in the Gaze Set?
The Gaze Set is made up of nine pieces and covers the five core tasks of eye makeup: primer, eyeshadow, a lining product, mascara and a blending brush. The remaining two pieces back up these tasks. For most people who only have eyeshadow and mascara, the missing parts are the line and the blending.
If you'd like to complete it with single pieces, each category is listed separately in the eye makeup section.
How to Choose an Eyeshadow Palette: Shade Range by Eye Color
When choosing an eyeshadow palette, shades opposite your eye color on the color wheel make the eyes stand out. On brown and hazel eyes, navy, plum and copper; on blue and gray eyes, copper, peach and warm brown; and on green eyes, purple and burgundy create noticeable contrast.
- Brown and hazel eyes: navy, plum, copper
- Blue and gray eyes: copper, peach, warm brown
- Green eyes: purple, burgundy, gold
This isn't a rule, just a starting point to speed up the decision. The quad eyeshadow palette gives transition and lid shades together; for a wider range of shades, there's also the eyeshadow and palettes section.
What's the Difference Between Pencil Eyeliner and Gel Eyeliner?
Because pencil eyeliner can be blended before it sets, it's suited to filling in the lash line and creating a soft edge. Gel eyeliner doesn't budge once dry and leaves a sharp line. The two can also be used together on the same eye: the pencil fills in the roots, and the gel draws a crisp line on the upper lid.
Most people who work with a single product end up unable to do one of these two jobs in a lasting way. Formula options can be compared in the eyeliner collection.
The application order also differs between the two. Pencil can go under or over eyeshadow, while gel always goes over eyeshadow; applying eyeshadow over a dried gel layer makes the edge of the line look powdery.
What Happens If You Don't Use Eye Primer?
Without eye primer, the natural oil on the lid collects eyeshadow pigment into the creases and the color builds up in lines within 3-4 hours. Eye primer creates a smooth, dry surface for the pigment to grip. Primer delays this buildup and keeps the color where it is and at the intensity it was applied.
The eye base cream with hyaluronic acid also leaves a thin layer of moisture on dry lids, which makes eyeshadow look less powdery.
Primer needs a very thin layer. When too much product goes on the lid, the surface stays tacky and eyeshadow collects wherever it slides; a rice-grain-sized amount is enough for both eyes.
Should You Use a Lash Curler Before or After Mascara?
The lash curler is used before mascara, on dry lashes. Place the clamp at the lash roots and squeeze for 5 seconds, then give two more short squeezes toward the middle and tips. Pressing on one spot for a long time leaves a sharp angle; gradual squeezing gives a natural curve.
A curler isn't used on lashes with mascara on them; the dried film breaks and lashes can snap. The natural-look lash curler, used in the right order, also makes the volume from mascara visible.
When to Use an Eyeshadow Brush vs. a Blending Brush
A flat, dense eyeshadow brush is used to place color on the lid, and a soft, fluffy blending brush is used to melt the edge between two shades. The order is always the same: place first, then blend. Trying to do both jobs with a single brush reduces the color's impact.
People who collect eye makeup piece by piece buy the color first and leave the brush for last; when they don't like the result, the eyeshadow usually takes the blame. For different tips, see the eye and brow brushes section.
How Long Do Eye Makeup Products Keep?
Wet formulas lose their freshness much sooner than dry formulas. Mascara and gel eyeliner fall into this group; powder eyeshadows last noticeably longer. The period-after-opening symbol on the packaging shows this window for each product separately.
Adding water or any other liquid to a dried-out mascara is a risk not worth taking around the eyes. Twisting the brush inside the tube instead of pumping it in and out slows drying. The application order and technique are covered on the Eye Makeup Routine page.