Thread: Creating Beautiful "Arabic Eyes"--spinoff from creating exotic...

Hi ladies!

So another question from the cosmetically challenged......c::

In the creating exotic features thread we saw vids of gorgeous "Arabic Eyes" eye makeup and discussed how eye shape affects the look of makeup.

Well, I've come to the conclusion that I actually *do* have the right shaped eyes for this (though slightly heavy-lidded, they're pretty large, almond shaped, slanting at the outter corner), but what I *lack* is the product and makeup application knowledge to make this work, and my results so far show interesting *potential* but the actual outcome is very messy and laughable!

So...here's what I want to know:

1. What product can you use for the eyeliner that will both look good *and* stay put if you are one of those Mediterranean types who sweats like a stuck pig the moment she starts to move? Any other product you need to "prime" or set?

2. Are there special tools you need for application? If so, can you describe them well enough that a woman who doesn't know the difference between a blush brush and a powder brush will be able to figure it out?

3. How in the world do you get it all the way around the eye without your lower lashes getting in the way, and without getting it in your eye (at the inner corner--I find it tends to "slide" in) or all over your big honkin' nose?

4. How do you work it with the eye shadow to create that look (I've figured out that a little lighter/highlight in the inner corner of the lid and right under the brow works...extend the dark corners out a the sides a bit...but how to do this so it all looks smooth and glamorous, not beautifully feathered on oneside and rounded and chunky on the other. :-)

..cr.: I just missed too many days of girl school, including most of the days on eye makeup. I'm working at it, but I've been struggling with this one for literally 6 years....

Help! ..l;,

Search you tube for videos demonstrating this! There are alot of great ones!

There are some good tutorials on youtube and elsewhere but they usually work with very specific cosmetics (most of which I can't afford) and they are usually people with much different coloring than moi, so I never can tell if it'll work for me.

I didn't go to girl school either. I'm pretty hopeless.

Have you tried using proper kohl (comes in a wood pot, apply it with a stick) that just looks better and better the sweatier you get ;)
I always apply a line in black eyeshadow with a damp brush around the eye, with the line thickest on the outer corner, then use a liquid liner all around outside the lashes for definition (for arabic eyes I would suggest winging it up on the outer corner and down towards the nose on the inner corner. The combo of powder and liquid will give you a strong line that looks smudgy. Then I apply kohl to the inside of the bottom lashes. I have tried kohl all around, but it tends to wander around on the top lid! Apparently you are supposed to apply it by closing your lashes around the stick and drawing the stick outwards, but I find that just clogs up my lashes with black gunk.

Shading the eye with appropriate shadows before doing all the liner stuff will add a nice finish, try a beige all over, then a cream higlight in the inner corner of the eyelid and under the arch of your brow, then shade from the outer corner of your eye with an earthy colour, and blend a dark smokey brown into your socket line. Hmm, I might have to see if I can do that and photograph it so it makes sense.

Here is the makeup queen of youtube doing arabic makeup.

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=xkADhEUYmQ4]YouTube - HOT SEXY ARABIC EYES with Barry M & MAC make up[/ame]

She has some variations of the arabian eyes if you look in her channel.

Originally Posted by Kash13

I always apply a line in black eyeshadow with a damp brush around the eye, with the line thickest on the outer corner, then use a liquid liner all around outside the lashes for definition (for arabic eyes I would suggest winging it up on the outer corner and down towards the nose on the inner corner. The combo of powder and liquid will give you a strong line that looks smudgy.

With the black eyeshadow--do you have any issues with sweating and the powder running?

Part of my problem has been that anything powdery or "smudgy" starts to migrate during my first show and smudge/run all over the place. By the end of three half-hour shows, I could have some really awful raccooning going on. So, for the last few years, I've been stuck with just waterproof liquid eyeliner...which I also seem to have issues applying. Maybelline is cheap but relatively easy to use (and clean up if I make a mess) but it gets dry and crinkley after a while. I loved the look/lasting effect of MAC's waterproof liquid when the woman at the store did it on me, but the consistency is like tar. When I try it myself, I have a hard time keeping the line smooth, and I sometimes end up with three big eyelashes because they're all stuck together in the eyeliner!..l;,

*sigh* Would you believe I was a painter at one point? You'd think I'd be better with tiny little brushes...(of course, not that I did a lot of watercolor, acrylic or oil on my own face, I suppose....,r:; )

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

Hi ladies!
So...here's what I want to know:

1. What product can you use for the eyeliner that will both look good *and* stay put if you are one of those Mediterranean types who sweats like a stuck pig the moment she starts to move? Any other product you need to "prime" or set?

2. Are there special tools you need for application? If so, can you describe them well enough that a woman who doesn't know the difference between a blush brush and a powder brush will be able to figure it out?

3. How in the world do you get it all the way around the eye without your lower lashes getting in the way, and without getting it in your eye (at the inner corner--I find it tends to "slide" in) or all over your big honkin' nose?

4. How do you work it with the eye shadow to create that look (I've figured out that a little lighter/highlight in the inner corner of the lid and right under the brow works...extend the dark corners out a the sides a bit...but how to do this so it all looks smooth and glamorous, not beautifully feathered on oneside and rounded and chunky on the other. :-)

Help! ..l;,

1. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack!!!! I use this for above the eyes and a black MAC pencil for the waterline when I want to line that. You will need a small angle brush to apply the fluidline, but it is so much easier than liquid eyeliner brushes.

2. Well see angle brush above. You'll need an eyeshadow brush...I think Azhia would be the most help.

3. Well depends on the look. If you want to line your water line, it does get in your eye a little, not bad though. I wear contacts and it doesn't bother me. For the inner eye I get right there by the tear duct. I don't really line below my lower lashes, and I only use glitter liner in my lower lashes (with the exception of the outer corner which I take a little further. On me, I get racooney if I do it another way. I line the water line instead.

4. Sorry to say, but practice. When I start I tend to draw a cat eye out with an eyeliner pencil, and I make sure that's even, then I go about doing shadow, so I have a baseline already. By the time I get my shadow on good, I then do the fluidline and redraw my cat eye line out. I also tend to operated pretty symetrically, if I add a little to one eye, I do the same to the other eye, until I'm left with just finishing adjustments.

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

With the black eyeshadow--do you have any issues with sweating and the powder running?

Not that I have noticed, I am not sure whether that is the brand (I use Lily Lilo, which is all mica based and virtually waterproof anyhow) or the application- putting it onto a well prepared base (foundation, powder, neutral shadow) helps, and applying with a damp brush will make it stay quite well.

I have one friend who is in a goth band, she used to do her stage makeup by rolling antiperspirant (underarm) all over her face, then putting on heavy stage makeup, then setting it by spraying hairspray over it ..c:: That must feel horrible. She switched to Lily Lolo too, and no longer does that thank goodness (again the kaolin based foundation just turns a bit claylike when you get really sweaty, it never comes off)

Originally Posted by Kash13

Have you tried using proper kohl (comes in a wood pot, apply it with a stick) that just looks better and better the sweatier you get ;)
I always apply a line in black eyeshadow with a damp brush around the eye, with the line thickest on the outer corner, then use a liquid liner all around outside the lashes for definition (for arabic eyes I would suggest winging it up on the outer corner and down towards the nose on the inner corner. The combo of powder and liquid will give you a strong line that looks smudgy. Then I apply kohl to the inside of the bottom lashes. I have tried kohl all around, but it tends to wander around on the top lid! Apparently you are supposed to apply it by closing your lashes around the stick and drawing the stick outwards, but I find that just clogs up my lashes with black gunk.

Shading the eye with appropriate shadows before doing all the liner stuff will add a nice finish, try a beige all over, then a cream higlight in the inner corner of the eyelid and under the arch of your brow, then shade from the outer corner of your eye with an earthy colour, and blend a dark smokey brown into your socket line. Hmm, I might have to see if I can do that and photograph it so it makes sense.

Where do I find that real kohl? You used to see it everywhere, but nowadays all you can find in the mainstream stores are those lame kohl pencils... no substitute at all!

I get mine from Bnever B - Kohl they are an international company you should be able to get it in the states. There was also a bit of a fashion for it recently and a couple of the big department store type cosmetic brands were doing a version, I can't recall who it was now, perhaps Estee Lauder or someone. I would recommend buying through a western brand if you can though, there have been issues with some traditional kohl recipes containing toxic ingredients.

Oh i found this http://www.hennapage.com/harquuspdfs/kohlintro.pdf which was quite interesting.

I use Revlon Color Stay shadow in black over my black eye liner (also color stay, like the lip stick also!). I apply it with a brush but not a make up brush I buy brushes from a craft strore with a very flat, angled brush. I am a VERY SWEATY dancer! I have danced on 85 degree days and it never runs!
Just my 2 cents worth.

Originally Posted by mihnea

1. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack!!!! I use this for above the eyes and a black MAC pencil for the waterline when I want to line that. You will need a small angle brush to apply the fluidline, but it is so much easier than liquid eyeliner brushes.

Co-signing on the Blacktrack. Use this on the lid and on the bottom, use a good quality Pakistani khol pencil on the bottom right next to the waterline. Try practicing to keep the lower lid line about 1/8 of an inch wide.

From memory, CVS sells makeup brushes in a little kit at like $9.99 or something (sometimes sold separately). Get the angled eyeliner brush. Use this with your gel eyeliner as it helps make that cat eye shape at the end: load the brush with some product and place the pointed bit horizontally at the outer corner of the upper lid. Do this about 1/8 inch above and outside your natural lash line. This sets up your cat eye shape. Another trick is to stabilize your arm/elbow on a table before you start drawing your face on. Helps control you a bit more.

Give it a shot. It REALLY is about practice. Pick a day or more and just spend 15 minutes before your shower at night to practice, so you can wash it out after.

Hope that helps.

BTW, I'm pretty dark and this combo of Blacktrack and khol are acutally REALLY black on my skin so this works well for that nice contrasty look.

Let me know how it works.