Whether you wear prescription glasses or sunglasses, your frames inevitably become a focal point of your look. With glasses magnifying the eyes, your makeup application needs some adjustments compared to going makeup-free.
As over 64% of American adults wear glasses according to recent studies, learning how to optimize your makeup for glasses is crucial. In this article, we’ll cover 10 expert tips from professional makeup artists on wearing makeup well with your frames.
1. Consider Your Frame Shape and Color
The first step is analyzing your frame style. Are they thick and bold or thin wire frames? Do they have a bright pop of color or subtle tones? Your eye makeup needs to complement rather than overwhelm your frames.
Lisa Eldridge, renowned makeup artist, advises pairing lighter eye makeup with statement frames. “Heavier eyeshadow or eyeliner risks being overpowering next to dramatic frames,” she notes. Save those smoky eye looks for smaller, neutral frames.
For bright or oversized frames, stick to one or two neutral shades blended smoothly on your lids. A classic like brown or charcoal gray suits most styles. Don’t overdo other eye products like mascara, either, to allow your frames to shine.
2. Avoid Harsh Eyeliner If Nearsighted
Prescription lenses magnify the eyes, altering their apparent size. Nearsighted glasses make eyes look smaller, so heavy eyeliner isn’t flattering. It can emphasize the shrinking effect.
Instead of harsh lines, stick to muted eyeshadow colors brushed gently on the lids and lower lash line. Think soft taupe, mauve or dusty rose shades to dress up eyes naturally without shrinking them.
Consider lining just the upper lash line with a thin coat of brown or gray eyeshadow for definition. Skip bottom waterlines entirely when wearing glasses. Your eyes will look brighter and bigger without liner competing with frames.
3. Curl And Separate Your Lashes
We all want lush, full lashes but glasses pose their own challenges. Long, unruly lashes brushing against lenses gets irritating fast. And clumpy mascara magnified by glasses is never flattering.
The solution? Curl lashes before applying any mascara to train them upward rather than out. Then reach for a high-performing volumizing mascara. Formulas like Maybelline Sky High plump lashes while keeping them separated versus stuck together.
Wiggle the brush close to lash roots and pull upwards stroke by stroke for fanned-out volume without length. Your eyes will pop beautifully framed without distractions.
4. Shape Brows To Frame Faces
Frames inevitably draw eyes upwards so well-groomed brows become even more important. The goal is ensuring brows frame faces above glasses rather than getting lost below them.
Brush brows upwards and outward while filling sparse areas lightly with an eyebrow pencil in a close shade match. Avoid over-drawing for a natural look. Don’t forget setting gel to hold brows all day long!
For thick frames, go lighter on brow makeup. Thinner styles allow bolder brows. No matter the shape, clean defined brows balance any glasses beautifully.
5. Apply Blush Above Frame Lines
Glasses frequently leave indentations in foundation where they rest on noses and cheeks. To avoid this, apply blush higher on cheekbones than usual.
Start at the top of cheekbones, blending color backwards and down towards the ears. This ensures blush stays above frames rather than fading under them throughout the day.
For a sunkissed flush, don’t limit color to just apples. Sweep it onto the tops of forehead and temples too. Since blush is placed higher, go a shade bolder for balanced radiance when wearing glasses.
Professional makeup artist and YouTuber Wayne Goss recommends dabbing excess foundation from brushes onto nose bridges rather than layering it on heavily. This prevents indentations while still providing coverage where needed.
6. Highlight Under Arches
Glasses tend to draw attention to upper faces so illuminating other features balances everything out. Apply a delicate highlighting shade like MAC Mineralize Skinfinish or NARS just under brow arches.
Dab highlighter onto inner corners and Cupid’s bow too for an instant awake look. Use your ring fingers to gently dab and blend the product, rather than swiping with brushes which can go on too thickly.
The subtle shimmer pulls eyes around glasses to highlighted areas, adding radiance overall without dominating. It brightens up naturally magnified by the frames themselves.
7. Define Cheekbones Lightly
While glasses draw focus upwards, adding subtle sculpted definition to cheekbones balances lower faces. Sweep a neutral bronzer like Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer just above cheeks in a “C” shape motion.
Blend color up towards temples, keeping application light so it doesn’t overpower. Just a dusting is all that’s needed as the natural structure already exists – no sculpting required.
By bringing minimal color up and out, lower faces stay lifted and balanced versus overwhelmed by glasses above. It frames faces holistically without competing against frames.
8. Play Up Lips With Color
Since eyes become secondary features framed by glasses, lips become prime real estate. Pucker up with a bold hue in your perfect shades of red, berry or fuchsia.
Long-wear formulas withstand touch-ups throughout glasses-wearing days. Try NYX Shine Loud Lip Cream or Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink for all-day color that looks freshly applied hours later.
Keep other makeup minimal so lips sing as the featured element. They command attention beautifully without distracting from frames. And a smile reveals even when eyes are hidden behind lenses!
9. Set Makeup For Staying Power
No matter your base routine, glasses rubbing calls for serious staying power. After applying makeup, spritz skin liberally with a setting spray like MAC Fix+ to bond everything in place.
Wait until completely dry then apply powder where needed (under eyes, T-zone). This seals makeup while still maintaining a skin-like finish.
To counteract friction, dust transparent loose powder like RCMA No Color Powder on bridge of nose before slipping glasses back on. It offers slick protection for problematic rubbing zones.
10. Adjust For Sunglasses Too
Dark lenses prompt darker makeup for visibility. Deepen shadow shades and liners one to two tones while avoiding harsh lines that shrink eyes further.
Sunglasses absorb more light, so going all-out matte looks unnatural in comparison to skin’s natural luminosity. Blend in subtle shimmer just on eyelids and high points for balanced luminous dimensions.
And don’t forget SPF – the darker lenses may not filter 100% of rays near eyes. Protect delicate skin with mineral formulas like EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 for full glasses coverage.
With these expert makeup tips customized for frames, wearing glasses is empowering rather than restrictive. Your unique face shines through striking the perfect balance between fashionable specs and beautiful features. Focus on applying makeup to flatter from any angle, whether obscured or not by lenses.
Conclusion
Whether you rely on glasses every day or just for occasional sun protection, your frames should never limit your makeup self-expression. By following these tailored tips from professional artists, you can enhance your natural beauty through any lenses.
Remember – frames are simply accessories that draw emphasis to certain facial features. It’s about playing with shadows, illuminations and pops of colors to balance out magnified areas and complement your chosen frames. Focus on blended, seamless makeup that makes eyes pop without seeming heavy.
With the right techniques, glasses wearers can fully embrace any look from minimalist to glamourous. Your frames should accentuate confidence, not mask it. So go ahead and have fun experimenting until you find your best spotlighted makeup style, whatever glasses you rock.
