The allure of eye jewels lies in their ability to transform a simple makeup look into something truly captivating. Whether you're aiming for a subtle sparkle or a dramatic statement, incorporating rhinestones into your eye makeup can significantly enhance your overall aesthetic. This tutorial will guide you through various techniques and provide essential tips for achieving a flawless, dazzling finish.
Classic Feline Flick with Rhinestone Embellishments
My adored classic Feline Flick eyeliner technique becomes even more captivating when paired with a series of dazzling rhinestones. To achieve this mesmerizing look, apply your winged eyeliner as usual. Then, carefully dot rhinestones along the lash line. This placement offers the most mesmeric effect, adding a touch of glamour to your classic winged liner.
Show-Stopping Rhinestone Eyeshadow Looks
To give your eyeshadow a show-stopping finish, rhinestones can be applied directly onto the eyelid. By playing with the light, rhinestones create a captivating glow, functioning similarly to eyeshadows in enhancing the appearance of your eyes. They add dimension and a unique sparkle that powder shadows alone cannot achieve.
Minimalist Rhinestone Accents
For a less-is-more rhinestone makeup look, you can accentuate the eyes by adding gems to the inner or outer corners. Adding a twinkling rhinestone to your inner corners provides an eye-brightening effect comparable to applying an inner corner highlighter. Choose a diamond-like gem and apply it close to your tear duct for instant, eye-popping sparkle.
Cut Crease and Rhinestone Harmony
A cut crease eyeshadow look presents the perfect opportunity to dial up the gems. The defined line of a cut crease forms an ideal arch for applying dazzling rhinestones. Placing your chosen rhinestones along the crease adds a sparkling finishing touch to your eye makeup, highlighting the precision of the cut crease itself.
Lower Lash Line Sparkle
Adding rhinestones along the lower lash line is an effective way to brighten the appearance of your eyes. A single rhinestone or two placed in the center of the lash line can beautifully capture the light and enhance the natural sparkle of your eye color. After applying a jet-black mascara, consider this subtle yet impactful embellishment.
Brow Bone Brilliance
Rhinestones can look magical along the brow bone. After creating a mesmerizing eye makeup look, the brow bone serves as perfect real estate for a couple of twinkling gems. These strategically placed gems help to illuminate the eyes, drawing attention upward and framing the entire eye area.
Eyebrow Embellishments for Dazzling Dimension
Your eyebrows frame your face, and adding rhinestones is a recipe for sparkling success. After filling in your eyebrows according to your preferred routine, incorporate gorgeous gems for dazzling dimension. This technique adds a unique, eye-catching element that complements the overall makeup.
Applying Rhinestones Like a Pro: Essential Techniques
Applying rhinestones is an art form, and before you begin, it's crucial to visualize where you want to place them. This planning stage prevents mistakes and ensures a cohesive look.
Preparation is Key
Before you start bedazzling your face, brush up on a few basics to keep your face gems (and your sanity levels) in place. Start by getting your beauty mise-en-place in order: gather your rhinestones (in loose or stick-on varieties), eyelash glue, tweezers, and an oil-based makeup remover. Using adhesives of any kind can be irritating, so it’s best to start with a patch test on a small spot like your inner wrist or elbow beforehand.
Location Scouting and Placement
Map out your gem placement before adding lash glue to the mix to avoid having to remove and reapply smudged eyeshadow bases. When applying gems, treat it like applying mascara-eyes wide open. Look at the mirror straight on when you apply gems so you see how they will lay with your eye wide open. This prevents any rhinestones from disappearing into your crease.
Gluing Techniques
It’s easier to dip your rhinestones into your glue than it is to apply glue directly to the back of the rhinestones. Instead of using your fingers, I recommend using a dotting tool to pick up your rhinestones. This provides more control over placement and helps avoid getting glue on your fingers. You don’t need a lot of glue for the rhinestones to stick. The trick is to get enough glue on your rhinestone so that it becomes tacky, keeping the glue minimal and in the center, as excess glue can spill out from underneath and disturb your makeup. Some recommend using a palette or a piece of tin foil as a surface for your glue to prevent using too much at once. With a few drops of your favorite lash glue on a solid surface, use your tweezers to pick up an individual gem and dip the back side into the glue. Lightly press the rhinestone onto your face in your desired placement.
Securing the Gems
After applying a rhinestone, lightly press it into the skin with your dotting tool and hold it in place for a few seconds. This allows the glue time to bond with your skin, contributing to the longevity of your rhinestone eye makeup look. When applying rhinestones to your face, use an eyelash glue or an eye and skin-safe glitter glue that will gently stick them into place.
Rhinestone Makeup for Different Styles
The Minimalist
For a low-key, wearable version, a little shadow and a few smartly-placed rhinestones suffice. Consider the corners of the eye (inner or outer), studding along your brow, or sparsely dotting on the lid and brow bone as solid starting placements. Keeping your lids bare or adding a wash of color is a matter of preference. For neutral, shimmer bases that complement any rhinestone color, consider using eyeshadows like IBY BEAUTY Eyeshadow in Flower Child or the DOUCCE COSMETICS Freematic Limited Edition Smokey Pro Palette.
Pro Tip: Comfortability is key, so practice your looks before wearing them out and go slow. In my experience, less is usually more. Start with a few rhinestones in a few places and keep it minimal.
Kicking It Up a Notch
Ready to take it further? Make rhinestones a focal point by using them as traditional eye makeup elements. Try creating an eyeliner with gems or replacing eyeshadow with a huge wash of gems instead of using classic powder shadow. Start by creating a shape with your go-to liners and shadows, then go back in with a layer of matching jewels. For a spectrum of shadow bases, the Berlin Underground Eyeshadow Palette from NOMAD COSMETICS is an excellent choice, offering 15 epic shades.
Pro Tip: When buying rhinestones, most come in multicolored packs; use this to your advantage. Lighter gems can be used as another form of highlight, while darker gems can be used more as a shadow.
For the Drama-Seekers
This level of rhinestone makeup involves lashes, glitter, and bold lips. It's all about experimenting, practicing, and trial and error. Try adding gems outside of the eye area-go above the brows, create rhinestone freckles, or play with fun shapes. Bright colors are essential for taking this look to the next level; the ESTATE COSMETICS X Bailey Sarian Venice Fling Eyeshadow Palette is an easy choice for picking out your shadow.
Pro Tip: Take a step back and look at your face from afar to see if other features can be emphasized to complete the look. This approach encourages bold experimentation.
Removal and Reusability
When it's time to remove your masterpiece, an oil-based makeup remover is preferred to make the process a breeze. And yes - you can reuse your face rhinestones. After each use, clean your rhinestones and remove any remaining glue.