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She’s Got Bette Davis Devil Eyes

By Amalah

Hi Amy,
I’ve recently discovered this site and think it’s awesome!!! I’ve been reading the archives and done the search thing but not seen anything close to my problem so I’m hoping you can give me some help to my dilemma.
It’s my eyes. They’re different colors. Seriously different. One is pale blue and the other is a definite green. In fact they’re so noticeable that someone, a complete stranger, once told me that I have devil eyes. Okay she was in an extremely inebriated state of mind at the time but still.
I also don’t have the prerequisite blonde hair and fair skin that normally comes with these freakingly freakish eyes. The hair is almost black and my skin tone is medium. My eyelashes and brows are also black. And since my lashes are quite long some mascaras make me look like I have tarantulas on steroids growing out of my face. *Could this be the reason for the devil eye statement?*
Aaaaanyway. So my question to you, Amalah, Queen of Everything and Most Excellent Makeup Advisor, what the heck do I do with this mess? Which eye do I try to compliment? What color of eyeliner and mascara to I use without looking like a cheap beauty pageant contestant?
Thanks!
Marie

(For the record, I would just like to wonder out loud why the hell I choose the most BAFFLING of questions on the days when I’m way behind on work and cutting it close to my deadline? When I have literally DOZENS of questions that could pretty much get answered with either: Yes, why not or No, you moron — tonight I decide to pick the question that has me off Googling images of Kate Bosworth and David Bowie to see what color eyeliner they fancy.) Kate_Bosworth_13.jpg
Also for the record, I think the two different colored-eye thing (also known as Heterochromia iridium, by the way, which I just learned five minutes ago and will now throw that shit around like I am some kind of eyeball expert) is very cool. Striking, even. And definitely one of those physical traits you need to OWN and WORK and resist the urge to downplay, no matter what some drunk girl said to you in a bar sometime.
It’s definitely not a question of complimenting one eye over the other, though, that’s fer dang sure. You want to compliment BOTH, which means you should use colors that compliment both. And the easiest way to make sure you’re doing this is to stick with neutrals, like charcoal and black. Since it sounds like you already have strong brows and lashes, I’d recommend the charcoal and other greys.
This means using a soft, almost dove-grey shadow and a charcoal pencil, both BLENDED with a brush to do away with any hard lines or angles. Apply your shadow in a sideways V-shape on the outside of your eye, using your lash line and eyelid crease as a guide. (Use a shadow or eye base that matches your skin tone from lash line to brow bone first, then layer the greys.)
Any mascara color other than black is totally against my religion, but if your lashes are long and dark I’d say just use a clear mascara to keep them curled and separated and be done with it. (You can also use clear mascara on your brows if they tend to get a little unruly.) If you still really want to use a black, use the most basic (read: non-volumizing or thickening) you can find — maybe even just a “lash darkener,” like this one by Neutrogena.
I love Stila shadows, and looking at their color offerings, I think you would look fabulous in a number of their grey-ish neutrals. Try Cloud or Slate for everyday, spice it up with Diamond Lil or Pewter for night, and then maybe set those babies off with a little touch of a purple or olive.
Devil eyes are HOTT, pretty lady, so work them.

About the Author

Amy Corbett Storch

Amalah

Amalah is a pseudonym of Amy Corbett Storch. She is the author of the Advice Smackdown and Bounce Back. You can follow Amy’s daily mothering adventures at Ama...

Amalah is a pseudonym of Amy Corbett Storch. She is the author of the Advice Smackdown and Bounce Back. You can follow Amy’s daily mothering adventures at Amalah. Also, it’s pronounced AIM-ah-lah.

If there is a question you would like answered on the Advice Smackdown, please submit it to [email protected].

Amy also documented her second pregnancy (with Ezra) in our wildly popular Weekly Pregnancy Calendar, Zero to Forty.

Amy is mother to rising first-grader Noah, preschooler Ezra, and toddler Ike.

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