What's an easy way to do my eye makeup?

My favorite easy-to-use eye makeup item (aside from mascara/false lashes) is Charlotte Tilbury's Color Morphing Eyeshadow Pencil in Dark Pearl ($27).

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/charlotte-tilbury-color-chameleon-color-morphing-eyeshadow-pencil/3849019?origin=category-personalizedsort

Its really easy to use: just outline your eye (top only, or both top and bottom for a smokier look), smudge it out with a brush or finger and voila! Smoky, defined eyes subtle enough for daytime.  Add another layer to intensify it for night time.  Add a few coats of mascara to curled eyelashes or a set of false lashes and you're done!  The color lasts for hours without creasing.

Its marketed for brown eyes, but its a fantastic purpley brown that will look good on just about anyone! The line does have a lot of other nice colors too.  Note: you will need a fat pencil sharpener to sharpen this pencil.  

Welcome to Ask GraceFace!

Welcome to my blog! My name is Grace and I'm a makeup fanatic, chemist, busy single mom with a full time job.  You might be thinking "who needs another makeup blogger!?"  I watch a lot of makeup on YouTube and am amazed at the intricacy and details these women put into their makeup (even when its titled as "quick and easy!").  And most of the time, I wonder how much of the products they recommend are buying into the advertising, because after all, cosmetics are allowed a lot of creative advertising (as long as they do not promise medicinal benefits, they do not have to prove what they claim).

The purpose of this blog is to give makeup advice to all you smart busy women out there! I will share quick and easy (really) tips and tricks (disclaimer: I'm not a professional makeup artist; everything I've learned is from magazines and YouTube) and I'll examine the product from a scientific angle whenever possible to give you the low-down on products.  In fact, I've been known to wear multiple products (one product on one half of my face, and another on the other half!) to test out the products over the course of the day! Sounds silly, yes, but it gives me a better side-by-side comparison on how products perform! So ask away! No question is too silly!

Why does my makeup smudge under my eyes?

I had the same problem for years, and finally found out that the oils in the makeup products or moisturizer under your eye can cause your mascara to smudge under your eyes (even waterproof or smudgeproof ones).  I've tried them all - they all smudge unless you do the following steps:

1. Put a waterproof coat over your mascara (essentially creates a barrier between your mascara and the oils).  One that I use: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius (shocked as I write this to find that its discontinued!!). Clarins makes a similar product called Double Fix Mascara ($25):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/clarins-double-fix-mascara/2960714?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort

and/or:

2. Put a light dusting of powder underneath the eye.  I've used Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder ($25), which is translucent, but has a very subtle sparkle:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/laura-mercier-secret-brightening-powder/2833369?origin=category-personalizedsort