STYLE

Because your frames should ~accentuate~ that new shadow palette.

The glasses girlies know: You spend your a.m. perfecting an eye look only to (ugh!) put on your specs and find your meticulous cut crease, well, cut right off by the cute frames you got for fall semester. No longer! This school year, we're all about making those pretty peepers pop from behind the lenses.

Open Up Your Eyes

"Glasses can create a dark shadow around your eyes—and dramatic shades can make them look even smaller," explains Kristen Fortier, makeup artist and product development manager at Crunchi Cosmetics. Open them up with simple, light eyeshadows. "Place a neutral shimmer on the eyelid and a bronzer or contouring shade in the crease. Only apply eyeliner on the top lash line to brighten and widen your eyes."

@milliebobbybrown

Flake-Proof Your Lashes

There is nothing worse than the tips of your lashes brushing against your lenses—then rubbing your mascara off and into your eyes. Solve it by curling your lashes and applying a coat of waterproof mascara. Once it's dry, use a clean mascara spoolie to comb through lashes, removing any loose particles, suggests Stila Cosmetics global beauty director Charlie Riddle.

Save Your Base

Since your glasses sit on the bridge of your nose, over the course of the day foundation gets rubbed away, leaving you with two bare spots (eep!). Try makeup artist and founder of Clover by Clove + Hallow Sarah Biggers-Stewart's genius hack: Apply a light dusting of setting powder across your nose and on the little nose pads on your glasses. "Lock it in by spritzing your face with a setting spray, letting it dry completely before you put your glasses back on," she shares.

@babysittersclub

Create Balance

If you love to rock bold glasses (think: an oversized square pair, cat-eye shape or fiery red frames), give your lips some extra oomph to even things out, says Biggers-Stewart. Swipe on a shiny gloss or grab your fave fuchsia lip stain.

Don't Forget Your Brows

Depending on the size and shape of your specs, your brows might end up getting hidden. "Before buying your next pair, take a straight-on selfie and check to make sure your eyebrows are visible above the frames," advises Biggers-Stewart. Apply a tinted brow gel to define your brows and keep them in place. "Always brush them up so they don't get lost behind glasses," Riddle says.

@_xochitl.gomez

Spectacle Essentials

These long-wear picks will keep your face looking fresh.

Primer

"Prepping with primer helps your products last all day," says Riddle. Apply it after your moisturizer, let it dry, then layer everything over the top.

Try: Stila All About The Blur Blurring & Smoothing Primer, $36, stilacosmetics.com.

Concealer

Choose a concealer a shade or two lighter than your skin to brighten your undereyes (apply it up to the lash line as well as in the inner corners).

Try: Clover by Clove + Hallow Camo Cover Concealer, $18, cloverbyclove.com.

Setting powder

Reinforce your foundation by adding a layer of loose powder over top. Use a fluffy brush to keep it from looking cakey.

Try: Crunchi Cosmetics Translucent Finishing Powder, $36, crunchi.com.

Match your makeup to your frames

Is there anything more amazingly extra than coordinating your glam to your glasses? Meet our five fave fall pairs—and their new beauty besties.

Rose gold wire

Burberry, $321, lenscrafters.com | About-Face Fractal Glitter Eye Paint in Fracture, $16, ulta.com

Zendaya hearts wire frames...and so do we. Just add a touch of shimmery rose gold shadow to your lids.

Classic and clear

Coach, $196, targetoptical.com | E.l.f. Cosmetics Daily Dew Stick in Iridescent, $8, elfcosmetics.com

These timeless specs go with everything. Dab an iridescent highlighter on your cheekbones for a dewy complexion.

Rounded ombré

Krewe, $315, krewe.com | Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain in Fuchsia Wife, $27, sephora.com

Circle frames in eye-catching colors? Say less. Let your glasses highlight your eyes, then mimic the sheer fruit punch shade on your lips.

Graphic and green

Warby Parker, $175, warbyparker.com | L'Oréal Voluminous Original Washable Mascara in Deep Green, $11, ulta.com

Get a double dose of fall's fave shade by applying a few coats of lush, emerald mascara to your lashes. It's unexpected and so pretty!

Black cat-eye

Dolce & Gabbana, $300, lenscrafters.com | Maybelline New York Hyper Easy Liquid Pen Eyeliner in Black, $8, target.com

She's giving retro vibes! Enhance the elongating and lifting shape of these frames with (of course) black cat-eye liner. It's a throwback look that always slays.

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our August/September 2023 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.

Tag us in your go-to glasses makeup looks for a chance to get featured @girlslifemag!

Looking for more beauty tips? We got you covered:
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💄Latte makeup is TikTok's latest beauty trend: Here's how to get the look

Slider and top image: @annacathcart

by Erin Reimel | 8/16/2023