Make-up tips for glasses wearers

Start by taking a look at your frames

If you haven’t already chosen your frames or you’re thinking of getting a new pair, now’s the time to work out which frames suit your face and what face shape you have. If you’ve already got your frames, pop them on and examine them closely. Are they thick or thin, delicate or chunky? What colour are they?

Build your make-up look to
adapt to your glasses

Your eye make-up, brows, blusher, highlighter and bronzer will all depend on how your glasses sit on your face, the parts they obscure and the parts they draw attention to.

Pop your frames on and see which parts of your face they cover or sit upon – these will be the areas to be mindful of in terms of coverage.

Eyebrow grooming tips
for glasses wearers

Your brow look will also depend upon your frames – some frames may hide part of your brows, others may accentuate them. Ideally, your brows should show above your frames – brush them up for extra definition.

A thicker frame means you can take a lighter touch with your brows to counterbalance the ‘weight’ of your frames – thick brows combined with thick frames can look a bit severe. Use a light brow pencil and lightly shape and define your brows. Thinner frames mean you can up the drama – use your glasses as a guide and never take your brows beyond the end of your frames.

Remember that your lenses may magnify your brows, so stay on top of your brow regrowth to make sure they look groomed.

Blush, highlight and contouring tips for glasses wearers

When applying blush, keep your glasses on and use the rim of your frames as a guideline. If you’re concerned a powder blush will rub off, use a liquid or cream blush for extra staying power.

Your cheekbones may be slightly obscured by your glasses if they have thicker frames, so highlighting and contouring can be a little trickier. Apply highlighter to your cheekbones using your frame as a template, and slightly slide the brush down your face, so when you turn your head, the glow is visible.

Contouring is simple, as long as you use your frames as a guide – pop your glasses on and lightly dust contour along the areas you want to shape. Remove your glasses, add a little more contouring powder and blend along the guidelines you’ve set.

Eye make-up tips
for glasses wearers

Wearing mascara with glasses

Let’s start with lashes. If you find your lashes brush up against your lenses, curling your lashes will keep them away from your lenses and help to open up your eyes. Use a long-wearing, smudge-proof mascara with a volumising formula to give your lashes body, not length.

Eyeshadow and eyeliner for glasses wearers

If you’re near-sighted, your prescription lenses can make your eyes appear smaller. Strong, heavy eyeliner and smoky eyes can worsen this effect, so stick with creamy, eye-opening brown and champagne-toned eyeshadows and apply your mascara along the lash line to give your lashes a boost. You can even apply some nude liner along your waterline to open your eyes up.

If you’re far-sighted, your lenses may amplify your eye make-up. To avoid the Sybill Trelawney look (yes, that’s a Harry Potter reference), keep your liner dark, neat and more smoky, especially in the water line.

If your frames are coloured and you want to add a pop of eyeshadow, keep things neutral and stick to browns, taupes and nudes with a dash of eyeliner to add definition.

Looking for new frames to
update your make up look?

If these tips have got you thinking, check out our top picks below to find your new look from £25.

Shop black glasses Shop tortoiseshell glasses

Make-up tips for glasses wearers

Start by taking a look at your frames

Build your make-up look to adapt to your glasses

Looking for new frames to update your make up look?

Build your make-up look to
adapt to your glasses

Looking for new frames to
update your make up look?