Makeup Tips For Girls Who Wear Glasses

If you wear glasses, you’re probably familiar with the silly old ‘geek’ stereotype – and, I’m guessing, totally sick of it! But just because you wear frames, doesn’t mean you can’t make your peepers pop (even behind those lenses). Enter these six genius make-up hacks specifically for girls who wear glasses. Get ready, ladies: they’ll give you that sexy librarian look in minutes.

1. DITCH DARK SHADOWS

Glasses have a tendency to cast shadows underneath the eyes. Thankfully, all you need is a good concealer in your make-up arsenal – and of course, the know-how to apply it. Use a brightening eye pen such as Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat or Jane Iredale Active Light Concealer on the inner corners of your eyes and anywhere else your glasses are causing your skin to look shadowy.

2. DON’T OVERDO IT

While concealer is essential, there’s a risk it’ll look cakey when magnified under your lenses. Liquid formulas – such as my go-to, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Concealer SPF 10 – are ideal. Alternatively, a waterproof concealer such as Australis Cosmetics Concealer is a lot less likely to crease. The no-cake rule applies to your lashes as well. Choose a non-clumping mascara with a smaller brush, like MOMMA Mineral Mascara. Oh, and wait for it to dry before you put your glasses back on to prevent smudges!

3. CURL YOUR LASHES

Your lashes are basically like an awning for your eyes. If you flip them up with a curler such as Manicare – Eyelash Curler, you’ll let more light in on the irises and the whites of your eyes and reduce shadows on your eyeballs (kind of weird, but true). It’ll also keep your lashes from hitting your lenses – straight-lashed glasses wearers know how annoying this is!

4. STICK TO NEUTRALS

While it’s fun to experiment with brighter eyeshadows, satin or pearly ones in natural, neutral colours can actually make your eyes look bigger and brighter. Champagne and rose gold colours will reflect the light and draw attention to your lids behind the lenses. Try Bobbie Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow in ‘Rose Gold’ or Chi Chi Baked Eyeshadow in ‘Pearl Eggshell’.

5. DEFINE THE LINE

To enhance your eyes even more, use some eyeliner in a soft shade such as bronze, brown or grey (rather than black) for maximum eye-opening effect. Stick to a thin line for a pretty finish. I recommend Avon Glimmerstick Eyeliner in ‘Cosmic Brown’ or Bourjois Khol & Contour Eye Pencils in ‘Bronze Raffine’.

6. PRETTIFY YOUR POUT

Are you sick of people looking at your lenses? No problem – just distract them with a bold lip! For a dramatic effect, go for a matte lipstick such as NYX Cosmetics Matte Lipstick or MAC Lipstick. Just be sure to check out our ‘how to confidently wear a bold lip’ video tutorial before you apply it!

Do you wear glasses? How does it affect how you wear make-up?

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55 Member Comments

ThisIsMe 26 Jun 2019 1:49 PM

Some great tips. :)

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Frenchy1 22 Jul 2019 12:00 PM

Yes excellent stuff. I find that I instinctively focus more on my skin and lips with makeup since having to wear glasses 24/7. Smoky eye looks can make me look like I have black eyes! Sigh.

Asami 14 Jul 2016 11:06 PM

Very interesting article. Love reading things like these. Beauty heaven has some really great informative articles.

Linda_Vesinger 12 Jul 2016 3:36 PM

All sensible advice for us ladies who wear glasses.

Mayy 12 Jul 2016 3:25 PM

Wearing glasses is like death for me! My eyelashes would hit the glasses all the time (making it so uncomfortable). Definitely will be curling my lashes!

skincare junkie 15 Apr 2016 5:57 PM

This is a good article with some good tips. However my lashes do not hit the lenses. I wish I have that problem, but they are just too short.

Seezora 14 Apr 2016 2:28 PM

I have to wear glasses, but I don't take them in to consideration when applying my make up. My lashes don't hit my glasses (wow, they'd have to be seriously long lashes!) and I don't feel anyone is staring at my lenses. Why would they?

And sometimes I wear contact lenses.

annalise572 5 Jun 2015 2:07 PM

I wear glasses for reading and l do all of things mentioned. Not heavy on the concealer/foundation. Light coloured eye shadow - in fact l stopped wearing eye shadow a couple of years ago as l felt l looked better. Tip number 6 sounded a bit nasty. They are looking at your lenses because they are looking at your eyes as they speak to you! If you feel that way it is an excellent reason to go and by some new specs.

bmill229 2 May 2015 3:48 PM

I do wear glass but don't full time like my dad, these are great tips and I will use them later on.

Vivian007 18 Mar 2015 3:25 AM

I have reading glasses and sunglasses but I hardly ever wear them if I'm wearing makeup because the bit that sits on my nose always rubs off my foundation! Anyone else have this problem and know how to stop it from happening?

Simonja 16 Mar 2015 7:21 AM

I think those tips are quite helpful but what BH forgets to mention is how to apply those tips when you are half blind and cannot see without your lenses :)

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sharon152 4 Jun 2019 3:57 PM

I have a heavy duty magnifying mirror. I still find it a bit difficult with such bad eyesight, but that doesn't seem to stop me from being able to find those lip lines I didn't think were so bad until I put the specs back on and checked in the magnifying mirror. Mirror should have come with a warning "Use at your own perril". ; \

Seezora 14 Apr 2016 2:25 PM

Hahaha YES!!!! Absolutely agree with you! You put your glasses on and realise it doesn't quite look the same.

Petal 13 Mar 2015 5:04 PM

So far I only need prescription glasses for reading small text, but these are great tips if I ever need them.

Jlgaddes 2 Mar 2015 10:49 PM

love these tips!!! thank you

Themummabear 28 Feb 2015 10:50 AM

Thanks for the tips. I'd love to see a few more pics of ladies with great make-up and wearing glasses please.

Shop A Everyday 28 Feb 2015 8:19 AM

Lovely blog Beth, excellent advice

Samantha984 28 Feb 2015 12:12 AM

Tips I will certainly use from now on yays

Hayley644 27 Feb 2015 11:25 AM

I don't wear glasses but really need to get my eyes checked!

clearcrystalwater 27 Feb 2015 3:55 AM

I wear prescription contacts but I'm really sporty and active so glasses just don't suit my lifestyle or personality. I'd be stuck though wouldn't I if I was born 100 years ago!

Bassant 27 Feb 2015 3:12 AM

I feel like I need to wear false lashes for my eyes to pop through my lenses!

MelissaFay89 27 Feb 2015 1:38 AM

I don't see how my glasses affect my makeup whatsoever. Its never been an issue but then again I don't wear fake lashes, just normal volumising mascara

Jenniqua 27 Feb 2015 1:22 AM

I think that these tips could be for gals with or without glasses.

Loz Online 26 Feb 2015 9:10 PM

Great Post! This was just what i needed! One other suggestion i would make is to CLEAN YOUR GLASSES OFTEN! Not just the lenses, but the arms and the little plastic things that sit on your nose, sadly i got a Massive pimple from not cleaning mine often enough and it scarred up... so more concealer for me!

Arty Girl 26 Feb 2015 2:16 PM

I wear glasses and there are two pairs that I use. I like wearing my black metal framed ones compared to my bronze framed ones when wearing makeup. Plus the former are larger rectangular frames. I still look pretty with make up but the frames also seem to give the makeup look an "intelligent" edge. LOL !!!

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