Real Red-Eye Reduction
Don't you hate it when bloodshot eyes ruin a perfectly good photo? Vampire makeup is currently trending, but inflamed blood vessels in your eyes aren't so pretty. And with the holiday party season in full swing and the cameras clicking away, there's no time to be in the red. Whether your eyes are sleep-deprived or irritated, try these tips and tricks to banish the bloodshot look.
With makeup...
An eye liner with a blue undertone will illuminate the whites of your eyes, reducing the red glaze. Apply a deep but vibrant navy eye liner such as Prestige Cosmetics Liquid Eye Liner in Azure along your upper lash line. Brighten your eyes further by tracing an aqua pencil along the water line. The robin's egg blue shade of Origins Eye Brightening Color Stick instantly gives the illusion of clearer eyes.
In a photo emergency...
Ever have those itchy, red-eyed emergencies when you're stranded from your beauty products? Here's a quick fix for any last-minute appearances. Take your ring fingers and lightly press on the center of your closed eyelids. Gently rock your fingers on the lids for five seconds. When you open your eyes, the whites will look brighter. Unfortunately, the red vessels will return after 20 minutes, but it's a perfect solution in any emergency beauty scenario. To avoid reflective red irises in a photo—the dreaded “demon eyes”—look toward the shooter’s shoulder instead of directly at the flash.
Before bedtime...
After your eyes are exposed to the day's environmental contaminants, it's no wonder Beauties have bloodshot eyes at night. Rinse your face and eyes of pesky pollutants and makeup residue with a gentle yet thorough cleanser such as cult favorite Philosophy Purity Made Simple. If your peepers are still red, apply over-the-counter or prescription eye drops before you go to sleep.
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Jasmine J.
I try to use a blue liner on my waterline when I have red eyes and don't have eye drops handy. It totally does the trick!
Yumi R.
Red eyes make me so mad...I have allergies and am so sensitive to everything so it's a real pain. I try not to use eye drops too often because I think it can make it worse over time. The blue makeup trick is a great tip though! It works!
Stephanie T.
TV and movie artists use these blue drops to get the bloodshot out of the eyes of actresses, reporters, etc. Does anyone know what it's called and where to get it?
Yasmin K.
Blue drops? Are the drops blue or is the packaging blue? If it's the packaging could it be Rohto?
http://www.myrohto.com/ice.php
Stephanie L.
A drop of Visine in each eye after makeup application is my new trick. Just be sure to apply mascara after the drops if you're not using waterproof mascara.
Tara L.
Looking over the photographer's shoulder is a great tip!
Yasmin K.
I use Rhoto eye drops and while it may sting at first within minutes my eyes are really white. Tiny bottle though and it costs about $8 depending on the drugstore.
Tanya R.
It's bad for your heart if you use it regularly.
Je F.
Thanks for this article. I'm posting it on my fan page "Eyes by Je' on Facebook as my Beauty tip of the day. I too suffer from red eyes at times. It can be anything from my mood, allegies and like some other said, makeup. Again, thanks for the article!
Vanessa G.
I get red eyes when I put ANYTHING on my waterline. Sadly, I wish i could, because I'm a fan of making my eyes look "bigger".
Vo H.
I usually get red eye with my makeup, so I end up going without. :\
Bonnie L.
Love the tips in "In a photo emergency..."! Especially that bit about how to prevent red-eye in flash photos. Probably one of the most helpful tips I've read in a long time! ^^ Thanks, @Beautylish!