By: ArabLounge staff

Eyes are the portal into the soul, as the saying goes. They are oftentimes the most noticeable, attractive and alluring facet of a woman’s face, a fact that Arab women have known distinctly for centuries.

The eyes are often the only thing that can be seen behind a burqa, and many women use their beautiful eyes to stand out among a sea of sameness.

The right tools, makeup and techniques are essential when accentuating the eyes, and a few tips to getting eyes that stand out are:

1) Keeping them healthy: Get plenty of rest—the most important thing to know about beautiful eyes. Bags under the eyes are unattractive, and if you haven’t been getting enough sleep, it will show immediately.

If you’ve still got bags, even with hours of sleep, an under-eye concealer that matches you skin tone is a great investment. The difference it makes is well worth the price.

People have also been using natural ingredients like cucumbers to refresh their eyes and heal the delicate skin around them. When you look awake and fresh, your eyes stand out more naturally, creating the illusion that your eyes are bigger.

2) Use complementing colors: Depending on your skin tone, the right colors can make all the difference. Lighter skin tones look great with pale pink, salmon and subdued colors like pale blue and mint green. These eyeshadow colors really enhance the eyes and by using a little dark mascara, can make the eyes seem soft and mesmerizing.

For women with olive skin tones who have dark eyes, browns, gold, beiges, and deep jewel colors work best. Olive complexion has the most flexibility, and with dark eyes, the smoky eyeliner and subtle shadow are the best ways to enhance them.

For darker skin, bright colors are a great way to make the eyes really pop. Magenta, Turquoise, and hot pink are all eyeshadows and eyeliner colors that are a great contrast to dark skin. It allows for a lot more creativity and ability to have fun with makeup.

3) Use a brow brush: It may not seem necessary if you’ve already had them waxed, plucked or threaded, but an eyebrow brush really helps shape and clean up your eyebrows.

The right shape of the eyebrows can really frame and highlight the most beautiful eyes, and keeping them clean and in tiptop shape is a must. Any eyebrow brush will do, there’s no need to get anything fancy.

4) Makeup Remover: No matter what you put on your face or your eyes to accentuate them, it’s crucial to wipe the skin and clean it with a good makeup remover at the end of the day. If makeup isn’t removed it can cake and clog up pores, causing major breakouts.

The most important thing to remember when removing makeup around the eyes is to be gentle. The skin there is particularly delicate, and roughly wiping makeup away can stretch and hurt it. Remember to use a lot of water and a good makeup wipe that is gentle on eyes.