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The... Outer-U?

By icyabstract · January 16, 2010 · 10 Comments ·

This is a little tutorial styled entry featuring another method to achieving an outer corner effect.
I will probably adapt this to a video tutorial sometime in future because I am not satisfied with the way the photos here turned out. This will suffice for now as one of my readers who requested for this is in urgent need for it, hence I'm posting this up though it's not as perfected as I want.

Never did I know it was this hard to do photo tutorials! Juggling the camera and all... it definitely takes some practice.

Way back, I had posted an entry with some a rough and simple guide on how to locate your 'Outer-V' (read it here) which is a phrase you have probably heard.

I always stress that I am not implying the methods or guides I showcase are the only way. They are merely - as stated - guides. It would be most ideal if you adapt it to best work with your own eye shape and structure. However, I understand that the outer-v does not encompass all eye shapes (even some days I feel it looks funky on me). I had also received enquiries from some asking if there was another outer corner method, as the outer-v didn't look quite right on them. I remember having explained this other method in words over e-mails, but now I am attempting to portray it through a series of photos.

I would like to call this technique the Outer-U, because of the (rough) shape that the outer corner assumes. It is not very far off from the Outer-V, but I find that this outer corner style would probably suit rounder/almond-shaped eyes a little better. That's just me though! As always, this is yet another method that you should try on and fine tune to fit your own eye shape.

So let's begin the pictorial tutorial (bit of a tongue twister there!). I tried to make it informative yet short and simple.


1. The very start, a 'clean' lid - dusted a nude shadow from lid to brow. I took the libery to throw on eyeliner, just cause


2. Get whatever crease color you want on your crease brush. I'm just using a medium-dark brown
(LA Girl's Radiant).


3. Now the tricky part. Half open your eye and what you want to do now is 'trace' the brush over where your eye socket is. Start from the outer edge of your eye and drag it inwards (following your socket line). This would create a sort of sem curved shape on your lids.


4. This is what you should end up with after marking your crease in the above step (pre-blending).


5. Now blend, blend blend that line out! Try blending the color slightly above the crease to give that 'lifted' effect.


6. This should more or less be your final blended outcome. A lot more refining and tuning can be done to get the look that you want, but this is a rough guide to the Outer-U method.

You don't have to stop there. You can also add an even darker shade just at the outer corner of the eye, not blending too far into the crease, like so:

A very minor difference, but you can see how adding a slightly darker color
gives the look a bit more depth.

 

 

So that's the tutorial section for the Outer-U technique. I know it's a bit 'doh' for some people who have probably been using this method for awhile now, but this is for the benefit of those who are still facing problems with outer corner methods. I do understand the struggle to get the right outer corner effect as I have been through that and to this date there are days where my eyes are just not working right with a certain outer corner look.

But just to show a wee comparison, here is the outer-u alongside the outer-v.

The outer corners are quite similar, though you can still differentiate the color placement and all.
It might not seem like the look varies a whole lot on my eyes, but If the outer-v does not work for you, give the outer-u a try, you just never know. It might not be impressive but a simple thing like changing color placements can make a world of a difference in a look.

I personally alternate between the Outer-U and Outer-V,
though I tend to lean towards the Outer-V a little more.

So this concludes my mini tutorial-styled post. I hope this was of help to some of you guys!
Again, I will be doing a video tutorial version of the Outer-V and Outer-U sometime in future so if the photos themselves aren't enough, I hope I can better explain things then. Also if anyone has anyone questions (that require demonstration) feel free to list it below so I can address it in the video.

Thank you all for reading!

Filed in: tutorial
Tagged with: eyes, Tutorial, LA Girl, outer corner
16/1/10

very interesting.. and yes it is hard to take pic when you have one hand on the brush and one hand with your cam.. I hope you didn't use your DSLR? That would be impossible!Unless you rope in someone to help you with taking the pics, in which case they would find you being ridiculous.. heh...

I used to do the outer v / u thingy faithfully til I sort of got lazy and just whack all over the lids and just plain 'outer corner' - no distinct shape at all... just some deeper color to add depth. Heh.


posted by
16/1/10

@retail_therapy Sadly I did use my dslr, definitely had an arm cramp after because I had to clamp it and press the shutter with my left hand in an awkward position, but anyway... haha. Same! These days I just slap it on and go, as long as it's defined and gradient-ed, whatever works. Unless I really want to refine it for some event, I usually can't be too bothered.


posted by
16/1/10

heys!
may i know what brush you were using in the pictures above?


posted by
16/1/10

I did tried to do a pics tutorial once before and I have major arm cramp.. and I mess up the whole thing.. lolx.. it's not very easy to do one.. and agree with Sophia, asking someone to help are totally ridiculous! My sister will find me super annoying! lolx

I find that the outer V will pull my eyes more wider apart (especially when I do darker eye look) I'm more a U or C outer.. or just a huge block of outer crease color that slowly blend into the middle lid.


posted by
16/1/10

Hehehe!!! Doin pic tutorials is definitely hard work!!! I kinda find it funny wen u were mentioning Outer V , OUter U repeatedly like they are sum1 names... Soo cute... Hahahaha!!! But ya, great post as it's definitely true lah with the whole outer thingy... Sumtimes like Sophia I;ll be lazy and just place 1 colour on lid and like not be bothered with outer colors.... Smiling


posted by
17/1/10

I use the Outer-U all the time coz I look really weird if I use the Outer-V method. Thanks for the tips


posted by
17/1/10

@wngclnceline I used the Italian Badger Crease Brush. I believe it should still be on the site.

@everbluec Haha yes, I doubt I'll do pictorial tutorials (like eye/face stuff) very often. It's like cardio for my arms.. Yes that's true, I like how the outer-v helps frame the eye a bit more especially with darker looks. But the outer-u is such a nice lazy method. And darn you're right! It should be outer-c, haha.

@linnera It's like labeling them. haha. I didn't know how else to tell them apart. Aw thanks Laughing out loud

@lxflickr Me too, for some neutral looks I think outer-u works better. It's not so dramatic in a way.


posted by
17/1/10

You're very good at taking photos of your eyes, haha! Especially with a bulky DSLR.

I like to use the Outer C more than the outer V. It's definitely very handy and great for an "everyday" look.


posted by
17/1/10

This is an awesome post. I just got started out with make-up and this helped me out alot! Thanks, Sara! =]


posted by
17/1/10

@MissJaycee Aw haha thank you (: Yeap it is, it looks like a more natural shadow.

@chanellayatie Glad to be able to help! Laughing out loud


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