Big, blue and fringed with long, luscious lashes. My friend Margie Montague (now Thieleman) has the most gorgeous eyes.
Long an admirer, you know I was thrilled when she agreed to share the secret to her look-at-me lashes in high school. Unfortunately, however, my hopes of duplicating them disappeared somewhere mid-demonstration. That's when I realized they required at least two coats of blacker-than-black mascara, each followed by skillful separation of any clumping hairs with a straight pin, needle or other equally sharp instrument sure to send my mother screaming "YOU'LL PUT YOUR EYE OUT!!"
Since then, I look for simpler ways to keep the focus on my peepers. Here are some of my favorites for fall and beyond.
Get a Fresh Start
Waking up with raccoon-like smudges just won't do. To get gorgeous eyes, you've got to start with a clean canvas. I like a natural makeup remover that's strong enough to guarantee a fresh start without irritating my skin like:
Aubrey Organics Herbessence - This multi-tasking blend dissolves makeup and dirt while moisturizing skin with eight herbal oils, vitamins and amino acids. You simply shake it and squeeze some onto a cotton ball to get clean and lay on the benefits of organic jojoba, sweet almond and other soothing oils. $6.95 (2 ounces) at health food stores; 1-800-237-4270 for more information
Before moving on, I always prime the entire eye area to even out my skin tone and help eye shadows stay put. A little dab of Benefit's Stay Don't Stray keeps concealer AND eye shadow looking I-just-put-it-on fresh all day. $26 at Benefit.com
If you're prone to dark under eye circles like me, Smart Cover Cosmetics Camouflage Crème is another must-try eye base. Besides hiding shadows, it softens those tiny lines and doesn't look dry. Plus, this waterproof quick-fix lasts and lasts. $16.50 at SmartCover.com
Donna Decorates Dallas
makeup artist Chelsea Lee
Experiment with Color
For years, I've played it safe with nice, neutral eye shadows. I leaned towards taupes and avoided anything with too much color.
Then we
began filming our little story for Donna Decorates Dallas. While helping me get camera-ready, makeup artist Chelsea Lee (she's so cute and fun that I want to adopt her!) tipped me off to the benefits of purple for hazel eyes like mine. Interesting!Later, I asked makeup expert Gail Sagel, founder of FACESBeautiful.com, to help boomer babes like us in selecting eye shadow colors. Her advice: "Experiment! Try different shades to see what works best on your eyes, keeping in mind that skin tone has everything to do with it."
For a head-start knowing what will work, Gail advises using your eye color -- not your clothes -- as a guide:
Her words were just the encouragement I needed to begin exploring color. And thanks to travel-friendly, coordinated shade sets like these, I don't have to think much about it. They include step-by-step instructions that make it simple to take my lids out of neutral territory.
Josie Maran's Argan Beautiful Eyes - Talk about show stopping shades! Four high-impact eye shadows, a shadow liner that can be used wet or dry, and a mirror come in this pretty, mirrored case along with tips for achieving three different looks. There's no brush but I enjoy using this palette as well as the others listed below with EcoTools' Bamboo Eye Shading Brush. (It's excellent for putting on shadow base as well as shading, highlighting and blending.)Josie Maran's naturally formulated powders contain Argan Oil plus floral and fruit extracts so they go on soft and help condition lids. The four Beau
tiful Eyes collections include Nudes, Blues, Smokes and Boomer-rific Purples. $36 at Sephora and Sephora.com
NYC Individual Eyes Custom Compacts - Each of these limited-edition eye makers offers an all-over primer, an illuminator, four jewel-inspired pressed shadows and a double-ended applicator. Choosing the right set is a no-brainer because they're designed to compliment your eye color. I've had fun trying the blue-eye-boosting Fall Makeover with its rich earth tones but there's also Designer Denim for Brown Eyes and Hot Couture for Green Eyes. $4.99 at drugstores and mass merchandisers nationwide; NewYorkColor.com for retailers
htweight powders delivers silky color and dimension. Made to help you blend like a pro, the cool combo includes a medium shade for full lid coverage, a darker crease accent, an under-brow highlighter and a double-ended brush. Besides long-lasting color, you get the benefits of reparative antioxidant ginko biloba and skin-smoothing dog rose extracts. Although there are eight pretty palettes, I especially like the tawny browns in Mountain. $7.95 at drugstores nationwide; Sall
yHansen.com for locationsFeeling more adventurous? Becca Eye Color Powder Shimmers can add instant glamour. These new shadows have a soft, super-fine shimmer that helps brighten eyes without taking them over the top. Shades range from fresh, snowy white to sultry, smokey black. Apply them with a brush for a subtle wash of color or with your fingertip for a more striking effect. Three to try: Satin (beige-gold), Organza (white highlighter) and Chintz (khaki gold). They're simply beautiful and come in the cutest little round cases (complete with a mirror inside) that remind me of a tire and hubcap! $24/each at Beccacosmetics.com
Designer Donna Moss stars on
Donna Decorates Dallas Saturdays on HGTV.
Make a Line
Although I'll always admire Margie's fabulous eye fringe, these days I'm doing my best to copy Donna Moss' cool cat-eye liner. Every time I meet with the beauty-queen gorgeous and mega-talented Donna Decorates Dallas star, I find myself studying her glamous eye makeup and making mental notes. (Yes, I know we're supposed to be focused on furniture but I just can't help myself.)
To achieve this look, a long-wearing liquid liner like one of th
ese is essential:
Jouer's Liquid Shimmer Eyeliner - Blends soft, shiny color with skin-nourishing Vitamins A and E and green and white tea extracts. A flexible brush applicator makes outlining with this silky, fade-resistant formula a breeze. The only tough part is choosing between the three, rich shades: Fox (a navy-charcoal), Sable (a wonderfully sheer deep reddish purple-brown) and Mink (dark taupe). $22 at Jouercosmetics.com
YBF Draw the Line - Has a fab, felt tip that helps the creamy liner glide on smooth. You can easily begin thin and build to a dramatic winged corner using basic brown-black Onyx or playful Perfect Purple. Or take your look to another level by layering both. $12 at Ybfstacey.com and 
HSN.com
Other top choices for lining and defining include:
Becca Line and Illuminate Pencil - Combines a creamy liner and a velvety, soft highlighter with just enough shimmer in one, convenient crayon. It doubles as a crème shadow and comes in five day- to date night-perfect shades, including
Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner - Contains rich color for definition plus tiny light-reflectors that help make the whites of your eyes look whiter. (What a great idea!) The dermatologist-tested formula is enriched with olive oil, rainforest shea butter, Vitamin E and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. What's more, this clever pencil includes liner on one end and a combination sharpener-contoured smudger on the other. Although it comes in six shades, Cosmic Black is a natural choice. $7.99 at at Neutrogena.com and retailers nationwide
Flirt with Layers
Thanks to Margie, I remain convinced that layering is the secret to flirty, full lashes.
My three-step process begins with a white primer that builds and separates. Since I'm somewhat fickle, I alternate between Smashbox Layer Lash Primer ($17; Smashbox.com) and Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum ($28; Dior.com). I love both these quick-drying lash flatterers.
Next, comes two coats of long-wearing jet black mascara. After losing every last lash to chemo two years ago (talk about depressing), I'm all about healthy choices that stay put but are easy to remove when you're ready. That's why I rate these five glam-boosters as must-haves:
