Eye shadow

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eye shadow is a cosmetic which is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows, to help make wearer's eyes stand out or look more attractive. Eye shadow comes in many different colours, and is usually made from a powder, but can also be found in liquid, pencil or mousse form.

Civilizations across the world use eye shadow predominantly on females, but occasionally on males. In Western society it is seen exclusively as a feminine cosmetic, even when used by men. On average, the distance between eyelashes and eyebrows is twice as high in women as in men, and so the use of pale eye shadow to visually enlarge this area has a feminising effect.

In Goth and some Punk subcultures, black or similarly dark-colored eye shadow and other types of eye makeup are popular amongst both genders.

Many people use eye shadow to simply improve their appearance, but it is also commonly used in theatre and other plays, to create a memorable look, with bright and even ridiculous colours.