Changing eyes: what it means to have them and how to enhance them
The iridescent eyes have the particularity of changing color shades according to the light and temperature. In the past, those with changing irises were considered to be endowed with magical powers. Today we know that it is the light reflected on the iris that creates the fascinating colors but how to make up this type of eyes to make them stand out at their best?
What does it mean to have iridescent eyes?
Iridescent eyes are a specific feature of some eye types that have the ability to change color based on external light. Although in the past it was thought that having irises was almost a magical gift, today we know that in reality the merit of this splendid effect is due to the melanin present inside the iris. No mysterious meaning, therefore, even if legend has it that people with changing eyes are particularly intelligent and endowed with an innate instinct.
The iris, or the colored part of the eye, contains melanin, a substance that is responsible for its coloring. The higher the concentration of melanin in the eye, the darker its shade will be, as happens to those with black, brown or dark green eyes; while those with blue, blue, cerulean or light green eyes, have low levels of melanin in the iris.
Although this can give the impression of changing color as the external light changes, in reality it remains stable over the years because it has the important function of protecting the eye from UV rays emanating from the sun.
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The sensation we have when it seems to us that the eyes change color is due, in addition to the amount of light present and hormonal changes, also to the narrowing of the pupil size in relation to the sun's rays. In fact, if there is a lot of light, the pupil tends to shrink to let in a smaller amount of sunlight, while if we are in the dark it dilates.
This great variability determines in some people a particular optical effect in which it seems that the eyes are actually changing color in relation to the light.
A different discourse concerns, however, the eyes of newborns. Up to the first year of life, children usually change their eye color several times over the course of months. As soon as they are born, their irises have an indefinite color similar to dark blue, however the final shade will appear only later, and then settle around three years of age.
No supernatural power, then: that of changing eyes is just an urban legend. Yet the Matiallomenes (from the Greek matìa which means eyes, and metavallómenes, or change; literally the meaning is "eyes that change") as this type of irises were called in ancient times, have fascinated the cultures of many countries, from "Asia to" America, passing through India and Africa. How can we forget, then, the divine Liz Taylor. The woman with the most beautiful eyes in the world, as she was called by her admirers, was known for having a truly unique iris color. She had, in fact, eyes of a shade tending to purple, which she knew how to enhance with make-up to make them even more beautiful.
What are the rarest eye colors in the world?
Eye color is a matter of genetics. It is impossible to determine their gradation a priori and only the use of colored contact lenses can change the color of our irises. What are the most popular colors in the world? In Italy, being a country in Southern Europe where there is a lot of sunlight, the prevailing color is the dark one typical of black and brown eyes. While the Nordic countries, where the sun's rays reach much less, the most common shades are those of blue, blue, gray and green, typical clear eyes.
Speaking of green, this is the rarest color in the world: only 2% of the global population, in fact, has this color eyes. Another peculiarity concerning green irises lies in the fact that, while brown eyes contain melanin (hence their color) and blue eyes contain an almost invisible percentage, green eyes are the extraordinary result of its combination with a yellow pigment called lipochrome. Although green is the least common shade, in Scotland and Ireland it is present in almost 86% of the population.
Furthermore, a good percentage of green eyes can be found in Western Asia, Central Europe and Oceania. A whole other story in Asia, South America and Africa, where black eyes prevail. Turkey, Iran, Iraq and China are among the nations where dark pigment is prevalent, as well as in African and southern European countries. The rarest shade is amber, just as it is very difficult to find people who have red eyes. Although it does not exist in nature, the red iris is however present in people with albinism but only in the form of an optical effect. In reality, albinos totally lack any pigment, and it is this characteristic that makes their eyes appear red.
How to make up iridescent eyes
The right make-up can truly enhance iridescent eyes and enhance their nuances. Eye make-up with the right eye shadows highlights the peculiarity of the colored irises and accentuates the magical effect of the reflected light. Knowing the best way to do iridescent eye makeup is important because the right makeup makes the various shades of blue, green, brown and gray even more special. Here is a scheme with the best color combinations to enhance iridescent eyes:
- Those with hazel eyes, that is, have a combination of yellow, hazelnut, amber, green and brown pigment, should opt for purple and blue eyeshadows, especially if there is a strong preponderance of yellow.
- If the iris is green, the complementary shades that enhance it are those of pink, red, purple and orange.
- The brown eye, on the other hand, is enhanced by the silver color.
- Those with iridescent cerulean eyes (gray, blue and light green) can enhance them by using a brown eyeshadow or by creating a smokey eye effect on the eyelid.
