Editor’s Note: Erin L. Jones is a wOw reporter, freelance writer and editor of frenchwomendontgetfat.com.

Admit it: Most of you have been using the same neutral shades of makeup for most of your life. I, too, am guilty of monochromatic monotony. So when I first saw teal eye shadow at the L’Oréal Color of Hope event, I thought to myself, "Pretty, but not for me." But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that putting a bold eye shadow into my makeup repertoire was a good way to jazz up my look without breaking the bank.

Last month’s Color of Hope event in Manhattan was meant not only to bring awareness to a great cause, but to give women a chance to spice up their everyday look with a brilliantly hued palate of eye shadows inspired by the signature color of ovarian cancer — teal. L’Oréal’s Color of Hope is a campaign that for 12 years has been raising funds for research to discover an effective method of early detection for ovarian cancer in the hopes of one day finding a cure.  

When I ask Collier Strong, L’Oréal expert and world-renowned makeup artist (who happened to do Marcia Gay Harden’s makeup for the Emmys this year) what the rules are for wearing bold eye shadow, he smiles coyly and says, "There are no rules! Rules were made to be broken."  Music to my ever rule-breaking ear! Adding a little color to your eye not only adds pizzazz to your face, it may also add it to your mood — and there’s actually a bit of science behind the idea. Color has long been tied to the senses, used throughout history in holistic healing and explored via psychology. Shades of blue have been known to make people feel peaceful and calm (ever wonder why police officer’s uniforms are blue?). The color teal has been described as having a cooling and refreshing effect, which may be conveyed when you look in the mirror and when people look at you. Bright colors make people feel alive. Now how’s that for a mood booster? 

Many women d’une certaine âge think of bold eye color in two ways: too young or too old-lady librarian. If images of the cast of "Hairspray" are coming to your mind, push them away. Think soft, delicate accents on the eye to make your eye shape and color "pop." Think of it as a way to both lighten up and add style to your look. I fell for L’Oreal’s signature teal, but you may like a sapphire, jungle green or a smoky purple. Back to Collier’s point: Rules are made to be broken, especially those that involve our personal appearance — this is an entirely subjective opinion. But though I am admittedly no makeup maven, I do have one subtle suggestion. Much like the old (and often violated in Hollywood) rule that you choose one body feature to bare — décolletage or legs — you must choose one facial feature to bold — eyes or lips. Bold eyes are best paired with neutral, understated lips. Let your eyes have the spotlight for the day/night; leave the lipstick at home. 

To avoid looking like Mimi Bobeck, use this slideshow for step-by-step tips on how to correctly apply accent eye shadow. It’s probably best to try on your eyes once or twice before going out for a big event. These tips can be used for any vibrant color, or the traditional black smoky shadow. And as Collier says, "There’s not a single woman who doesn’t look good with a properly done smoky eye."

The start of every season is marked by droves of women flocking to department stores hoping to put a new spin on last year’s look. But this year, our purse strings have been tightened. Leather boots for fall, $284. Teal eye shadow that’s wearable all year long, $7. You do the math.  In these tough economic times, every woman can benefit from adding a little color to her eyes. A bold eye shadow is a simple way to subtly revamp your look — for only a few dollars at your local drugstore. And who couldn’t use a little (affordable) pick-me-up these days? Makeup is made to define our good features and make us feel good. Break out of your boring routine and learn to have fun with it!