Wearing neutral makeup is by no means a new concept. It's a well-loved, and often-utilized trick by beauty bloggers, Kardashian-Jenners, and pretty much everyone with a face because ... it works! But just because the colors aren't edgy or shocking themselves doesn't mean they can't be used in innovative ways to produce jaw-dropping results. It's all about the power of imagination and in this case, metallics!
The look I'm showing you today, is a take on neutrals that's a little more dramatic. Using metallic shadow and unexpected eyeliner techniques gave my makeup enough oomph to stand out, without overpowering my casual, daytime ensemble. It's the best of both worlds, really! And since this is the time to refresh and try something new, why not experiment with your beauty game?
Prep It:
Smashbox Shadow Primer Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner Sigma EO5 Eyeliner Brush Sephora Lash Curler Eyeko Mascara Ardell Lash Accents Hourglass Arch Brow Shaping Pencil Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Mac "Please Me" Lipstick Sonia Kashuk Lip Definer in Natural
Do It!:
- Prep your eyelids with some Smashbox shadow primer. This really helps the pigment stay put all day, and gives the color a boost. Make sure to set your primer with a little translucent face powder.
- Give your skin a glow with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit, which gives tones to both contour and highlight. I use the bronzer under my cheekbones and around the perimeter of my face. Then I use the pink blush on the apples of my cheeks and some highlight on the tops of my cheekbones and brow bone.
- Using the Naked 2 Palette, apply Bootycall all over your lids up to your brow, Verve in the inner corners on the 'v' of your tear duct, and Pistol in the crease, on outer top lid, and smudged along lower lash line. A trick to intensify the pigment is to wet your brush with water before dipping into the eyeshadow, giving it an almost liquid metal effect.
- Line your eyes with e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner, using the Sigma Eyeliner brush to apply. The combo of cream eyeliner and this sleek brush gives a smooth, dark line. To grunge up the look, gently line down to the very inner point of your eye as close as possible to your tear duct without actually poking your eye out. I did a cat eye (you can see my tutorial here!), but this look would work with lots of different eyeliner options
- Now, for the lashes! I curled mine with a Sephora curler, then applied Eyeko mascara and then some accent lashes on the outer edges to add drama and dimension. I love the accent lashes because they bring my down-turned eyes up and out.
- Gotta focus on the eyebrows next. Fill them in with a pencil, I used the Hourglass Brow Shaping Pencil, but leave them a little natural by feathering the pencil lines with the attached spoolie brush.
- Finish it all off with the lips. Line with a nude color (I really like Sonia Kashuk's Lip Definer in Natural) and fill with a muted pink like Mac's Please Me. And voila!
See the difference the accent lashes make? Left eye has them the other doesn't.
