smoky eyes by chicmummy on Polyvore.com
This winter the smoky eye is a key trend, but if you are in a hurry, trying to recreate the traditional look is just asking for trouble. Instead, go for a charcoal grey with a hint of shimmer for a quick and sophisticated look. The Smoky Eye set from bare escentuals is wonderful, with a matching set of light and dark colours. Sweep the lighter colour from lid to brow bone. Then take the dark charcoal colour and carefully press onto the lid only. Blend carefully, taking it slightly into the crease. Line upper and lower lashline with a dark grey eyeliner like Slate Quickliner from Clinique. Finish with two coats of a thickening and lengthening mascara like Badgal from benefit.
For the last few year, a smoky eye has been paired with a nude lip, but this season is seeing lots of bold red lips matched with the smoky eye. This is great on the red carpet and the runway, but in real life is just too much. Instead, take a plum lipstain like Stila's Pomegranate crush and swipe on lips. Top with some lipbalm for a subtly bold (is that an oxymoron, or what?! you know what I mean!) pout. Use the same lipstain on your cheeks for a long lasting flush. These additions probably add another couple of minutes to my five minute makeup, but will really take your look up a few notches.
For those of us struggling through a heat wave rather than the next ice age, shimmery bronze is the way to go. The eyes are a variation on the smoky eye above. Again, sweep the lightest shade (this time from Stila's Eyeshadow Trio in Bronze Glow) from lid to brow. Next, take the medium shade and press onto lid. For day, this is where I would stop. For night, take the medium shade and line the lower lashline as well, and then take the darkest colour and blend into the crease.
I love Cargo's bronzers since they are shimmery without being glittery. Miami Beach, shown above, is a great colour that suits almost all skin tones. The key to natural looking bronzer is to apply an E and a 3 to your face. Looking into the mirror, apply an E to the left side of your face starting at your forehead, sweeping down your temple and across your cheekbone, and then back out and down your jaw line. Repeat on the right side, but this time your action should be in the shape of a 3.
Lastly, a shimmery lipgloss in a peachy, golden or nude tone will finish off the look. I love Stila Lipglazes, and for this look, I would recommend Kitten (peachy), Banana (golden) or Brown Sugar (nude).
So there you have two seasonal updates that add hardly any time, but a fresh new look!
