Makeup Application Tips And Tricks

This easy-to-follow metallic holiday eye makeup idea was created by Christopher Del Castillo, MAC Sr. Artist.  It's a wonderful choice for a low-maintenance woman in search of a high-maintenance appearance!

1.  Start by applying MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow in Mayhem with a soft brush (like MAC 217) to your lids.

2.  Then use a contour brush like MAC 224 to apply MAC Copperplate Eye Shadow to your crease/socket to add depth.

3.  Make sure your eye brows look fabulously groomed with MAC Eye Brows in your perfect shade (they make one for every hair color).

4.  Finish the look with a fine line of black liquid liner — I prefer MAC Penultimate in Rapidblack. 

Click HERE to shop for the products used to create this eye makeup idea!
 

She’s back!  Jenny Smith, a Makeup Stylist with NARS Cosmetics, shares us her personal favorite holiday eye makeup idea:  the smokey eye.

Every woman wants to wear a smokey eye this season whether it is for a holiday party, a work event, or just a fun night out!

The challenge that most of us run into when doing a smokey eye is that the dark color gets too dark, too fast and sometimes it is hard to take away color that has become too smokey or even messy.

Here are the step by step secrets to creating a smokey eye and how to gradually build up to the levely of sultry darkness that you want.

Start with NARS Nourishing Eye Cream for hydration. Blend NARS Concealer to blur out imperfections or dark circles around the eyes. Set your entire eye with NARS Loose Powder. You now have the beginning base for a smokey eye: even skin. Use concealer and foundation on areas of your face that have redness or imperfections. Set with powder. An even skintone allows for the focus to be on beautiful, smokey eyes.

Next, blend shadows that are light, then medium, and finish with dark. The easiest smokey eye base is the new NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil. Use Goddess (a silvery pink) from lash line to brow. Scribble on all over your eye as a base and use your finger to blend. This gives a light, bright cream base all over the eyes. Add a darker base, like NARS Aigle Noir Soft Touch Shadow Pencil (a lush, himmering black) by brushing along your lashline on the top and bottom of your eye. Follow top and bottom lashes for a silky black smudge that instantly defines.

Once you have created the perfect light and dark base, take a big, firm shadow brush like Nars Brush #3 to set your entire eye with the white side of NARS Pandora Duo Eyeshadow. Apply it from lashes to brow for a seamless effect. Less shimmer by the browbone looks more modern and chic. Take a fluffy, dome-shaped brush like NARS brush #13 to blend the black side of Pandora eyeshadow duo along your lashline, outer corner of your eye, and bridge of your eye (above the crease- also known as the brow bone). Voila! You have a smokey eye!

Remember that the best way to finish a smokey eye is with a black eyeliner, like NARS Black Moon Eyeliner Pencil, on the inner rim of your eye along your lashline. Now, wiggle on a few coats of mascara for the finishing touch! I’m in love with the NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara which is a runway-ready mascara that does not clump, flake, or end up under your eyes. Apply 2-3 coats!

You can use these techniques with any variety of colors. A smokey eye is not about the colors that you use, but about the application. Try the same techniques I’ve mentioned about with different color combinations like a gold and a purple, a cream and a burgundy, silver, and blue. Try out the newest NARS colors like NARS Brumes Duo Eyeshadow and NARS Eurydice Duo EyeshadowLet your imagination run wild. Experiment with makeup and have fun. Sometimes, the most unexpected combinations will become your favorites!

Click HERE to shop for the products used to create this eye makeup look!