Tutorial: Colorful Green Eyes

Here’s a tutorial for this look! This is actually a pretty simple and straight-forward look. You’re really only using four colors, including highlighter!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral base), Make Up For Ever #171 Eyeshadow (shimmery chartreuse), Make Up For Ever #91 Eyeshadow (matte bright medium green), Make Up For Ever #53 Eyeshadow (shimmery forest green), Make Up For Ever #101 Eyeshadow (sheer, yellow-gold shimmer), Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes 12L (deep teal-green), Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Make Up For Ever #5 Blush (matte coral-orange), Make Up For Ever #153 Blush (shimmery peachy-gold)
• Lips: YSL Peach Passion Rouge Volupte Lipstick (peachy-coral), MAC Liberated lipglass (pale gold-yellow)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 165 (highlighting brush)

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply MAC Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, pack #171 eyeshadow on using the 239. On the outer lid and crease, apply #91 eyeshadow with the 226. Increase intensity by packing on more of #75 eyeshadow with the 239. Darken crease with #53 eyeshadow using the 219, and then blend out with the 226. Sweep #101 eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight with the 217. Smudge lower lash line with #171 eyeshadow with the 214 brush, pressing into lower lashes. Finish with 12L Aqua Eyes on on the lower lash line using the 208. Apply Aqua Smoky Lash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with #5 Blush using the 129, then highlight with #153 with the 165. Apply YSL Peach Passion Rouge Volupte lipstick to lips, and then top with MAC Liberated lipglass for color and shine.

Now, get the dish on how-to do this look!

1. Begin with a clean/makeup-free eye area. Make sure any moisturizer you’ve applied has been fully absorbed, otherwise it might reduce the effectiveness of your eyeshadow base/primer.

2. Apply a neutral eyeshadow base like MAC Soft Ochre paint pot with a flat, firm bristled brush like the 249. You can also use products like Urban Decay Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

3. You’ll want your eyeshadow base to cover your eye area from lash line to brow bone.

4. With a fluffy crease brush like the 222, apply Make Up For Ever #91 eyeshadow, which is a bright candy apple green, to the outer half of the crease.

5. Swish the brush back and forth like a windshield wiper.

6. This is how the color should look like once it has been deposited and blended. You may need to go back and add more eyeshadow to get the level of intensity you desire.

7. With an eyeshadow brush like the 239, apply Make Up For Ever #171 eyeshadow, which is a chartreuse shimmer shade, all over the lower lid.

8. This is how it should look. Layer additional eyeshadow over it to even out the color or intensify it as necessary/desired.

9. Using a slightly angled fluffy brush like the 272, apply Make Up For Ever #171 eyeshadow to the inner tearduct and move the brush upwards.

10. This is how it should look now.

11. With a lightly pointed crease brush like the 226, apply Make Up For Ever #53 eyeshadow, a forest green, into the crease to darken. Make sure you’re not overlaying it over all of the candy apple green. You just want to get it on the upper half of that color layer.

12. Pull the brush outwards to blend out the color into the crease.

13. This is how it looks after you’ve added more depth to the crease.

14. With a large fluffy brush like the 275, apply your choice in highlighter (I chose Make Up For Ever #101, which is a soft gold shimmer) to your brow bone. Start on the inside and work your way outward. Add a green-teal eyeliner like Make Up For Ever 12L to the lower lash line and black mascara to finish the eye look. For blush, try matching with corals, like Make Up For Ever #5 Blush and Make Up For Ever #153 Blush. For lips, try a coral shade as well. I used YSL Peach Passion Lipstick and MAC Liberated lipglass.

Here’s the finished product…

This is the look I wore to the Benefit breakfast yesterday (This is, obviously, before Benefit made me over!) I didn’t think something this simple would turn out this lovely!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Juxt eyeshadow (pastel green), Bottle Green eyeshadow (dark green), Prussian eyeshadow (dark blue), Soft Force eyeshadow (highlighter), Prescriptives Grotto Liner (green), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Margin blush (coral-pink)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Chanel Tangerine Dream (coral)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Brave New Bronze = Honeylove

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the lid, pack Juxt eyeshadow on using the 239. Darken crease with Bottle Green eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Prussian eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Soft Force eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Prescriptives Grotto Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Margin blush using the 129. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Chanel Tangerine Dream for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

I’m feeling encouraged by yesterday’s look post (because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to post this since it was more experimental than anything else), so I wanted to share with you a look I attempted a week or so ago. I wanted to try a color combination I hadn’t done before (it’s not always easy to think of something that is different AND could work!), and this is what I came up with. I didn’t like it at first, but as I looked at it throughout the day, I decided I really liked the eyes and thought the application was better than my usual is. I just had no idea what kind of lip color made a good pairing! Nude looked odd, too purple looked odd, and too pink doesn’t seem like it complements. I was thinking maybe a really shamelessly bold, wine/burgundy/purple lip might have rocked it (think Rebel lipstick).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), True Chartreuse pigment (chartreuse), Goldmine eyeshadow (gold), Overgrown eyeshadow (chatreuse), Fig. 1 (medium wine), Shadowy Lady eyeshadow (deep burgundy), Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow (white highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (blue-violet), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Fun Fun lipstick (light pinky-purple), Tartlette lipglass (coral)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Overgrown = Bitter; Fun Fun = Snob; Tartlette = Lychee Luxe

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply True Chartreuse pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Goldmine eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Overgrown eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Fig. 1 eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Shadowy Lady eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Crystal Avalanche eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Fun Fun lipstick to lips, and then top with Tartlette lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Another look I really should be patient and space out my looks, since I don’t do my makeup everyday, but I can’t resist. I must admit, I’m terrible at holding things back, LOL! I tried false eyelashes again, and while I was able to make them work, it didn’t go quite as smoothly (nor as quickly) as the day before. I definitely need to throw this pair of 7s away, though, because one is totally shot! (By the way, still wearing Korres’ Watermelon Tinted Moisturizer in this look.)

Happy Monday! Hope your day is amazing!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Kelly Green pigment (medium green), Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow (green-cast gold), Bio-Green eyeshadow (medium green), Prussian eyeshadow (dark blue), Atlantic Blue eyeshadow (bright violet-blue), Femme-fi eyeshadow (highlighter), #7 lashes (false eyelashes), Shade fluidline (dark forest green), Urban Decay Graffiti 24/7 Liner (green), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Laura Geller Golden Apricot blush (peachy-pink), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Tartlette lipglass (coral)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom; Brave New Bronze = Velvet Teddy; Tartlette = Lychee Luxe

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Kelly Green pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Bio-Green eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Atlantic Blue eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Prussian eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Graffiti Liner on lower lash line, and Shade fluidline on the upper lash line using the 209. Apply #7 lashes to upper lash line, then lightly apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Laura Geller Golden Apricot blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Tartlette lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

Must-Have MAC Green Eyeshadows

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series

A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Swimming eyeshadow is a shimmery/glitter medium green. It’s a really great staple color to have, because its lightness in color makes it versatile. The only part they could improve on is by not making it a lustre finish!

Humid eyeshadow is an absolute must-have for anyone who wants to try their hand at a smokey green eye. Humid is a rich, pigmented deep green. It’s more of a forest green than an emerald green. The finish and texture are easy to work with, making this shadow extremely blendable.

Juxt eyeshadow is a light, pastel green. It’s not a cool green, but a slightly warmed up green. It’s kind of yellow-based, which is probably why it has noticeable warmth to its tone. It makes for an excellent all-over-the-lid color or even as a subtle highlighter when using other greens.

See three more must-haves, plus get pairing recommendations and limited edition recommendations!

Bitter eyeshadow is a bright pop of chartreuse (yellowed green). Although I prefer limited edition colors to this (e.g. Overgrown or PRO Sour Lemon), Bitter is a good replacement if you can’t get your hands on the others. It’s a satiny finish, which means the color goes on a little faded unless you have the proper base. The color is what makes it so different–this color works well with teals, blues, and other greens.

Greensmoke eyeshadow is a deep brown-olive green. It’s got a little bit of gray, brown, and olive to it, but it’s still not too dark. I love it for a smokey green eye.

Sumptuous Olive eyeshadow is blendable, smooth, and deliciously rich in pigmentation. It’s a nice olive green that just works with so many colors from golds to browns to greens.

Pair these shadows with…

white-golds (like Nylon), golds (like Gorgeous Gold), browns (like Woodwinked), blues (like Electric Eel), teals (like Shimmermoss), or grays/blacks (like Carbon)

Check your stash for a few awesome limited edition finds…

Wondergrass, Aquavert, Metamorph, Lucky Green, Guacamole, Eyepopping, Overgrown, Femme Noir, Velvet Moss, Scarab

What are your must-have green eyeshadows?

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of great eyeshadows — these are shades I personally think are worth getting as a whole. I also only list permanent eyeshadow colors (and eyeshadows only–no other eye products, *just* eyeshadows for this list), which is why limited edition colors do not make the list.

Sugarsweet Look!

I actually really liked how this turned out — it’s been a minute since I’ve been super satisfied with how a makeup look has come out, and I’m pretty pleased with this one! I didn’t think it would work when I started, but it definitely came together. Even Perfect Topping gave me some color! Shocker! I recommend using the 165 brush (or a dense brush) to give you concentrated color for those who struggle to get anything except shimmer from MSFs.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Cakeshop shadestick (gray-green), Aquavert eyeshadow (light green-teal), Sugarshot eyeshadow (frosty white), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Lemon Chiffon shadestick (white-gold), Femme-fi eyeshadow (soft neutral highlighter), Feline kohl power (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Perfect Topping mineralize skinfinish (pale pink)
• Lips: Saint Germain lipstick (cool pink with purple undertones), Tasty tricolour lipglass (sheer pink)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Cakeshop = Delft (leans tealer/bluer); Aquavert = Juxt (leans yellower); Sugarshot = Phloof!; Lemon Chiffon = Baselight; Femme-fi = Shroom; Feline = Graphblack; Perfect Topping = Pink Freeze; Saint Germain = Pink Nouveau; Tasty = Palatial

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Cakeshop shadestick all over the lid as the base. On the inner lid, apply Aquavert eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Sugarshot eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow using the 226. Apply Lemon Chiffon shadestick along brow bone to create a base. Sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Apply Cakeshop shadestick as liner on lower lashes. Using the 219, apply Aquavert eyeshadow over the shadestick on the lower lash line. Finish with Feline khol power on lower waterline, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Perfect Topping using the 165. Apply Saint Germain lipstick to lips, and then top with Tasty tricolour lipglass for color and shine.

Check out more photos!