Softly Smoky: Drama, but Not Too Much
Softly Smoky: Drama, but Not Too Much
Quickie look I did before I took my midterm to test out the wear of some new products I’m trying out! 🙂 I will say I refuse to use Urban Decay’s Maui Wowie eyeshadow again. I’m through with it! It is fallout city, and even when I use it with a sticky base, it refuses to cooperate. Such a pretty shade, so it’s a shame, but no thank you!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: Shiseido H12 Lemon Sugar Hydro-Powder Eyeshadow (pale yellow gold), Urban Decay Maui Wowie Eyeshadow (antique gold), MAC Concrete Eyeshadow (cool, dark brown), MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC NC15/NW20 Chromagraphic Pencil (nude), YSL Black Velvet Dessin du Regard Eyeliner (black), MAC Opulash Mascara (black)
- Face: Lancome Aqua Fusion Tinted Moisturizer (1), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
- Cheeks: MAC Springsheen Blush (peachy-pink)
- Lips: Cle de Peau T3 Extra Rich Lipstick (pinky nude), Make Up For Ever #10 Fascinating Lip Gloss (sheer champagne gold)
- Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: N/A
For eyes, start by applying Lemon Sugar eyeshadow as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Maui Wowie eyeshadow all over the lid. Next, apply Concrete eyeshadow into the outer crease and lid with th 226. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Velvet Black eyeliner on the lower lash line and NC15/NW20 pencil lightly patted below the lower lash line and smudged with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Springsheen blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply T3 lipstick first, and then layer #10 lipgloss for a complementing lip.
Beautiful! Love the eyes and lips…..I need to pull out my Springsheen…haven’t worn it in awhile
Thanks, Tish 🙂
Gasp! You didn’t use your HG highlight! — Femme Fi. hahaha 🙂
Ha 😉
This is really beautiful! I remember seeing your tweets yesterday about it! 😀 I hate fallout too! There’s a gorgeous Too Faced shadow I love that’s the same way, it’s a pretty champagne, but it has this ridiculous silver glitter that about 2% stays on the lid, and the rest falls under my eye. And glitter? Can’t get that shiz off once it’s on your skin. It’s like Dimitri Martin says, “Glitter is the herpes of the craft world”. LOL!
Thanks a lot, Mariah! 🙂 Yeah, there are a few Too Faced shadows that are like WHOA! glittery!
That is so sophisticated – and the lip is especially amazing! I agree with you about Maui Wowie, sadly 🙁 I’ve got it in my Alice in Wonderland palette and I adore the color, but the glitter is so stupid. And it’s a shame, because glitter aside I like it better than MAC’s Patina, which has more of a greenish cast, and I can’t think of any other colors that are really similar.
Thanks a lot, Daphne! I agree — so pretty but the glitter is worthless!
Pretty look! I love maui wowie.. but the fallout is definitely annoying!
Thanks, Allison!
Beautiful! Do you know of any dupes for Maui Wowie e/s? I hate the fallout too but the colour is awesome 🙂
MAC has had some limited edition shades that are similar or better (IMO!), but a combo of Patina + Retrospeck gets you close.
Very pretty. I really like that Shisedo base.
Thanks, Shontay!
I love this.. great for daytime smokey. I’m hoping that I can find a dupe for maui wowie.. love the color, just not crazy about the texture of the shadow. I also noticed that you have been wearing tinted moisturizers in your FOTD’s.. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the ones you’ve tried so far. I’m looking into picking one up for the summer. Gorgeous as always Christine 🙂
Thank you so much, Jaime! 🙂
Retrospeck + Patina is close, but no single shade in MAC’s line.
I’m doing a Tinted Moisturizer Challenge this summer, so you’ll be sure to see plenty of reviews there 🙂
Hi Christine! Is there a MAC shadow you’d suggest using instead of Maui Wowie? From looking at the photos I’m thinking maybe patina or retro-speck?
Combo of both, actually 🙂
I really like this look on you. SOOOO beautiful!
Thank you, Farida!
Christine, Love the natural looks on you! By the way, i too can NOT stand maui wowie e/s!! Mine saw the bottom of the trash can 2 nights ago. LOL
LOL! Wow, that bad? I’d have to agree…
Thanks, Erica!
really beautiful. <3 Love that kind of "classy" make up look!
Thanks so much, Martyna!
Oooh! I like how nice and shimmery it is!
Thanks, K!
Simply gorgeous!
Could you please tell me why you used the YSL Black Velvet Dessin du Regard Eyeliner instead of some other eyeliner?
Thanks, Marta!
I’m currently testing it out 🙂
This is just gorgeous!!!
Thank you, Iliang!
Ah! You’re so pretty! 🙂 I love the Chromagraphic pencils! So good for so many things 🙂 Have you tried them as a brow highlight/pencil yet? They’re great for that (depending on the skin tone of course). I also love them for outlining dark lips for a dramatic, crisp line 🙂 Wee! 🙂
Hey Dusty!
Thank you! I actually did, but I wasn’t feeling it. I only tried it once, though… It seemed like it was a little too light or not quite as creamy as I’d like for under the brow bone. I’m digging it under the lash line, though – not sure if you’re supposed to do that – but it’s an interesting way to kind of lighten the area and make the liner pop a little more!
pretty! Christine what would you say is a very good sticky base for eyeshadows because my asian friend wears this tape on her eyes and she can never get eyeshadow to stick to it so she was looking for a base to use first.
Thanks, Starr!
Maybe mixing medium?
Gorgeous look! I agree with you about Maui Wowie. It and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again are two of my favorite UD shades, but who wants to wear them all over their face?
LOL, MCRA is the worst eyeshadow. In. History. No, I’m totally serious. I’d rather a chalky, powdery eyeshadow with little color pay off than the glittery, fallout mess of MCRA.
I wish I had known about that before I bought MCRA. Swatched it at Ulta and loved it. Put it on, glitter all over my face. Haven’t worn it since, it just sits up in my drawer collecting dust. =(
Oh, I hear you! I looooove how it looks in the pan, but I can’t do it. Every time I wear it I leave a trail of pixie dust in my wake. Cute when you’re 13, not so much when you’re 30, LOL!
sorry to butt into this convo hehe but sellout is MCRA with out the glitter mess according to the UD web site 🙂
This is so gorgeous!
You are so talented.
Thanks so much, Morgan!
This is very pretty. I’m actually wearing a very similar look (but with blue eyeliner) created with the new Rimmel Colour Mousse eyeshadows (review on my blog, nudge nudge). 😉
Thanks, Anita! 🙂
pretty
Thank ya, Kathie!
I’m gonna try this tomorrow. Am going to try doing my eyes first then my foundation to mitigate the fallout. Here’s hoping I can find a way to use maui wowie without looking like I’ve doing crafts with a five year old who sneezed into the glitter 😀
So I did this look today and now I keep finding bits of glitter all over my face. I tapped the brush off, held tissue under my eye to catch fall out and did my eyes before my foundation but none of that seemed to help.
Oh well, it’s Friday and I’m alone in the office so no biggie.
Going to try the Patina and Retrospeck combo you mentioned insted next time. Thanks
Sorry to hear about that, Ally! 🙁 I hope Patina + Retrospeck is a bit better!
Good luck!!
I love this look, Christine! So pretty!
Thanks, Shirley!
So pretty and subtle.
Thanks a lot 🙂
gorgeousssss
Thanks, Laura!
I love this look! Very wearable but so pretty! Is there any MAC dupe for concrete that anyone knows of?
Thanks so much, Stephenie! Concrete is permanent 🙂
I love this look! Its so sultry and sexy 🙂
Thanks so much, Stephanie!
That look is really a knockout! The gold looks so pretty!
Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful!
I have a quick question for you, if you don’t mind. Any favorite self tanners? Especially the kind that is a lotion that builds a more ‘permanent’ tan?
thanks!
Thanks, Jillian!
I like Dior & Clarins a lot! 🙂 I don’t know about “permanent” tans, since it’s hard to do so as the tan wears off as your skin sloughs off. You can prolong by using a self-tanner and then a gradual everyday tanning lotion.
i used maui wowie today as well and experienced major fallout 🙁
i did see a new brush at sephora made out of silicone that claims to eliminate fallout.
Interesting concept, lol!
Pretty look — love the colors!! I agree about the Urban Decay shadows. I had heard so many raves — I ended up buying the Alice In Wonderland palette — and I end up with sparkles all over my face — ugggh, not attractive at all. I will probably only use them for my daughter’s dance recitals — sigh!
Thanks, Michelle! Really sucks about their glitter shades :/
Pretty!
Thanks, Kaylynrenee!
Ahh, I love this kind of look on you 🙂 You taught me how to do a smokey eye like this! I especially like it paired with those lips <3
You seem to be loving those Chromagraphic pencils… A MUA told me today you could also use them as a concealer. They seem versatile so am probably going to pick one up after all 🙂 Good luck on your midterm!!
Thanks a lot, Roxanne!! 🙂
I do — they’re very flattering on the lower lash line. It’s not quite the right shade for me to use as concealer, but I like it nonetheless!
I love the look, it’s gorgeous and I really like the tinted moisturizer you are wearing, your skin looks perfect but not overly made up !
Thanks so much, Margot!
very pretty look christine.
i’m in total agreement regarding mauie wowie…i was really looking forward to that shade and mushroom in the aiw palette, but their texture was very disappointing!
you’ve made it look effortless, however!
Thank you, Aradhana! 🙂
The goldy-brown eyes are absolutely beautiful. I’ve only been reading along here for about a month, but this is the most grogeous overall look I’ve seen you do–it looks great on you AND it looks great just generally. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
love the look and i LOVE maui wowie…the colour but I agree it does fall out LOADS…
I use it with a flatter brush (sigma 252) but I tap off the colour well so most of the glitter falls off, then I use it over a really pale simmering gold base (barry m shimmering eye crayon 1) and the gold behing it shows through really well and you dont have fallout city!
I think cuddle shadestick would be a good dupe since you said it was a straight up gold…but I dont own it :/ please try it out because I love this colour SO MUCH 😀
I’ve used Maui Wowie with a glue-based adhesive, and I still got fall out 🙁 Shadesticks aren’t really sticky enough to combat the issue, in my experience!
Hi Christine,
Love the look! I want to start my own collection of Mac Eyeshadows –yes… I still don’t own any 🙁 I’m confused as to spend around 200 dollars on the 15 eyeshadows palette or to just buy each of them seperately? Don’t you think I’ll get more product that way and my money’s worth?
Hi Shanzelizey,
I’m not sure what you mean… When you buy an eyeshadow palette, you can buy it empty and just buy a few to go inside, you don’t have to buy them all at once. It is, however, cheaper to purchase the eyeshadows that go straight into the palette than to buy the little individual pots of eyeshadow — I believe pan eyeshadows are $11 and pot eyeshadows are $14.50. The size of the eyeshadow is exactly the same… you just pay $3.50 more per eyeshadow for the individual packaging.
Thanks for the help Christine but I’m just a little confused… isn’t there more product in the individual eyeshadow? As in wont they last me longer then the palette ones?
Nope, they’re the same size.
Yep, the pans and the pots are exactly the same size. The plastic pots are just the same eyeshadow pans surrounded by plastic. You can even “depot” the shadows in the pans (get the pans out of the plastic) and stick them a palette.
I love the way that mascara looks on you! I think it looks better than the plush lash that you normally use 🙂
Thanks, Heather!
Gooorgeous look! One I may actually be able to master! Thanks again (continually) for the inspiration, Christine 🙂
Thanks, Kimberley! Hope you give it a shot!
love it!
Thank you!
Agreed with what you said about the Maui Wowee shade but I love it much more when i use it with my Fyrinnae pixie epoxy. But even after doing that combo i still find a bit of fallout on my cheeks. Needless to say, I don’t reach for this shade too often.
gorgeous colors mixed together : ) I wanna try this!!
Thank you, Gao!
I love your lips in this look! It’s the exact replica of your natural lip color.
I was just wondering though, why don’t you put your hair down more? It looks great when it’s down! It really helps to frame the face. Just a friendly request!
Thank you so much, Ella!
I wear my hair up and down equally, I’d say…
Love the look Christine. It looks fantastic. How are you liking the Opulash?
Thanks, Kali!
I like it, but I don’t love it — my lashes need more thickening, which is why I still love Plushlash over Opulash. But I love the length Opulash gives!
I see myself wearing Opulash for a more natural look or for more natural lashes that still stand out.
I switch between this tinted moisterizer & Estee Lauder Idealist Tinted Moisterizer. How did you like it? Love the look by the way! 🙂
I love it — fabulous coverage!
I love this! You look so lovely, Christine. 🙂
I was wondering if there’s a dupe for Maui Wowie but by MAC?
Thanks!
Thank you, Wendy! Patina is a little darker, Retrospeck a little lighter – together, similar!
I have reallyyy been loving your makeup recently. Just curious, why don’t you wear eye liner on your upper lash line?
It causes my upper lash line to itch, swell, and water – and sometimes my lid gets swollen or has a rash.
I love, love, love the color of Maui Wowie, but don’t love the fallout. I usually end up just using a bit in the middle of my eyes over other shadows after tapping the brush off; no issues there. However, I don’t find Maui Wowie anywhere near as bad as Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (shudder) or even Polyester Bride. I tend to stay away from UD’s glittery shadows. It’s just too much hassle!
I completely agree! 🙁 MCRA is the worst!
I am loving the MAC Opulash on your lashses!
Glad ya like it, Angela!
That look is gorgeous! One of my favorites that you have done!
Thank you, Brandi!
you have the most beautiful eyes i’ve ever seen!
Oh, wow — thank you, Kai!
OMG, I love this, it’s stunning!!
Thanks a lot, Jen!
I love this!
Thank you!!
Ok this look is just lovely!
Thanks, Lego!
whoa,another winning look!simply gorgeous 🙂
p.s. my Guerlain Giulette arrived yesterday..omg..love is right!
Thanks, LRW! Yay, so happy you love Giulette!
Oh the YSL liner looks nice! =D
Thanks, LNU!
I love Maui Wowie and I find if my brush is either wet or I give it a couple taps the largest glitter falls off, and the rest of the fallout is no problem to sweep away with a powder brush, or just hold a tissue under my eye.
I love Maui Wowie enough to fight with it until it listens 🙂 Looks beautiful on you! I love your looks because we have similar coloring. Will HAVE to try this.
Lucky it works for you there — I’ve tried using eyelash adhesive to get it to stick to no avail!
This is a really pretty look. I might try it tomorrow with similar colors that I own. Thanks!
Thanks a lot, Perri! Hope you try it!
I had no idea Concrete was so gorgeous!! Thanks for the enabling!! :p
LOL!
Thats a very nice warm look on you. I love the eyes.
Thank you, Diana B!
My favorite eye looks of yours are when you are wearing maui wowie! So sad it creates tons of fall out! GRRRRR!
Aww! 🙁
Gorgeous! It’s funny – I have Maui Wowie on today as well :o) . I’m wearing it with Tempting in the crease, Shroom to highlight and UD Zero on the upper lashline. I agree with you about the fall-out – even when I flicked off the brush and patted it on, I still got glitter under my eyes.
Thanks, Saira!
Yeah, it’s fallout city no matter what 🙁
I love this look, it’s so pretty. I’m a big fan of cool-toned browns. I really like how you used the Chromographic pencil under your waterline, I’m going to try that too 🙂 Have you tried using Fix Plus on your brush before dipping it into the Maui Wowie? That helps a little with the fall out, then I blend it out really well with a 224.
Thank you, Dana! 🙂 I have tried everything — from mixing medium to eyelash adhesive!
really lovely look!!
Thank you, Suziekim!
Love it when you do browns and smoky eyes. Gives me inspiration on how to do my makeup. You’re using Lancome’s AquaFusion! It’s my fave TM. How do you like it? Have a great weekend, Christine
Thanks, Millie! 🙂 I like it – not my favorite, but it’s a nice one!
Lovely look doll, It really brings out your brown eyes! ^_^
XO
Thank you, Kaylena!
I just wanted to say your lashes look really good in this look. Plus, the lipstick always looks so smooth and glossy in your photos. Do you have a tutorial of how to apply lipstick? No lipstick in particular, just a general one. Do you use a brush? Do you contour your lips? What’s your secret? 🙂
Thank you, Carolina!
Hmm, no, I don’t think so… I just slap it on straight from the tube, lol! There is no secret 🙁
Well, I can tell you that when I apply my Chanel Mademoiselle (or any other lipstick) it looks NOTHING like it does in your lips. It doesn’t go on homogeneously and it just makes my lips look dry and cracked. 🙁
Oh no!! 🙁 That’s awful! I wonder why that happens!
i love the eye style
Thank you, Jaspreet!
soo pretty!
i just wanna say THANK YOU for making this website and for posting all your eye looks/reviews/swatches!
btw i graduated from irvine too! haha
good luck studying!
Aww, thanks, Sara!! 🙂
Ohh, go Anteaters!
I love this look so much! It looks so gorgeous with that lipstick.
Thanks, Michelle 🙂