I haven’t done a smoky eye in awhile, so I wanted to try it with some of the products I had tested recently as well as with some shades I’ve worked with in the past. Then, I wanted to experiment with pairing a warmer lip with a smoky eye, as my typical go-to is something cooler-toned, like a rosy beige or more bubblegum-like pink.

Eyes

I first applied Makeup Geek Rockstar Eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid and blended upwards over the tear duct, towards the brow bone. Then, I patted on Makeup Geek Prom Night Eyeshadow to the center of the lid to brighten and create a gradient towards the outer lid. I used Makeup Geek Corrupt Eyeshadow to darken the outer corner and crease, which created a smoky effect. I softened the crease color’s edge by applying Burberry Trench Eyeshadow to the brow bone. I defined the lower water line with Marc Jacobs Beauty Blacquer Highliner Gel Crayon, and then I used bareMinerals Skinny Dip Eyeshadow smudged on the lower lashine.

Face

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation (002 and 003) set with Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Powder. I applied Stila Kitten All-Over Shimmer on the tops of cheek bones.

Lips

I applied Guerlain Gaetane Rouge G Lipstick all over the lips, and then I topped it off with Bobbi Brown Citrus High Shimmer Lipgloss for added shimmer and shine.

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Makeup Geek Smoky Eye Look

Makeup Geek Smoky Eye Look

Makeup Geek Smoky Eye Look

Makeup Geek Smoky Eye Look

Makeup Geek Smoky Eye Look

Quick Eyes with NARS Delphes & Outremer

This is just an eye look, because I had applied this was a wear test I was conducting with several of NARS’ fall products, so I actually did not have anything else on my cheeks/lips at the time!  (In fact, this was a really rushed/hurried look, and I did not intend to post it other than to show the wear of the eyeliner.)  I have included a breakdown and additional photos of the eye look in response to readers’ requests.

You will need the following…

• Eyes:  NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (primer), NARS Delphes Eyeshadow Trio (pale green, gray), NARS Outremer Eyeshadow (indigo blue), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), NARS Via Veneto Larger Than Life Eyeliner (black), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof all over the lid and above the crease with the 249 to lay down your eyeshadow base.  Apply Delphes (pale green) all over the lid with the 239, and then lightly sweep and diffuse Delphes (gray)  into the crease with the 222.  Darken the crease with Outremer eyeshadow with the 239 held at a horizontal angle, and lightly blend towards the outer corner and lid.  Diffuse the crease edge with Trench eyeshadow using the 217.  Next, apply Via Veneto eyeliner on the lower water line and lower lash line. Coat lashes with Film Noir mascara to finish the look.

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Look:  MAC Venomous Villains – Maleficent

I used all of the mineralize eyeshadows wet, and these photos were taken at least a half hour after applying (do you know how terrible I am at applying lashes?!), so the color stayed quite vibrant well after they dried.  I went for a greasepaint stick as a base, as I felt like it might be a little tacky and keep fall out to a minimum (true!).  Half lashes look so wonky so close-up – because you can see clearly where the lash ends and the natural lash begins, but at a normal viewing distance, I think they worked really well.  More drama but not the heaviness of a full lash!

And yeah, I paired bold eyes with bold lips.  Don’t you think that’s what Maleficent would have done?

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC French Quarter Greasepaint Stick (dirty, dark antique gold), MAC She Who Dares Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo (blackened forest/emerald green), MAC My Dark Magic Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo (blackened purple, blackened violet-blue), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Graffiti 24/7 Liner (grass green), MAC Nocturnal Superslick Liquid Eyeliner (metallic silver), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara, MAC Hello Kitty Lash
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Briar Rose Beauty Powder (pale pink)
• Lips: MAC Violetta Lipstick (fuchsia-purple), MAC Revenge is Sweet Lipglass (sheer, jelly fuchsia-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: French Quarter = Bobbi Brown Antique Gold Cream Shadow; She Who Dares = NARS Night Porter (not a great dupe); My Dark Magic = Urban Decay Purple Haze (layered over black) / Parfait Amour (layered over black); MAC Hello Kitty Lash = Sephora Flutter Lash; Briar Rose = Pin Swoon; Revenge is Sweet = Flashmode (not a great dupe)

For eyes, start by applying French Quarter greasepaint stick as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249.  Spritz the 239 brush with a little water, and then pick up the emerald green side of She Who Dares and apply to the inner third of the lid.  Repeat but apply the blackened purple side of My Dark Magic to the outer two-thirds of the lid.  With the 272, lightly spritz with water, and then apply the violet-blue side of My Dark Magic into the crease, gently blending upwards.  Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone.  Line the upper lash line with Nocturnal liquid liner and lower lash line with Graffiti liner.  Apply Hello Kitty Lashes on the outer half of each eye.  Finish by sweeping Inimitable Intense mascara on lashes.

For cheeks, apply Briar Rose Beauty powder on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Violetta lipstick first, and then layer Revenge is Sweet lipglass for a complementing lip.

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Look:  Urban Decay Black Palette

Can you tell that I used four eyeshadows in this look?  If you can, you earn a merit badge for excellent, discerning sight!  Despite looking and even swatching relatively distinctively, when used, the eyeshadows look rather similar.  Just kind of looks like an all-black smoky eye to me!  Review to follow shortly.  This was a really quick look really just done to test out just how much color would show through when used in practice.

I added all that glitter to give this look more va-voom… it was just rather one-note beforehand.  I will say that Distortion over Deviant is stunning–more so in person as the glitter flashes.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion (matte beige base), Urban Decay Cobra Eyeshadow (black with antique gold), Urban Decay Libertine Eyeshadow (black with green), Urban Decay Black Dog Eyeshadow (matte black), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Deviant 24/7 Liner (medium blue), Urban Decay Distortion Glitter Liner (iridescent), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: MAC Desert Rose Blush (muted pink)
• Lips: MAC Liquid Lurex Lipstick (iridescent antique gold glitter), MAC Pink Poodle Lipglass (bright pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Liquid Lurex = Tanarama

For eyes, start by applying Eden as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Cobra eyeshadow on the lower half of the lid and pat on horizontally.  Lightly blend Libertine eyeshadow on upper half of the lid, patting lightly, all the way across with the 239. Next, apply Black Dog eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Deviant liner on the lower lash line, then lightly pat on Distortion glitter liner on top. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara, and then use Distortion glitter liner brushed onto lashes.

For cheeks, apply Desert Rose blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Liquid Lurex lipstick first, and then layer Pink Poodle lipglass for a complementing lip.

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Smoky Eyes:  Kat Von D Memento Mori Look

Is it really Thursday?  Already?  I can’t believe it’s July 1st!  I only have about a month left of summer (aka no school) — time flies so fast sometimes.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Benefit Tattle Tale Cream Eyeshadow (pale gold), NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Kat Von D Sugar Skull Eyeshadow (white gold), Kat Von D Peggy Eyeshadow (teal), Kat Von D Tijuana Eyeshadow (black-brown with gold flecks), MAC Brule Eyeshadow (highlighter), Kat Von D Black Metal Love Pencil (black with silver glitter), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent), Purple Lab Pearlesque Show Primer
• Cheeks: Korres #15 Natural Blush (soft peach-bronze)
• Lips: Urban Decay Indecent Lipstick (soft coral), Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Lip Junkie (champagne)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249, then apply Tattle Tale cream eyeshadow onto the lid as a color base. Using the 239, apply Sugar Skull eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Peggy eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Tijuana eyeshadow into the crease with the 226. Blend Brule eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone.   Lightly tap Sugar Skull eyeshadow along the upper crease and then soften.  Bring everything together by applying Black Metal Love pencil on the lower lash line and Sugar Skull eyeshadow patted below. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply #15 Natural blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Indecent lipstick first, and then layer Midnight Cowboy lip junkie for a complementing lip.

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Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Sometimes it can be fun just to experiment with your makeup, and you know when is a really good time to do it? Before you’re going to go to bed! After I finished photographing Urban Decay’s Naked Palette, I really wanted to do something using Gunmetal, but I wanted it to be different than just a regular ol’ smoky eye… so I thought, “Let’s try Half-Baked and Gunmetal!”

Then it started to give me this “night sky” feeling… and then I thought, “Maybe this would be really cool with silver eyeliner… I think I will try… just for fun!” Oh man, I was paying for that fun, though. My upper lash line was itching and watering so bad! I just wanted to get photos taken as soon as possible that I didn’t even realize the damage all that watering had done (removed the inner corner!). So, I ask that you excuse the missing piece of the puzzle and the bloodshot eyes! 

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Creep Eyeshadow (deep blue-black), Urban Decay Gunmetal Eyeshadow (blue-gray), Urban Decay Half-Baked Eyeshadow (copper), Urban Decay Virgin Eyeshadow (soft beige), Urban Decay Deviant 24/7 Liner (medium blue), MAC Silverstroke Fluidline (silver), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Chanel Rose Temptation Blush (reddish plum)
• Lips: Chanel Rose Dentelle Rouge Coco Lipstick (soft pink), Chanel Rose Dilemma Glossimer (pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 208 (thin, angled brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Creep eyeshadow on the lowest third of the lid and pat across in a horizontal line (almost as if you were lining the upper lash line). Lightly blend Gunmetal eyeshadow above Creep eyeshadow to the crease with the 239. Next, apply Half Baked eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending.  Blend Virgin eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Deviant liner on the lower lash line, and then smudge Gunmetal eyeshadow on the outer third of the lower lash line with the 219.  Apply Silverstroke fluidline on the upper lash line with the 208 brush.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Rose Temptation blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Rose Dentelle lipstick first, and then layer Rose Dilemma glossimer for a complementing lip.

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Bright Makeup: Hot Pink Smoky Eyes

Go fierce or go home! Dark, sultry smoky eyes with a hot pink edge paired with equally in-your-face pink lips.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Fuchsia Pigment (fuchsia), Sugarpill Dollipop Eyeshadow (matte fuchsia pink), Sugarpill Bulletproof Eyeshadow (matte black), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (iridescent icy purple), MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (black liner), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Setting Powder
• Cheeks: MAC Sculpt Sculpting Powder (dark nude), MAC Shell Pearl Beauty Powder (soft champagne-peach)
• Lips: MAC Petals & Peacocks Lipstick (hot pink), MAC True Babe Lipstick (hot pink)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 168 (fluffy angled brush), 165 (tapered blush brush), 130 (flat stippling brush)
• Substitutes:  Shell Pearl = Soft & Gentle; Petals & Peacocks = Girl About Town; True Babe = Pink Poodle

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Fuchsia pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Dollipop eyeshadow on the entire lower eyelid area. Darken the outer third of the lid with Bulletproof eyeshadow with the 226, gently brushing it into the outer crease. Lightly blend Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow, with the 226, in the crease. Lightly tap and brush Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Beautiful Iris eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone and inner tearduct. Bring everything together by applying Lust eyeliner on the lower lash line and Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by applying Blacktrack fluidline to the upper lash line with the 208, and then sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Sculpt sculpting powder to the hollows of the cheeks to lightly contour and blend onto cheeks with the 168. To highlight, apply Shell pearl onto the cheekbones with the 165.

For lips, apply Petals & Peacocks lipstick first, and then layer True Babe lipglass for a complementing lip.

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Glitter Makeup: Stila Jewel Eye Palette Look

Just decided to have a little fun with Stila’s new glitter-tastic palette last night Didn’t have too much fall out — definitely apply less than you think you need, and then build up if you need to. (I tried two techniques – one on each eye; nearly no fall out on the latter technique!)  It definitely has a bit of a wet look to it – very shimmering – but not so easy to capture in a still photo.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (black), Stila Jewel Eyeshadow Palette (Black Diamond, Rose Quartz), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (iridiescent purple), MAC Hush Eyeshadow (pink-toned highlighter), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Illamasqua Unrequited Blush (pink)
• Lips: Shiseido BE 109 Perfect Rouge Lipstick (soft fleshy beige), Le Metier de Beaute Dubai Lipgloss (sheer purple-pink)
• 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 Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. With the 249, apply Blacktrack fluidline all over the lid portion. Using the 239, apply Black Diamond eyeshadow on the eyelid. Next, apply Rose Quartz eyeshadow in the crease and slightly above with the 239. With the 239, lightly apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow into the crease to add a pop of color. Lightly tap and brush Beautiful Iris eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Hush eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lust eyeliner on the lower lash line, and Beautiful Iris eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Unrequited blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply BE 109 lipstick first, and then layer Dubai Gloss for a complementing lip.

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