The Makeup Box

Violet-and-Moss Two-Toned Cat-Eye Makeup (Black Liner and Shadows)

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This look is SLIGHTLY similar to the elongated liner look I did recently, but it’s more of a traditional cat-eye shape, with a flick that goes upwards. 

The main point of interest is that it is colored by coating the black with metallic shadows, which gives a very interesting and intense effect. 

You will need:

• Black gel liner (I used Maybelline Lasting Drama (or Master Drama)
• A deep purple metallic shadow (Urban Decay ACDC)
• A gold mossy-green shadow (I Nuovi Moss)
• Black mascara

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Camo and Color: Simple Khaki Neutral Eyes with Fuchsia Lips

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I wanted to do a strong lip look, but instead of the usual neutrals on the lids, I thought it might be nice to do a little subtle color.

Works great for:

• Most eye shapes, including hooded and mono-lids
• All skin tones
• All eye colors, but especially hazel or green eyes

You will need (if you can’t get hold of the Sephora Jungle Chic palette):

• A dark brown gel liner or cream shadow (I used Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in 02 Brown)
• A medium olive/khaki green with a shimmery finish
• A deep steel-grey or charcoal; this shade can be slightly blue or green based as long as it’s quite dark and smoky
• A medium matte beige
• A bright pink blush (I used MAC Peony Petal)
• A fuchsia lip pencil (like NYX Fuchsia)
• A fuchsia lipstick (like Revlon Colorburst in Fuchsia, NYX’s Addis Ababa, or MAC Girl About Town)

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Simple “Tarnished Taupe”: Matte Brown shadow with a touch of olive pearl

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Back to a simple, neutral look that anyone can do. This should work with most skin tones and eye colors, and is something you can dust on quickly for work or school.

You will need:

1. A soft taupe brown shadow in a matte texture: I used I Nuovi Bark; MAC Concrete is a slightly darker alternative, and Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe is almost exactly the same.

2. A soft metallic olive: I used I Nuovi Moss but the green shade in Maybelline’s Olive Martini quad would work. You also don’t need to stick with the exact same green. Most brands have a bronze-y green that would work just as well.

3. Any very-dark charcoal or brown shadow.

4. Mascara

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Antique Gold Lids: Olive-Gold Eye Shadow Tutorial

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This is a makeup look that will work on mono-lids and hooded lids, as the color curves up along the eye socket. The basic technique you need to note is just stacking “V’s” next to each other with your shadows.

I used 4 shades: Black, Brown, Olive-green and Bronze

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Step 1: To maximize the intensity of the shadows, I first laid an olive green base on the lids (MAC Moss Scape Paint Pot). I ran it quite thickly along the lower lash line from outside in as well.

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Step 2: Using a small brush, stroke black shadow diagonally downwards from the outer corner of the eye inwards. It will look like a little triangle at the outer corner. Stroke black along the outer half of the lower lash line as well.

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Step 3: Pack a soft, warm brown beside the black diagonally downwards, and also up and in along the socket line (hollow line above your eye ball) so it makes a side-ways “V”. (See Step 1 in the numbered diagram above if you are not sure how this should look.

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Step 4: Pick a metallic olive green and apply it parallel to the brown you applied earlier. (I used an Antique Gold pigment and you can find a similar shade from many brands, both cheap and expensive, but MAC’s Sumptuous Olive is a reference if you aren’t sure what shade to look for.)

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Step 5: On the inner corners, add a touch of soft peach-bronze, like MAC Honeylust (for reference). I used a bronze I mixed myself so unfortunately I have no name for it.

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Step 6: Use black liquid liner to apply a simple line, extending up and out following the natural curve of the eye. Then finish by applying false lashes or black mascara as needed.

Rich Green Smoky Eyes: Coastal Scents Kiwi Green Hot Pot Shadow

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I wanted to do a green eye look, which I haven’t done in awhile.

Some people do not enjoy wearing green but if you pair it with the right shades to make it richer and smokier, it doesn’t look all gosh-golly Barbie-esque and is incredibly flattering and sultry on all skin tones. This is also a great look for brown eyes.

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Step 1: Apply a mossy green base to the lids. I used MAC Paint Pot in Moss Scape, but  any cream shadow or even pencil that’s olive-green or khaki would work.

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Step 2: Gently brush on a rich metallic forest-green like Coastal Scents Kiwi Green Hot Pot.

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Step 3: To add some depth, I used a reddened-brown (Coastal Scents Cherry Chocolate) to deepen the outer corners and along the hollow of the eye socket. You can use a regular brown but the green will make it olive/khaki, so I used a red-toned brown instead as it shows up richer brown over the bright green.

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Step 4: Use a black cream shadow (MAC Paint Pot in Blackground or any black or charcoal gel liner) and apply thickly along the upper lash line and the outer 2/3 of the lower lash line as well, using the BEST idiot-proof brush for applying a thicker swatch of gel liner. Don’t worry about being precise since you’ll be covering it up later.

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Step 5 : Use a firm brush to pack the reddish brown OVER the black paint/liner you just applied on upper and lower lash lines, smudging back and forth briskly to blend out the line. and “set” it into a glossy brown.

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Step 6: Then to add just a hint of coolness against the warm golden green, apply a little transparent aqua sparkle (try MAC Reflects Transparent Teal)  onto the inner corners and then apply black mascara.