The Makeup Box

[Requested] Simple Glamour: Smoky Brown Evening/Prom Eye (a la Bruno Mars “Just The Way You Are” Music Video)

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Perfect opportunity for me to combine 2 requests; one for a dark brown prom-makeup done using the 88 Matte Palette (the Warm palette has the same shades needed), and one for the smoky eye look worn by the gorgeous model in Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are video.

Dissecting the Look

The lighting in the video is extremely orange/yellow and the moving images aren’t crisp and clear (you can click on the images for a closer look at my screen grabs). From what I can tell, she is wearing:

• a matte chocolate brown smoky eye
• an eyeshadow shape that wings straight out, and emphasizes the outer halves of her socket line
• very defined and thick black liner but it’s not a very hard and precise line (i.e. does not look like liquid liner)
• full false lashes that are a “rounded” shape, longer in the center instead of at the outsides

It’s a very straightforward and flattering look as long as you can get the shadow shape correct, and it doesn’t matter if you have mono-lids, hooded eyes or double lids; blue, green brown, hazel or grey eyes. But in real life, it probably works better for an evening out clubbing or at the prom than to school.

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Electric Ocean: Intense Glowing Blue-Green Smoky Eye (120 Palette 2nd Edition)

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This has turned into a budget palette week!

Well, I haven’t been using them enough, and considering many of you own one or more of these, I figured I’d do a couple of looks with them. 

One of the key things about these palettes is the range of strong color options, and I picked the brightest, truest blue in the bunch, and paired it with a softer teal green. (See two circled shades above.)

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Black and Copper Smoke Eyeshadow Tutorial

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This is a very simple rounded smoky eye quite reminiscent of the retro 20’s shape, but with the contrast of  high-sheen metallic as a color-accent. This is good for most eye shapes, but is a very strong and dramatic look.

Because of the very intense black rimming and circling the eyes, it will bring out all eye colors, but especially blue and lighter browns because of the copper on the lids.

You will need:

1. Black pencil or kajal
2. A matte black shadow
3. A metallic copper or bronze shadow (I used MAC Metal pigment in Copper; you can try any copper you have; there are many options in the drugstore, or you can try MAC Coppering and Coastal Scents Hot Pot in Copper Pot as well.)
4. Wispy false lashes (I used Ardell 122s)

Read on for Tutorial

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Scorpion Queen: Grungy Oil-Slicked Black Glitter Eye

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I wanted to do a dark, grungy eye that would be edgy but also quite pretty, so I combined a matte charcoal eye with a pop of vibrant green and lots of multi-colored glitter for a petroleum-like effect in the light. 

You will need:

• Black pencil or cream shadow
• Charcoal, grey, or black matte shadow
• Pale golden-green shadow
• Multi-colored glitter (preferably a dark shade)
• glitter sealant or eye drops

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Subtle, Glitzy New Year Glitter Eye!

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Here’s a way to pack on the glitter and glamour but still have it remain quite clean and chic for the New Year. I also wanted to reverse the typical half-glitter eye, by applying dark glitter on the outer areas of the lid, instead of a light glitter on the inner half of the lid, which is the typical way to do it.

You’ll just need

• black eye pencil
• matte beige shadow or pressed powder
• matte black or charcoal shadow
• glitter (any opalescent, multi-colored shade would work well; I used Taurus, a black with green, gold and bronze highlights)
• clear glitter glue or clear brow mascara

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Basic Purple Smoky Eye

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This is a look that you can do with any drugstore purple shadow palette as long as it has a dark shade (can be charcoal, black, dark brown, plum, whatever!), a medium purple, and a paler pink or lavender.

I used Wet n Wild ColoriCon in Petal Pusher.

It’s a very basic shape and really takes just a few minutes to do. Pair with a light colored gloss or lip balm, and you’ll be good to go!

Note that you can use ANY palette you want, but the main color that will “pop” and stand out more is the main lid shade. I chose a cool-toned purple because it tends to look good with most skintones and eye colors.

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