The Makeup Box

Candy Clouds: Matte Pastel Evening Look (using Lime Crime Palette D’Antoinette)

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If you want to wear colorful makeup, I always find matte shades to be an fun option because they are so color-true.

Lime Crime’s Spring palette D’Antoinette is a collection of sweet, creamy pastels that are pigmented but not so crumbly and chalky that you can’t apply them with a regular shadow brush. I decided to give it a test run by creating a slightly dramatic eye so you can see for youreslf if you like the color-payoff and textures.

The palette is not cheap at $34.99, but if you are in the market for a collection of blossom-y matte pastels that are so fun for spring and summer, this is a good-quality option, and actually quite a good deal if you consider that a single 1.5g MAC pan costs $11.50 without a case, and a regular shadow costs $15, while each color here is 1.6g and costs less than $7.

The only criticism I can think of is that all 5 shades are pale, bright colors, and some people need a deeper color for defining the eye and lash line. This is NOT an idiot-proof palette. You can’t just slap on the colors in any ol’ combination and walk out the door. Unless you have extremely deep sockets, very pale skin, and full, dark lashes, you will probably benefit from having an additional deep brown, grey, or black shadow.

Note:

The hardest shade to dupe would probably be the bright peach-sorbet shade, “Macarooned”.

If you’re on a budget, you can check out some of the 120 palettes online. They have some brighter peach/orange shades that are passable alternatives. I don’t know of any exact low-end dupes at this time though.

P.S. All those social crusaders who feel a need to say your piece on brands you don’t like for whatever reason, please kindly do it elsewhere as this is a pure tutorial/review; thank you!

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Step 1: I ran a matte chocolate brown shadow (Revlon 009 Rich Sable) along the upper and lower lash line with a flat angled brush.

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Step 2: I picked the soft bright peach (Macarooned) and packed it onto the center of the lids. 

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Step 3: Then I swept the matte pastel pink (Royal Flush; this shadow is like the shadow version of MAC Saint Germain lipstick) along the inner half of the socket line above the peach shadow.

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Step 4: Now with the only sparkly/shimmery silver shade in the palette, I dabbed around the inner corners of my eyes using a ring finger, and then blended it into the peach just slightly. (Mercurious; Bourjois’s little round pot in Argent, below, is a dupe if you can’t afford Lime Crime.)

Extra tip: You can apply a light wash of the silver sparkle over the other shades to transform them from matte to shimmery.

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Step 5: Finish by outer corners by packing the matte lavender shade (Ribonesque) in a rough in-ward facing “C” around the eye socket.

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Step 6: And just because pale or bright shades all over the lids can really “flatten” your eye and sometimes make your lids look puffy, I added a bit of definition and contour back by running the matte brown from earlier very lightly along the socket line and blending it out to just a soft line.

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Step 7: Finish by reapplying lavender and pink outside and above the contour line in the above shape. This helps to soften out the brown even more, and reinstates color without erasing the contours.

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Step 8: Apply black liquid liner thinly along the upper lash line, avoiding any flicks. This is just a base for applying a strip of false lashes. (I used Fairylash once again, and recommend you check out synthetic lashes rather than natural hair ones if you want a more dramatic, glossy look to go with the doll-like colors of this look.)

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Lime Crime products are cruelty-free. Visit PETA.org for more information on brands and animal testing.

Dark Violet Wing Tutorial

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Step 1: Apply a base and then pack a matte black shadow thickly along the lash line.

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Step 2: Sweep a dark purple (I used MAC Grape Pigment) above the black, thickly along the crease line.

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Step 3: Run a black kohl along the waterline and tightline, and reapply along the upper lash line as well.

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Step 4: Apply wispy false lashes to complete the look.d

Le Papillon: Defined, Dramatic Butterfly Eye (Great for Mono-lids and Hooded Lids)

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This is inspired by an old video by Gossmakeupartist and would work on those with mono-lids and hooded lids, who want dramatic color to show up on their eyes. The wing shape and the colors I chose are a good deal different from his as I was going for a more dramatic look, reminiscent of what has been going down the catwalks recently, but the basic premise is the same.

You will need a slim black pencil and 3 shadow shades; 1 light, 1 bright, 1 dark. 

For a less dramatic look you can choose colors in the same family (e.g. pale, medium and dark purple) or complementary colors (gold, orange, copper). For more “pop”, I went with shades that weren’t exactly next to each other on the color wheel; pale-gold, teal, and purple.

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Step 1: Laying down the shape. The diagram above shows you the approximate shape of the eye. What you’ll get is a sort of rough “E” shape at the outer corners. The more top-heavy your “E” is, the more dramatic the wing will be.

The important thing is that the top of the “E” MUST be visible when your eyes are open, and you can only do that by going above your lid. Don’t follow your natural crease, especially if you have hooded or mono-lids, as the crease folds downwards and will cover up any eye color you apply there.

Step 2: Smudge the inner portions of the “E” inward with a firm shadow brush or your finger. It should fade inwards, rather than end in a harsh line. 

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Step 3: Apply the palest shadow to the inner 1/3 of the lids and also bring it down around the corner of the eyes to the inner 1/3 of the lower lash line as well. You don’t have to use the same color as me, but in general, if you have smaller eyes, don’t pick a dark shade for this area.

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Step 4: Pack a strong teal green in the center of the lids, and also along the central portions of the lower lash line to mirror the upper lid.

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Step 5: Finish the lid by packing a dark purple into the remaining 1/3 of the lids, going right up to the edge of the black kohl but not going beyond it. You can use your brush to blend into the black pencil a bit so there isn’t a harsh an obvious black outline.

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Step 6: Run the black pencil along the upper lash line and along the waterline, before applying black mascara to finish the look.

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Quick-Tip for uber-drama: Make the top part of the “E” shape angular rather than rounded.