Through email and in the comments, you gorgeous ones have asked for more eye makeup posts. I’m happy to oblige and to kick things off, I’m showing you how to get Katerina Graham‘s metallic eye makeup she wore for the Us Magazine Hot 100 Party back in November. Sure it’s a bit of a throw back, but I’ve noticed a trend lately with celebs opting to wear color more on their cheeks and lips rather than the eyes so coming up with pics to illustrate has been rather hard. However, if you spot something contact me and I’ll do my best to help you recreate it :)
Now onto the eye makeup!
What’s super cool about this look (other than the fact it can take ten minutes or less to create) is that if these metallic shades aren’t your cup of tea, you can switch it out with your own favorite color combos. Stuck on what color combos to create? Check out my The Color Wheel: How to Combine Colors in your Wardrobe post from last April.
1. Great eye makeup looks start with great brows. They frame the face and bring out the eyes. Before you start, make sure your brows are properly groomed. For tips on brows go here and here.
2. To get your eye makeup to last longer, apply a primer or base to your lids like Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream, MAC Paint, or Urban Decay Primer Potion. For the Aqua Cream or Paint, choose a color that either closely matches your skin tone or to intensify your shadow color use one that closely matches your main shadow color.
3. Start with the lighter color first (especially if you’re only working with one eyeshadow brush) and blend it from the inner corners of the eyes to just about half way of the diameter of the eye and into the crease. For Katerina’s look try a light silver shadow like MAC Electra Eyeshadow.
Note: Blending is super important with makeup, especially eye makeup. It’s actually easier than it may sound to makeup rookies. You basically take an eyeshadow blending brush like MAC #224 and move it in a quick, circular motion doing less of this at areas where two colors meet as to avoid “muddying” the colors. The idea is for your shadow to look seamless and not like a geometric shape.
4. Next apply a medium toned color in the center of the lid and gently blend where it meets the lighter color (or you can wait and blend everything at the end—your choice). For Katerina’s look try a grey shadow like MAC Knight Divine.
5. Then take a darker toned color and apply it at the outer corners of the eyes and blend. For Katerina’s look try a black shadow like MAC Carbon and use the edge of a business card to let the shadow extend slightly outside the outer corners of the eyes. To really get your arches to stand out, apply a matte eyeshadow 2-3 shades lighter than your skin to the brow area and blend. Alternatively you can also use a cream concealer about 2-3 shades lighter than your skin.
6. Apply black liner to the top and bottom waterlines. If you have small eyes, don’t bring the line all the way into the inner corners of the eyes with a dark liner as this will make the eyes appear even smaller. Instead use a lighter shade in the inner corners.
7. You can technically apply mascara and stop here, but if you want the full look, take a pencil brush like MAC #219 (or the edge of a makeup wedge) and apply the light shadow shade directly underneath the lower lashes about 3/4 of the length of the eye. Then take the darkest shade with the pencil brush and apply it along the remaining 1/4 of the eye. Apply lashes like Ardell #119 Fashion Lashes. Need help applying? Check out this post.
Tools of the Trade:
Images via PacificCoastNews.com
January 19, 2011 10:54 am
I like her makeup. Girly & pretty. That Urban Decay eyeshadow primer is very good. The only one I use so far.
I want that crop Mickey top.
January 19, 2011 11:55 am
this is a cool look. i haven’t tried a green eyeshadow look yet, but i might.
January 19, 2011 2:24 pm
Love it, all of it !
January 19, 2011 4:15 pm
This is a very pretty look, thanks for posting it. I might try this my next night out on the town.
January 19, 2011 4:49 pm
that is cute, I love that look
January 19, 2011 5:05 pm
She’s pretty, who is she?
January 19, 2011 5:44 pm
Vampire Diaries. I don’t watch it but hv saw clips. She is stunning:)
January 20, 2011 4:07 am
Salivating over that lip color!
January 20, 2011 10:12 am
thank you!! at the age of 25 I’m just starting to wear makeup and these tutorials are very helpful. ps. videos would be nice too :-)
February 11, 2011 9:25 am
[...] the opposite sex anyway…lol. Go for a red or pink lip, a smoky eye (dark blue or icy blue), metallic shadow, or all of these combined. Use this time to go all out. Don’t worry, your girls will tell you [...]