When applying eyeshadow, the basic rule is to use at least three different colored shadows:
- base color (lightest shade)
- main color (medium shade)
- highlighter for the crease (darker shade)
1. Always use a primer before your eye makeup. You can use a special formulated eye foundation such as Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, ($18)
or a dab of your liquid foundation. Starting from the lash line to the eyebrow, gently rub the primer into the skin and cover the whole eye area. Let dry before you start applying eye shadows.
2. With a large, flat eye shadow brush, apply your base color to the entire eye up to the eyebrow.
3. Then with a tapered brush, apply the main color eyeshadow to the eyelid up to the crease.
4. Lastly, using an angled brush and a light sweeping motion, apply the darkest shade along the crease of your eye from the corner to the outer edges. For a natural look and to avoid a harsh line across the crease, blend it in well with a big, soft blending brush or a cotton swab.
5. Dab a thin eyeshadow brush into the darkest eyeshadow color and line your lower lash line.
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CARGO TexasLash Mascara, ($20)
TexasLash™ Mascara is a maximum lash volumizing formula that produces Texas-sized lashes in just one coat! The fat, oversized brush allows for easy application in a single coat. The unique formula creates high volume lashes in an instant. TexasLash™ Mascara doesn’t flake, smudge or run!
My thoughts:
This mascara is okay. It didn’t smudge and it’s highly pigmented. However, I didn’t get instant volume, it was drying and it made my lashes look and feel stiff. The brush is extremely big, I kept getting mascara on my eyelids and it applied too much mascara on to my lashes, which was very annoying. So just be careful with this brush. Also, I didn’t like that it flakes. Within a few hours of wearing this mascara, I kept feeling like I had something in my eye. I had to constantly rub my eyes and pull out my compact mirror or run to the nearest mirror and check for flakes inside my eye. Not a great feeling. Overall, this mascara wasn’t as wonderful as I thought it would be.
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Stila Smoky Eye Palette – Original ($40) Here’s the palette that took the beauty business by storm! Stila’s groundbreaking ORIGINAL talking palette taught the world how to create the perfect smoky eye.
How does it work? It’s simple – just push the button and the palette literally talks you through 5 easy steps to the perfect smoky eye. It’s complete with artistry tips and what brushes to use – all in under a minute.
Steps to create a perfect smoky eye:
- Apply the base color by using your base brush to wash color over the entire eye area.
- Now apply the lid color by using your lid brush, defining the eyelid up into the crease and lightly under the eye.
- Next, apply the crease color using the same brush to contour an arc into the crease. Remember to blend well to avoid edges.
- Finally, the liner color: using the liner brush, smudge the outside corner of the eye, then the top and bottom of the lash line. To intensify, use brush damp.
- Finish with Stila’s onyx kajal liner and major lash mascara in black.
The palette includes four shades: an icy champagne as the base, shade slate that is silvery gray for the lid, shade kettle that is dark gray as the contour and shade ebony that is smoky black brown as the liner.
My review:
I love the concept of this palette. It comes with easy-to-follow, step by step audio instructions that make creating a smoky eye fast and easy.
The colors are sheer but you can add more product to get a darker smoky eye effect. However, when I tried to build up more color with layering, I had way too much fall out (definitely not a good thing). My cheeks were covered in eye shadow and it frustrates me when I have to fix my face makeup after it was already nicely done. Also, these eye shadows aren’t very long lasting, but don’t worry that can be fixed with a little eye primer. 
Overall, I have a like/dislike relationship with this palette. I mean, this eyeshadow palette is perfect for day-wear but this being a “smoky eye” palette, I assumed the colors would be a lot darker so I was a little disappointed when they weren’t. But I still love the color combination, they’re VERY nice shades. I especially like the base shadow in icy champagne, I use it all the time.
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Bronze is a great shade for creating eye looks for almost anyone. It looks pretty with brown, blue or green eyes and is suitable for most seasons. Bronze is the perfect color for eyes to go with tan skin during the summer. A smoky bronze eye look works equally well during the fall and in winter for holiday parties. Warm skin tones in particular can pull this look off with ease. The key with bronzes is getting the right balance of color. Here are a few eye makeup tips for getting the perfect bronze eye makeup look.
1. Begin with an eye shadow base to help the color stay in place. Many bronze shadows are shimmery, so you’ll want to make sure the color stays exactly where you put it. A base like
Urban Decay Primer Potion will help your color last longer and help avoid creasing.
2. Choose shades of bronze that complement your eye color. Copper is perfect for making blue eyes pop whereas green eyes look better with bronzes that are more on the brown side. Brown eyes can pull off any shade of bronze. MAC’s Eyeshadow in Amber Lights is a great bronze shade that compliments many skin tones.
3. Use a sheer bronze as an all-over wash for your entire lid extending up to your eyebrow. A shimmery color such as MAC Bare Study Paint Pot is perfect for this because then you won’t need a separate brow highlighter.
4. The crease color should not be too shimmery. Go with a taupe or brown based bronze for the most natural look. Urban Decay Smog or MAC Bronze work well for this. Be sure to blend the shadow very well.
5. There are a lot of pretty bronze eye liners to choose from. A deep bronze liner should be applied with a heavy hand on the upper lash line for this look. Then apply the same color very lightly on the lower lash line or use your crease shadow wet to line the bottom.
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eye Liner in Bronze Shimmer is stunning and does not budge once you apply it. Kohl liners such as
MAC Powersurge also work well for this look.
6. Dark brown mascara is a much better choice than black when it comes to bronze eye looks. It will help pull the look together without being too noticeable.
7. With blush and lip colors, choose shades that compliment your eye makeup. MAC’s Powder Blush in Trace Gold is a nice subtle blush that will go well with a bronze eye look.
Lips can be kept muted and neutral, to emphasize the eyes, or can be a bit brighter to add a pop of color to your look. Just be sure to not go too bold on both your lips and eyes. Play up one feature and tone down the other.
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I finally went out and purchased a pot of MAC’s Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel in Blacktrack. Omg, this stuff is amazing!
I usually use pencil or liquid eyeliners but after reading so many good reviews on this gel liner, I decided to give it a try. And girl, let me tell you! Once this gel liner sets, it stays on all day. It goes on smooth, it doesn’t smudge and it easily comes off with makeup remover.
The gel liner itself is easy to use, all you do is dip your brush (I use an angled brush) into the pot and line your top lashline. You can also line your lower lashline using fluidline but I prefer to use a black pencil eyeliner-it’s easier, I guess.
Overall, this stuff is truly great. However, if your new to gel liners (like me) it might take a bit of practice and patience to get an even looking lined eye.
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1. Always use a primer before your eye makeup. You can use a special formulated eye foundation such as Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, ($18)
