Smell that?
That’s the scent of yet another unanswered beauty question finally being wrenched from the pits of my heaving email inbox.
Hi Fruity!
Was hoping to get some advice from you about eyeshadow…
In particular, colourful shadow! I’m talking turquoise, greens, shimmery pinks and purples etc.
This is my problem: every time I go out shopping, I’m always drawn to the beautiful sparkly colours (particularly Napoleon Perdis loose shimmer dust), and I just can’t help myself. I’ve ended up with nearly every colour under the rainbow – but I am yet to wear them. On the odd occasion I will use one wet as an eyeliner, but this seems like a terrible shame. I just don’t have any idea how to wear these colours without looking like a clown (or more terrifying – Mimi from the Drew Carey Show!). So I tend to stick with wearing neutrals, golds, bronze and coppers. Can you provide any suggestions for me?
Thank you in advance!
M.
M, like me, you house an inner magpie. It’s drawn to shiny things or bright colours, and is the reason you buy sparkly, dangly necklaces from Diva and canary yellow coin purses from Sportsgirl when you A. Don’t need them, and B. Don’t really want them and C. Probably don’t even know how to pull them off.
And yes, of course this extends to makeup.
I am delighted you have bought some of the Napster’s loose shimmer dust, as I find them to be Definitely Excellent, esp when used with a tear-shaped blending brush (I love Estee Lauder’s) and applied softly all over the socket.
The key with these fellas, and in fact all loose shadow, is to tap off all the excess on your wrist first, so you have just the most gentle amount to work with. (YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE, BUT TAKING OFF IS A FRICKEN NIGHTMARE.) Then, just brush it ever, ever, ever so softly over the eyelid.
They hold so much pigment that you really don’t need much at all, and when you get that gentle wash sorted, you can experiment with more colours, because even a gold-based peacock green can look splendid when applied delicately, and teamed with a anti-lip shade like taupe to keep the look from shimmying up to Groovy on the Discometer.
In the hope it will offer some inspiration, here’s how I wear some of my fruity shadows, of which I own many.
I use sheer/shimmery lilac shades lightly over the whole lid, and team with pink blush and a pink lipstick for a pretty, girly look.
I use deep violet shades in place of boring charcoal or chocolate to create a wild smoky eye with black liner and nude lips.
I use minty greens over the whole socket and team with a pink gloss and flushed cheeks for a sweet 50s look.
I use pinks only when they’re baby pink, soft and sheer, and use all over the socket, teamed with either black liner on the top lid and a vibrant lip, or no liner and a soft pink cheek and lip. Real pretty like. (Try a Bobbi Brown palette for this look. She SLAMS pinks.)
I use orange-based bronze shades with black liner, lots of bronzer and a nude lip in an effort at being a Hispanic Fox (read: JLo, Alba etc.)
I use plums and olive greens and demure greys over the socket only, all neat-like, and roll with a lady-like rose blush and a pink gloss or lipstick when I want to be a 50s siren.
Aside of Napster’s loose dusts, (used sparingly and delicately) I generally save emerald greens and aquas for liner – pretty hard to pull off as shadow and not look like a Supre advertisement. (Hint: this is a bad thing).
The key is to keep things balanced, and always start with a light-handed approach. Look to magazines and advertisements for cosmetics to see how they do it, is always a good idea. That’s how most big colour trends manifest.
Gosh, I’m beat.
Now I’ve done that for you – why don’t you do something for me? Get your colour on! Live a little! Send me a picture!
That goes for all of you – if you’ve achieved a Definitely Excellent makeup look and you want to share, send it through! I would love to see it. Like, a lot.
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