Shimmery shades of nude, from champagne to chocolate, look sophisticated and sexy when softly smudged around eyes — Urban Decay’s cult classic Naked Palettes make a pretty convincing case neutrals are gorgeous. But sometimes, especially around the glamorous, glitzy holiday party season, an unexpected pop of colour around the eyes can really elevate your style points and beauty game. See our most beautiful and flattering picks below.
Burgundy
Although generally reserved for shades of lipstick, burgundy shadow can add an element of surprise chicness. Choosing a saturated shade with a brown undertone will flatter any complexion; Make Up For Ever’s Artist Shadow in Poppy is a great metallic pick, while MAC Cosmetics’ Eye Shadow in Deep Damson is a true and highly pigmented shade with a velvety finish. A beautiful bonus of burgundy shadow is its ability to make lighter eye colours really, really pop, yet still flatter brown eyed girls, like Hailee Steinfeld, who was seen with burgundy lids at this year’s TIFF. "The red undertone in it is a little badass. You can look edgy, but still pretty, and the color isn't too out there," her make up artist Nick Barose said of creating the look.
Cobalt
Blue eyeshadow in an array of shades has been seen on beauty-loving girls since the flower power, bellbottomed days of Hendrix and weed brownies. These days, the totally far out connotation is no longer, and a vivid swipe of cobalt is downright sexy (see: Temperley London, Christian Dior, Giles, Anna Sui and Kenzo’s runway looks from this season). If you’re looking for a bold punch of colour in small doses, line eyes with Stila’s Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Cobalt, and smudge with fingers or a Q-Tip. Inky, sultry and super long lasting, a thin-lined flick will look just as alluring as a scribbled on smudgy shadow.
Copper
Gilded lids often take the gold when choosing a metallic shade for a bold (and often holiday inspired) look, but what about copper? Admittedly, it can be a trickier shade to pull off than gold or traditional (read: boring) silver, but the risk pays off when done right as copper can warm up your complexion and brighten up your whole look. If you have any doubts, British makeup boss Charlotte Tilbury is a fan of copper lids, and graciously gifted us with a how-to video that includes the products she used. The result is stunning, shimmering and sultry, and if we resemble Laura Bailey by mimicking the look even the slightest, we’re definitely now diehard fans. Also, see Rodarte’s coppery, sexy lids from this season's runway, and just try and resist.
SHOP THIS POST:
