As you’ll know from my Instagram and my earlier blog posts this year, I’ve been rocking the SS16 blue eye makeup trend since at least March. However, last week, I attended a masterclass at The Academy of Makeup Scotland and learned lots of fabulous new blue eye makeup techniques. Armed with this new knowledge and my new Carvela shoes from Kurt Geiger, I just had to try their look on myself and pose for some pics.
The masterclass was taught by the fabulous Lynsey Murray MUA, and it was brilliant to learn some of her tips. I’m going to take you through the steps she took to get the look above and share her tips and and the products she used with you. Then I’ll show you my version of it and the products I used.
First Lynsey started by creating a very glowy but natural base on the model. After prepping the skin with a light oil and a moisturiser, you can also prep your lips with the same oil on a baby toothbrush and exfoliating the lips with it for around 1 minute – this removes dry skin and stimulates
blood to naturally plump them.
A really interesting tip I picked up was contouring before foundation for a more natural look. Lynsey contoured this way with the shimmery Becca Backlight Priming Filter on the high points of the face, and then used the darker Laura Mercier Radiance Bronze as the contour. This contoured/highlighted, primed and added glow to the skin all in one go. She then added more highlights with the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector on the cheekbones. She recommends taking this highlight right up to under the eyes.
Next, it was time for foundation. Lynsey used the Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Foundation as it’s light and natural. She then filled in the model’s brows with a fine-tipped MAC eyebrow pencil. For blusher she used the Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in Coral Reef – a light natural coral. She recommends that you pat in
so as not to disturb what’s underneath, and it looks more natural this way too. Lynsey now lightly powdered the t-zone. She says that you shouldn’t dust it on with a brush, but
that you should pat it on lightly with a powder puff for less visible appearance and to
really press product into the skin for longevity.
Now it was time to tackle the eyes! She recommends that you do your eye makeup before you apply your concealer so that you can cover up any mess and fall-out from the shadows. Lynsey started with the Nars Pro Prime Smudge-Proof Eyeshadow Base – this eyelid primer helps shadows to really last. It’s her
favourite and she uses it on the lips too before applying
lipstick. She also recommends applying this primer under the bottom lashes to help the eyeliner you apply there to last longer too.
Everyone can wear blue eye makeup, but the colours and shades that you choose should be dependent on your eye colour. Blue eyes, like mine suit darker & sapphire blue and brown
tones e.g. Nars China Blue Matte Eyeshadow is a bright sapphire blue. Using the right
colour/shade will make your own eye colour pop.
On the model, Lynsey applied the nude-light brown Laura Mercier Matte Eyecolour in Fresco as base shadow – this fits with the current ‘tea-stained’ eye trend too. The model had aqua-coloured eyes so Lynsey chose the Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Lagoon and applied it to the outer corners of her eyes and blended it out, then took it down as an underliner. You need to work fast with these crayons
as they dry & set fast. She then applied lots of the Kiko Super Colour Mascara in Sky Blue to the bottom lashes. She then took the Zoeva Graphic Eyes eyeliner pencil in Cool Factor along the bottom lash line too, to pull everything together.
Next she moved on to tightlining. She recommends that you always tight line with a flat brush for softness
& precision. She used some of a dark blue Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow to give a hint of colour and
to make the lashes look thicker. Lynsey then blended the Sara Hill Metallic Pigment in Aquarius in the outer corner of the eye and through
the crease. She recommends that you really press pigments into the brush on the back of your hand
first to prevent fallout, and that you layer pigments in two or three light layers to
build up the colour, before finishing by blending out with a clean
brush. She then curled the models top lashes the Japonesque Eyelash Curlers (these are the easiest to use) and added the blue mascara to the top lashes too.
To finish off the face, Lynsey then applied the brightening Bourjous Radiance Reveal Concealer under the model’s eyes and the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Concealer on any face blemishes. She then amped up the glow by applying a powder highlighter with an eyeshadow brush (for precision) along the cheekbones and the brow bones, before using the Kiko Smart Lip Pencil in shade 702 to fill in the whole of
lips.
I then followed these steps myself with products and shades that suit my eye colour. I used the NYX Eyeshadow Base in White, the Smashbox Photo Finish Lash Primer and the Benefit They’re Real Mascara in Blue. I used the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Truffle across the lid, the Kiko High Pigment Wet & Dry Eyeshadow in Cornflower, the Models Own i-Definer Kohl Pencil Eyeliner in Electric Indigo and the Sara Hill Eyeliner Pencil in Sapphire Blue.
The silver shoes I’m wearing are my new Kool shoes by Carvela (£75 reduced from £99 at Kurt Geiger). I love them and can’t wait to rock them with more blue eyes for the rest of the summer. I have got completely out of practice at wearing heels, but these are so comfortable. The strap across the front makes me feel more secure in them too.
Have you experimented with blue eye makeup yet?
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