How to wear shimmer eyeshadow
Know why folks are saying 40 is the new 30? Thanks to better lifestyles and skincare (and, yes, to cosmetic procedures), people are feeling and looking younger than ever. As a result, we've tossed the old rules about beauty and fashion after 40, including the belief that shimmery eye shadow is only for the baby-faced set.
1. Shimmer as a subtle gleam
M.A.C senior artist Jane McKay, 48, starts with M.A.C Strobe Cream ($38) as a base on the lid. “It has jet-milled microfine, light-reflecting pigments in it and looks great on light to medium and olive skintones,” she says. She then contours the lid with a tapered crease brush and a Mineralize Skinfinish/Natural baked powder (which has a satiny sheen; $29.50) two or three shades darker than her subject's skin tone.
2. Shimmer as a sheer wash of colour
Use a large eye shadow brush to sweep a soft neutral shade of champagne, pink beige or gold over your entire lid and into the crease, stopping just short of the brow bone. If you're in a playful mood, try a pale green or lavender; apply it under the lower lashes, too, for more impact. Feeling sultry? Try khaki, olive green, bronze or pewter, and smudge the shadow along the lower lash line for a softly smoky look.
3. Shimmer as liner
Line the upper lash line with a metallic or shimmery shadow or pencil liner for a pretty, unexpected glimmer. Apply shadow with a small angle brush. If you'd like a more intense finish, dampen the brush with a tiny bit of water first.
Lining only at the base of the upper lash line keeps the look clean, especially if using a darker shade. For a more defined look, run the colour under your lower lash line as well.
Frosted or metallic pencils are quick and easy options; you may want to set pencil liner with a similar shade of eye shadow to add staying power. “Try a mid-tone pencil such as M.A.C smudgeproof Eye Kohl in Powersurge (bronzed brown; $16) to line the inside upper and lower rims of the eye for a slightly different smoky effect,” suggests McKay.
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Use a large eye shadow brush to sweep a soft neutral shade of champagne, pink beige or gold over your entire lid and into the crease, stopping just short of the brow bone. If you're in a playful mood, try a pale green or lavender; apply it under the lower lashes, too, for more impact. Feeling sultry? Try khaki, olive green, bronze or pewter, and smudge the shadow along the lower lash line for a softly smoky look.
3. Shimmer as liner
Line the upper lash line with a metallic or shimmery shadow or pencil liner for a pretty, unexpected glimmer. Apply shadow with a small angle brush. If you'd like a more intense finish, dampen the brush with a tiny bit of water first.
Lining only at the base of the upper lash line keeps the look clean, especially if using a darker shade. For a more defined look, run the colour under your lower lash line as well.
Frosted or metallic pencils are quick and easy options; you may want to set pencil liner with a similar shade of eye shadow to add staying power. “Try a mid-tone pencil such as M.A.C smudgeproof Eye Kohl in Powersurge (bronzed brown; $16) to line the inside upper and lower rims of the eye for a slightly different smoky effect,” suggests McKay.
Click to continue...
Page 1 of 2
