How to wear purple eye shadow

"Purple has become the new black and light purple has become the new brown," says Terry de Gunzburg, the pro artist who created Yves Saint Laurent's iconic brightening pen and complexion highlighter, Touch Éclat. I have to agree.

It's good to see purple again so soon (it hit the spotlight a couple of years ago after an age of obscurity following the 80s). A flattering hue for every eye colour, purple also works for every age -- especially when you keep these pro tips in mind.

1. Choose the best purple hue for you
"The most universally flattering purple is the bluish lavender," says de Gunzburg. According to makeup artist Diana Carreiro, who has worked with actresses Rosamund Pike and Rachel Blanchard, looking at your skin's undertones will help you find more shades."Cool skins, those with pink undertones, will look best in warm shades of purple that have more red in them," advises Carreiro. "Warm skins, those with yellow undertones, will look best in cool shades with more blue in them."

Stay away from anything too fuchsia, though -- pink eyes are only cute on rabbits. And "if you wake up with red, puffy eyes, skip purple altogether," advises Carreiro.

2. Pair purple with neutral shades
Combine purple and neutral shadows for the most age-flattering and modern look. Cargo's Color Eyeshadow Palette quad in London ($28) makes it easy.

Carreiro suggests the following as a weekend look:
-Apply the pale gold shade on the brow bone, the eggplant shade from lash line to crease (optional: line the bottom lid with the medium, olive-y shade)
-Apply the pale gold shade all over the lid to brow bone, dampen brush with a little water or transforming gel (such as Lise Watier Metamorphix, $13), and line upper lash line, ending in a little upward flick for a '60s cat-eye look.

3. Use in moderation
Avoid the old three-shades-of-purple or candy-pink-and-purple combos, unless you're going to an '80s retro party.

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4. Peach and neutral blush is best
Avoid a too-pink blush if you're wearing purple on your eyes. "Peachy-pink is flattering for day, and a neutral, spice blush or bronzer is good for night," says Carreiro.

Kaysser Bouiche, international makeup artist for Thierry Mugler Beauty, agrees. "Try apricot or something with golden tones," he says. "A whole face in pinks and purples can look a little too... Miss Piggy!"

5. Mind your lip colour
Again, if you're wearing purple on the eyes, shun bright pink on the lips or purple lipstick. "Sheer gloss is most modern in either pale pink or peach," says Carreiro.Of course, before you start with all the purple, you'll need to minimize undereye circles and any other redness or discolouration with concealer. Purple eye shadow plus purple under-eye shadows equals Tired Face.

Now that you're armed with all this purple prose from the purple pros, go on, enjoy your purple reign.

Purples to try: CoverGirl Eye Enhancers eye shadow in Purple Pop, $4.99; Clarins Single Eye Colour Long Lasting in Vibrant Violet, $22; Clarins Colour Quartet for Eyes in So Chic, $42; Quo Double Decker Beauty Palette in Piccadilly Punk, $20; Mary Kay Mineral Eye Shadow in Iris or Sweet Plum, $7.50 each; Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Gossip, $22; By Terry Eye Shadow in Milky Marshmallow or Black Grape, $44 each.

Cargo Cosmetics available at The Bay and Sephora. Lise Watier at Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay and www.lisewatier.com. CoverGirl at drugstores and mass retailers. Clarins and Benefit, at select Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay and Sephora. Quo at Shoppers Drug Mart. Mary Kay at www.marykay.ca. By Terry at Holt Renfrew.

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Janine Falcon is the founder and editor of Beautygeeks, a site about stuff that delivers information on how to achieve best-you beauty.

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