Holiday Makeup Look #2: Gold & Bronze Eyes

Holiday Makeup Look #2

Gold & Bronze Eyes

Decided to try some nice warm and holidy-esque golds and bronzes today. These colors really bring out the green and gold in my eyes. Since I have cool undertones in my skin, these warm eye shadow colors can look a bit "off" if they aren't balanced with some cool tones. I handled that by adding black liner, nearly neutral cheeks, and lipstick that had both cool and warm tones.

Again, trying to keep the look fairly easy and straight-forward. Steps for the eye makeup are listed below.

Take a look...

Eyes

I'm really happy with how this turned out, and it wasn't difficult (though it took a few extra products to achieve). I didn't want the look to be too frosty or shimmery, so started with soft shades and added a few glimmers of... well, glimmer.

1. Prep eye with primer of choice.
   I used MAC Painterly Paint Pot.
2. Press a matte or nearly-matte midtone brown from the lid up to just about the crease.
   Brush suggestion: use a flat eyeshadow brush to press or pat the color onto the lid.
   Product suggestions: I used a mixture of MAC's Patina and Soba. Soba is a golden-brown, while Patina is a fairly unique taupe with a golden pearl (it also almost looks like there's a flash of pink in it at some angles). Patina is called a "frost" by MAC, but in my opinion it's not very shimmery; it has a gentle sheen. On a personal note, these are two of my very favorite browns in the world!
   

   *You don't have to mix colors, but it's always an option if you can't find the color your heart desires!
   To mix two shades, either pick up one color on your brush then the next, then apply to the eye (easy!) or pick the colors up and mix them a bit on the back of your hand before applying to the eye.

3. If necessary, take a fluffy brush and soften the edge of the color at the top.
4. Place a bit of a darker brown or bronze in the extreme outer corner of the lid and crease.
   Brush suggestion: I used a fluffy "blender" brush to apply it, because I didn't want it too dark; I just wanted to add dimension.
   Product suggestion: I used my other favorite brown in the world, MAC's Tempting (a shimmery bronze).
5. Put a splash of gold on the center of the lid to add more dimension and really catch the eye in a fairly subtle way!
   Brush suggestion: I used the flat brush mentioned in Step 1. Again, I used a pressing technique to apply the color.
   Product suggestion: I grabbed an LE MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow I have that has several colors in it, including a gold. The compact is called Odd Bits. Any gold frosty shade will do, though!
6. OPTIONAL Pull some of the brown under the lower lashline if desired using the colors and the brushes mentioned above. 
7. I lined the top lashline and with a golden-bronze metallic liner. The look is still pretty without this step.
   Product suggestion: I used Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes liner in 10L which they call "bronze" and I'd call "not-gaudy gold". Po-tay-to, pa-tah-to!
8. I used a black liner on the waterline, top and bottom. Again: optional.
   Brush Suggestion: Bobbi Brown's Eye Liner Brush is hands-down the best liner brush I've used.
   Product suggestion: I used Bobbi Brown's Longwear Gel Liner in Black Ink.
9. Finish the eye with either a matte shadow or concealer under the arch of the brow. This adds highlight.
   I love using concealer for this, since it brightens and lightens a bit without adding shimmer or high-contrast.
10. Fill-in brows.
    Go soft if you want to keep it lower-key, or really fill them in for a dramatic look!
11. Add mascara over primer.
    I put the primer only on the outer lashes, to give a bit more of a cat eye shape.
    Product suggestions: Primer - Urban Decay Lash Primer Potion. Mascara: Diorshow.
    

Lips

I love this lipstick with warm-eyed looks! Sometimes when I wear golds and bronzes they can look a bit over-the-top against my cool undertones. My trick is to use cheek and lip colors that have a base color that is "cool" with a gold fleck added. This cool base color is more flattering to my complexion, but the gold fleck or shimmer ties the warm colors in the eye makeup together for a cohesive look.

1. Prep lip with primer.
   Product suggestion: The best lipstick primer I use is non-drying, easy to use (no "drag"), and hols color pretty darn well. MAC's Prep + Prime Lip.
   My suggestion: I let the primer "set" for a few minutes, which really increases its ability to hold onto the lipstick!
2. Line lips and fill-in lips with a lip pencil.
   This really helps the color wear!
3. Use a brush to apply lipstick.
   Brush suggestion: I really feel like most lip brushes are the same. Take your pic! My favorite is a retractable Sephora brand brush.
   Product suggestion: This look is full of some of my favorite products! I used MAC "O". LOVE this lipstick! They describe it as purplish-red with golden pearl, I say "plum with gold frost".

Face

I wanted healthy-looking skin that wouldn't compete with the eyes and lips.

1. Prime face so makeup stays put.
   Product suggestion: I recommend MAC's Prep + Prime Face or Mehron's Velvet Finish Primer.
2. Conceal under-eye shadows.
   Product suggestion: I like Bobbi Brown's Corrector to negate shadows, topped with either skin-toned concealer or foundation. I used foundation.
   
3. Apply a "radiant" foundation.
   I used my fingers, but feel free to use a brush or Beauty Blender sponge.
   My foundation for this picture was Armani LSF.
4. Smile and place blush on apples of cheeks (the "fat" part).
   I used a MAC Tenderling (a sheer and matte soft-soft nearly-nude pink).
   Cheeks here are subtle - just enough to give skin some color and avoid death-like pallor.
5. Go back and use a concealer to hide any "imperfections" not covered by the foundation.