Take a good, hard look at your favorite eyeshadow palette. Are the basic nude shades whittled down to nothing, while any remotely fun or colorful ones look basically untouched? And what about your favorite lipstick? Would you describe it as quirky and bold, or just the thing you found rolling around in the bottom of your handbag? We're guilty of falling into the easier-the-better makeup trap, too. But it's time to stop equating no fuss with no fun. And it starts with putting down that taupe shadow.
With the latest Wildly Whipped liquid lipsticks from Buxom Cosmetics and makeup artist Janeiro, we're getting far out of the au natural comfort zone. The three bright makeup looks ahead are the kind that are just as entertaining to create as they are to stare at — thanks to a mix of super-saturated eyeshadows, high-impact mascara, pastel blush, and the aforementioned lipsticks, which deliver all the punch of a matte color in a formula that's moisturizing and plumping. The best part? The application is pretty much the same as your everyday approach — this is just a way to do it more colorfully.
White On
Regularly you might swipe on a little white eyeshadow near the inner corner of your eye or across your browbone — just as a highlight. But these looks are designed to channel your exciting side, so take that same white eyeshadow and trace it across your entire lid and up past your crease. Go for it. Really pile it on to reach maximum opacity. And if your shadows are prone to ghosting you by midday, prep with an eyelid primer first.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
To make your white eyeshadow stand out even more, comb on one or two coats of a super-black, volumizing mascara. Apply coats quickly — while the formula is still wet — to prevent your lashes from getting clumpy.
Buxom Cosmetics, $20.00, available at Ulta Beauty PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Now that your whole eye region is light and bright, bring that same touch to the rest of your face. Trace a (very light) swipe of powder highlighter across the tops of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. Then choose a peach blush with a hint of shimmer to add warmth back to your cheeks.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Haven't you heard? Lip gloss is back. And it's come a long way since you last carried a tube in a tiny wristlet. Formulas this time around are moisturizing and non-sticky, with an intense shine that makes lips look fuller right away. Choose a sheer shade with a hint of shimmer so that your natural lip color still peeks through.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
And that's it. All it took was one unexpected eyeshadow color, applied with a heavy hand, to create an impact that rivals any traditional smoky eye. And the best part? White, being a sort of neutral in its own right, works on every skin tone across the board.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Green(ish) Dream
The easiest way to embrace color is to choose one that's actually two colors. Feeling lost? Let us explain: Some eyeshadows are chock-full of different shimmers and pigments, so they look different in various shades of light. This eyeshadow almost looks brown at a distance, but as soon as the light catches it, it lights up in pops of bright green and chrome. So, you'll only be wearing color when the light is right. Sweep it on your top lid to the crease and along your lower lashes, and blend well.
Buxom Cosmetics, $12.00, available at Sephora PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Eyeshadow this pretty deserves to be framed...by a set of really strong eyebrows. After you've filled in any sparse areas, brush up your brows so they're nice and fluffy, and then set them in place with a clear brow gel. Brush through 'em with a spoolie brush to get every hair in place.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Keep the rest of your makeup pared back: just a touch of blush and matte, unhighlighted skin is enough. Along those lines, choose a pinky nude lipstick to finish the look. Dark eyeshadow paired with dark lips has its time and place, but choosing a nude shade keeps this look understated and cool.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Add a coat of mascara to finish the look — or don't. Lips this pouty and eyes this mesmerizing are all the drama you need, TBH.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Orange Crush
Orange is probably the scariest color in your beauty arsenal. And that's totally understandable...except for when you see just how pretty it looks on both lips and eyes. The combination is a one-two punch of bold color that's begging to be Instagrammed. As with any bright shadow color, prep lids first with an eyeshadow primer (or a layer of concealer, in a pinch) to keep the shade from sliding around.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Sweep the color across your entire top lid, and then use a clean eyeshadow brush to buff and blend the color outward and up past your crease. Using a stiffer shadow brush, sweep the same color across your entire bottom lid as well. Keep buffing out the color so there are no harsh lines — just a halo of orangey goodness. Finish with a coat of black mascara on your top and bottom lashes.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
When we said this was an orange-all-over kind of look, we meant it. Medium to dark skin tones can get away with sweeping on an electric peach- or orange-tinted blush with abandon. If you have paler skin, use a fluffier blush brush to diffuse the color, or pick a shade that's more rosy-peach than orange soda.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Now here comes the fun part: orange lipstick. But not just any orange lipstick. For a shade that's guaranteed to look great on you, pick one that straddles both red and orange equally, like this Buxom plumping liquid lipstick in Flaunter. Not only is the formula a soft matte, but it's somehow not drying. The liquid formula leaves lips looking smooth and plump, not cakey.
Buxom Cosmetics, $21.00, available at Ulta Beauty PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.
Orange eyes and orange lips are enough of a statement, so keep the rest of your skin matte and fresh (read: no need to contour or highlight). Brush up and fill in your brows, and you're lightyears beyond your beige-everything days.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY FILIPPO DEL VITA.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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