Tricks of the trade: Smoky eye
The ultimate in femininity. As Catwoman makes her return in the final Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, so too do feline eyes make their return to beauty trends.
Last week, I met with Claude Defresne, Clarins’ top man when it comes to make-up, to get a sneak peak at this autumn’s collection (we’re talking dark blues, violets and aubergines for eyes).
Getting a perfect winged line is one of the most difficult looks to achieve. Claude suggests lining up your crayon with the outer nostril, the outer edge of the eyelid and the outer tip of your eyebrow, to get the angle just right for your own face shape. One new tool that will be essential for this effect is Clarins’ 3-Dot Liner (€24). This is a three-pronged liner pen that goes on smoothly and literally doesn’t budge all day long. The three tips can also be used to dot along the base of the lashes to enhance the effect of thick lashes.
For a smoky eye, start by roughly and messily scribbling on some black Crayon Khol (€15). Cover about one third of the eyelid, from the lashes up, with a dark eyeshadow — try Mineral Mono in aubergine (€18.50). Then cover the rest of the lid with a medium shade and the upper lid (up to the brow) with a very light, translucent shade and blend gently. Using the three-dot liner fill in the base of the lashes, then draw a line. Pat a dark shadow over this line (again, just about at third of the eyelid) to give a perfectly soft, smudged result. A lick of Instant Definition Mascara (€25.42) and you’re ready to go. Keep everything else as bare as possible to keep the focus on your eyes.
Benefit is one of Ireland’s most popular make-up brands. They have just introduced their first foundation, which promises to take you ‘from yuck to wow in seconds’. This is a light-weight fluid in a pump dispenser that spreads easily — a little goes a long way. Its main goal is to brighten, which it does, but coverage is medium — best for those who like a lightweight look and feel.
The one everyone has been waiting for, the make-up version of every woman’s little secret highlighter. This is illuminating and, again, a lightweight fluid formulation. This builds better, however, so you can get a high-coverage effect. As with most French products the goal is natural and flawless. It contains a soft-focus gel which smoothes skin and evens tone. Very comfortable to wear it comes in 22 shades.
This is for those days where you want to disown your face and skin. This mousse is lightweight but gives incredibly good coverage with a matt finish but dewy feel. It delivers a really smoothing effect, covering pores — it looks like television make-up . Definitely the best value for money. Comes in six shades.
Clarins are best known for their skincare and they carry that philosophy through to their make-up products. This foundation gives excellent coverage, with a mattifying effect but still feels moisturising to the skin. It dries to a powder finish so you don’t need to use a powder with this.
This pump bottle is fantastic for anyone with blemishes, redness or imperfections as the matte finish gives excellent coverage and the texture allows for layering without looking (or feeling) cakey. It is also an illuminating product so gives real radiance to the skin. It comes in 23 different shades or ‘harmonies’.
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