Purple smokey eye has been a major trend for two seasons already. This Autumn 2010 it is still hot. Mysterious. Stylish. Surprisingly wearable and flattering. Let’s give this look a try.
Firstly, decide if purple suits you. There is a lot to choose from since there are so many fabulous hues of this color. From delicate mauve to audacious amethyst. You can learn all about what’s best for your eye color in my free report about smokey eyes
Once you decide this color is right for you, see how professionals use it. In short that means: looking at the work of artists who apply makeup on celebrities and who create new eyeshadow ranges for cosmetic companies. These lessons are very educational and I have put together a comprehensive overview just for you!
What is Kim Kardashian making of the purple smokey eyes? Recently, she was spotted wearing a fabulous and rather nocturnal mix of charcoal and purple. How to do it yourself? You can mix the purple with gray eyeshadows or anchor the color with a deep charcoal liner. Depending on your style you can tip the balance more towards purple or (if you prefer less color) towards the grays.
For a stronger dose of color, still with plenty of class, try a look by Emmy Rossum. It’s basically two shades of plummy purple (dark and light) plus a black eye pencil or liner. The sculpting is done with the two purples and the eye is accented with the liner. With a more colorful eye it is important to keep cheeks and mouth softer, as Emmy did. And it’s a good idea to match with a purple element in your wardrobe (for example: a pattern or a necklace): it will pull the whole look together.
At this point you might ask what does “sculpting” mean? It is a technique that makes your eyes stand out more by applying eyeshadow in strategic places around your eye socket. When opting for purple smokey eyes it is important to create dimension with at least two colors. You need to learn this technique for your purple smokey eyes to be a success. And the choice of appropriate colors is vital.
To find fabulous color combinations check out the best makeup palettes around. By seeing what the makeup houses offer for Autumn 2010 you can realize what the “hottest” color combinations and smartest ways to wear purple are. Below we check out what Estee Lauder, Dior, Guerlain and Giorgio Armani makeup ranges do with purples. Even if you don’t plan to buy any of these you can learn lots from them, just by looking and reading.
Let’s start with a vibrant purple eye made with different shades of this color as suggested by Estee Lauder. Their “Surreal Violets” palette of five eyeshadows gives you three purple hues from mauve, vibrant violet to deep aubergine. Plus a soft gray and shimmery vanilla for highlighting. This is a look that is intense on color and audacious. Apart form the great selection of colors there is also a very clever variety of finishes: aubergine and grey are matte which is perfect for sculpting and the pastels are shimmery to give lightness. It’s a beautiful and surprisingly wearable palette created by famous makeup artist Tom Pecheux.
If an all-over purple smokey eye is too radical for you, mix it with pink. Look for inspiration with the latest offering from Dior called “Pink Design”. This selection of five colors consists of two beautiful purples: matte black-tinged plum and shimmery vibrant purple as well as two pink shadows and a highlighter. Depending on your taste you can go quite purple here or soften the look with pink. The result would still be trendy but less extravagant.
You can also use purple selectively. Build the smokey eye with neutrals and spice it up with a strong purple. Take cue from Guerlain and their “Champs Elysee” palette for Fall 2010. The purple eye shadow is accompanied by five neutrals: black, grey and a selection of taupe- tinged browns. You create the bulk of your eye design with these and just add a splash of bright purple. This look can be quite controlled and completely wearable.
And last but not least: you can anchor your purple smokey eyes with black only. This approach is elegant, confident and crisp. And the Giorgio Armani palette “Twilight Hues” is a perfect example of how to do it. It has three pure colors: mauve, vibrant aubergine and black. Depending on the intensity of color you desire you can use more of either the dreamy mauve or lively aubergine. Sculpting can be done just with the two purples or with purple and black (used lightly).
How to finish off your purple smokey eyes? Black mascara is the ultimate smokey eyes classic. But consider this relative novelty: a purple or aubergine mascara. Makeup artists have been recently recommending it and it does look rather well.
I am sure that at least one of these color combinations will work brilliantly for you. Maybe the neutral approach by Guerlain or maybe the blast of color from Tom Pecheux? Pick your formula, get your tools out, sit in front of the mirror and start practicing. Because Autumn 2010 is here and purple smokey eye is, as they say, major!
To make your eyes mesmerizing get this great free report about smokey eyes To look positively fabulous read another of Ewa’s articles on smokey eye makeup where the secrets of highlighting and defining are revealed.