Easy Eyes

When it comes to morning makeup I have two priorities – evening out my skintone/disguising any blemishes, and defining my eyes so that I look a little more ‘alive’. Until recently this consisted of nothing more than a quick smudge of kohl followed by a slick of mascara, but for the past week a couple of new additions - as well as some old favourites - have come out to play. The whole look still only takes 5 minutes, and is super versatile in that it can be either played down for work or built up into an easy smoky-eye for an evening out.

I start as usual by tightlining the upper lashline with the Barry M Kohl Pencil in Brown, smudging lightly with my finger to soften the line. I’ve recently taken to lining under the eye too – just a smudge along the outer bottom lashline, which I find looks so flattering as well as making my eyes look more open. I then use the Collection Fast Stroke liquid eyeliner in Brown (literally all my eye-makeup is brown – I’m not even that pale, I just developed an aversion to black over the last year and now only use it for nights out) to add extra definition, following the kohl line and adding a bit of a flick in the outer corner (all that lining helps my lashes to appear fuller and darker once I apply mascara).

We all know how frustrating liquid eyeliner mishaps can be, so I always let it dry fully (while I straighten my hair/check Facebook/feed the cat) before using an old favourite I recently dug out from my makeup archives. I got this Lancome quad for Christmas years ago from one of my aunties (I seem to remember both my sisters getting it too, in different shades). A year or so ago I used this literally daily, but stopped because my makeup was getting really boring and samey, plus it just felt like too much effort for everyday. But when I found this the other day it was love all over again. Using the foam applicator or a cotton bud, I run a little of the darkest shade along the lashline, blending and softening the kohl and liquid liner. For my colouring - olive skin, hazel eyes, dark brown (almost black) brows and hair – this works really well as I can get away with pretty dark eye-makeup without it looking OTT.

The above look works well with or without the Maybelline Colour Tattoo (in On & On Bronze) applied underneath as a base – a recent purchase of course heavily influenced by the multitude of bloggers who rate it so highly, my excuse being that I own very few eye shadows and this gel-cream pot is so easy to pop in my makeup bag and quick to apply on those mornings when I’m literally running out the door. I either apply this as a (subtle, shimmery bronze) base under the products mentioned above, or with just kohl and mascara for a super-quick look that says ‘I spent time getting ready today’ when in fact the whole thing took less than 3 minutes. To finish off, a couple of coats of Revlon Grow Luscious mascara in Blackened Brown creates longer, fuller lashes in seconds.  Easy eyes, perfected.

Do you like this kind of everyday eye-makeup look?

Chandra

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