Christmas Glamour

This is a lovely colourful smokey look which incorporates a little sparkle, perfect for any celebration over Christmas.

Christmas Tree Selfie!

As always, start with a prepped and primed base. I applied MAC’s Soft Brown to my upper crease area as a transition shade. I then used Charlotte Tilbury’s Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet, this is for all the world like a very thick eyeliner pencil. I used it to trace out the shape I wanted, so I created my outer corner flick and then drew across my upper crease. I went quite high in the crease area. The only thing is this pencil sets very quickly, you need to blend it and buff it with your finger almost as soon as you are happy with placement. Otherwise you will be left with a very stark line, and that’s just going to look too weird. Smokey eyes need to blend and fade seamlessly. Once I created the outline and smudged it out, I filled in the entire lid, this only needs to be blended around the edges so it looks soft and smokey. Doing this step creates a great base for the rest of the products you apply, it clings to shadow and the pigmentation just pops, it looks incredible. For the next step I applied MAC’s Plummed all over the lid on top of Bronzed Garnet. I like to blend this above the area where Bronzed Garnet finishes in the upper crease, the colour combinations are really dramatic. Don’t forget to blend out the edges. I sometimes go back with more Soft Brown on a brush to blend the upper crease even more. I take MAC’s pigment pot in Rose to finish off the eyes. On a wet brush I pat this pigment all over the inner corner and blend it out to the centre of the lid. I like to keep the outer corners dark. This pigment is extremely buildable so you can keep it subtle or go all out. As usual, I like to go big and bold so I use a lot of this product. It has a fantastic shimmer in it so it brightens up this overall dark eye.
With smokey eyes like these I like to keep the outer edges very dark, it creates a great contrast. It is important to use a cotton bud with some eye cream or moisturiser to wipe away the excess product from under the eyes, but you can also use them to create a sharp angle on the outer edge of the eye. Just trace the angle you want with the cotton bud and wipe away all the product under it, this is a great trick for giving yourself that neat, perfect edge. Jaclyn Hill also suggests using a clean eyeliner brush with the cream of your choice for even more precision.
When you’re happy with the angle you have created you can apply your liner to the upper lash line. Have a look at my post about eyeliner application for more tips.

Moving on to the face. With smokey eyes I like to create a very dewy, flawless finish to the face with some contouring. Having concealed under my eyes, I applied NARS Sheer Glow Foundation with a flat kabuki stippling brush. I then used MAC’s Prep and Prime highlighter in rose, I applied this to my chin, cupid’s bow, bridge of my nose, the centre of my forehead, the upper line of my jaw, and across my cheekbones, I blended it in with the foundation brush I used. I then set my under eye area and my foundation with a setting powder. Using NARS algorithm I contoured my face. I have a contouring and highlighting post if you want more specific advice on this step. When this was completed I applied my blusher.

Finishing of my eyes, I blended a mix of Soft Brown and Plummed  on my lower lash line, and I also applied a kohl liner to my water line for added drama. Finally I sculpted my brows, used MAC Shroom as a brow highlight, and I applied a coat of mascara. I’m also wearing false lashes in the photos. I’m all about the drama when creating smokey eyes so I like to pair them with a bold lip. I’m wearing Jaclyn Hill’s Lipgloss Rose Hill.

And we’re done. This look will compliment green eyes and blue eyes very well. I hope you like it, xx

Product List
Foundation: NARS – Sheer Glow
Concealer: MAC – Pro Long Wear NC15
Highlight: MAC – Prep and Prime in Rose
Blusher: MAC – Dainty
Setting Powder: MAC – Mineralize in Light
Eyes: Crease: MAC Soft Brown
Lid: Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet, and MAC Plummed
Brow Highlight: MAC Shroom
Liner: Rimmel Gel in Black
MAC Pigment Pot in Rose
Brows: MAC – Brow Crayon in Lingering
Lashes: Bobbi Brown – Smokey Eyes
Ardell Lashes – Demi Wispies
Lips: Gerard Cosmetics – Jaclyn Hill Lipgloss in Rose Hill