Super Smoky Eyes
Think beyond black shadow for your go-to going-out look. Brown and gold are the simplest to pull off, but New York makeup artist Nick Barose, who works with Lupita Nyong’o, suggests purple, burgundy, or even blue for the more adventurous. The fastest way to go smoky is with one shade of a creamy shadow. Concentrate the product at the upper lash line, and blend the color out to the crease with a brush. Then sweep the color around the lower lash line. Complete the look with black eyeliner and mascara, but don’t overdo your brows. “When you leave brows brushed up and clean, the heavier eye makeup feels more modern,” says New York–based makeup artist Mark Carrasquillo, the mastermind behind the coppery lids at Etro.
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Hourglass Cosmetics Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow
Marc Jacobs Beauty See-quins Glam Glitter Eyeshadow
CHARLOTTE TILBURY Luxury Palette - The Vintage Vamp Color-Coded Eyeshadow Palette
Maxed-Out Liner
Turn your basic feline flick up to 11 with an intensified version, like the stylized cat-eyes at Miu Miu. Off the runway, Barose suggests using black liner only on the top lid and subbing in gray along the bottom lashes. When drawing your wing, Carrasquillo advises following the upward angle of your lower lashes at the outer corner of your eye. “It gives you a good slant to get the correct wing for your eye shape,” he says. If your lines run off track, remedy the situation with a makeup remover–filled cotton swab (like DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs, $8).
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The New Bold Lip
Red lipstick is always classic, but Carrasquillo suggests an unexpected alternative: “Magenta looks good on basically everyone,” he says. “A lot of people are scared of it, but it’s actually easy to wear.” The combination of blue and red undertones makes it flattering for most skin tones, but as with any bright lip color, application is key: “It can look really dated if the line around the edges is too harsh,” Barose says. Once you put on the lipstick (apply straight from the tube for the most pigment), use your finger to blur the edges slightly. A cream or matte texture, as seen at Max Mara, is easy to control, or try gloss for extra shine.
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Lancôme L'Absolu Lacquer Longwear Lip Gloss
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink City Edition Liquid Lipstick Makeup, Founder
ESTE LAUDER Pure Color Desire Rouge Excess Crème Lipstick
Sublime Glow
While highlighter has been trending toward metallic and extreme on Instagram, Carrasquillo advocates taking another approach IRL. “I don’t want to be distracted by product,” he says. “I want to believe the glow.” To get the effect seen at Fendi, you need the right color for your skin tone. “If your highlighter is too pale, it’s going to look frosty and metallic,” Barose explains. Those with lighter skin tones should look for ivory-based products; medium skin tones can try champagne; darker skin tones do well with gold or copper. Use a brush or makeup sponge to blend the highlighter along cheekbones, across brow bones, on the bridge of the nose, and on the inner corners. For a foolproof match, opt for a clear cheek gloss.
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ICONIC LONDON Illuminator
Knockout Nails
For festive fingers, New York manicurist Jin Soon Choi recommends a chunky glitter polish. “It’s very cool, like having an accessory on your nails,” she says. Paint glitter over bare or nude nails for subtle sparkle, as seen at Cushnie et Ochs. (Try Essie Luxeffects Nail Color inSummit of Style, $9.) Or create more contrast by layering it on top of a darker shade. Not into tinsel tips? Choi recommends winter-friendly colors like black, red, or the jewel tones she used at Marc Jacobs.
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JINsoon Nail Polish
OPI Nail Lacquer, Black To Reality, 0.5 Fl Oz
This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of ELLE.
