The eyeshadow with gradient lips is a simple, yet bold look. I will walk you through my technique for long-lasting makeup using only eyeshadow and mascara. This kind of makeup can be combined with transparent lip gloss or nude lipstick. Another reason for such eye makeup is if you would like to go lighter on the eyes, and heavier on the lips. In the second part of this post, I will go over, step by step, my technique for long-lasting, gradient bright lips.
Eyeshadow makeup
Products used
- The Body Shop Down to Earth eyeshadow Quads Smoky Plum
- Maybelline The Nudes eyeshadow Palette
- Bourjois Mascara Volume Glamour Ultra Curl
I have numbered the colours I used in the order that I applied the eyeshadow:
Eye makeup using only eyeshadow and mascara
In this technique, I will be layering eyeshadow, which will not only stay on the face longer but will also create a nice depth and a smooth blend of the colours.
Base eyeshadow application
I applied all my base face products and went for the lighter shade (1) to start my base for the eyes. This colour was applied over the entire region of the eye.
Then, shade (2) was applied only in the main eyelid region till just above the crease.
‘Medium’ border
Shade (4) was applied as the ‘medium’, starting at the end corner and going up 1/3 of where the crease is. I call it the medium because this specific section acts as a border between the lighter tones of eyeshadow that will be used, and the darker ones.
The base for darker shades
Shade (5) is applied to the top lash line. Make sure not to add too much. This shade adds colour to the top eyelash and acts as a base shade for darker colours to be applied on.
Eyeshadow application to the bottom lash line
Shade (6) was applied only to the bottom lash line. For those who have never done this before, it takes a little practice but is actually simpler than when applying eyeliner in the inner part of the eyelash line.
Shade (7) will also be applied on the bottom lash line. The reason why I applied two colours was that shade (6) acts as a base colour and shade (7) is the one that actually brings out that part of the eye. Also, you have to keep in mind that that region of the eye, due to the teardrops, is prone to have makeup not lasting long. Instead of applying thick eyeliner, or liquid eyeliner, I find that adding small amounts of different eyeshadows is 1. Not as heavy for the eye and 2. Lasts longer than a pencil or liquid liner.
Eyeshadow application to the eyelid crease
Shade (8) is applied to the crease of the eyelid. It continues where shade (4) stopped and goes deeper towards the middle of the eyelid. Make sure to start off where shade (4) was applied, and then continue towards the crease area.
Blending
Shade (9) is used for blending. There are a few methods of blending, some of which are easier to do when you have the right blending brushes. I have always used eyeshadows as my blending tool. The trick is to use a much lighter tone of eyeshadow and begin to blend that lighter tone with the darker colour. It will automatically create a bridge colour or a medium colour of the two different colours.
Make sure that the lighter colour is from the same shade of colours as your darker colours and it cannot be too light. It is also best to use a flat eyeshadow and not one which has glitter in it.
Final light touch-ups
Shade (10) It’s a light glittery beige shade that I applied on the outer border. Starting from the inner corner of the eye, up almost until the eyebrow and till the outer corner of the eye.
Shade (11) It’s much lighter than shade 10, and I just applied it to the bottom eyelash line, in order to highlight the darker shade.
Mascara
Finally, mascara. For a light look I usually just put a little mascara on both the top and bottom lashes. For a more intense look, especially if this is for the evening and I will be having bright lips, I apply the mascara as follows:
Top eyelashes: bottom to top, top to bottom, and across. Bottom eyelashes: once top to bottom.
Gradient lips
Products used
- Bourjois Lip pencil 09 Plum it up!
- Bourjois Lip pencil 05 Berry much
- Bourjois Lip pencil 01 Nude wave
- Bourjois Lip pencil 02 Coton candy
- Bourjoir Number 15 Effet 3D MAX Gloss
First off, before applying any makeup, even the base face products, I usually put lip balm on my lips. I have tried many different lip pencils and I’ve noticed that many tend to dry out the lips. These pencils, however, never gave me those problems.
Bright lips using lip pencils and lip gloss
Similar to the layering technique I use for the face and eyes, I love using the gradient technique for lips.
The most important line: the outline
I started by using the lip pencil 09 to draw a thin outline of the top and bottom lip. I always make sure that the line is as perfect as possible, because the outcome of the shape of your lips, depends on this one line.
Creating the gradient effect
Next, was the lip pencil 05, which was applied from the outer lip moving inwards. Make sure to apply it next to the first line, as it will help the two lines to create the gradient effect. These lines are a bit thicker and cover almost half the lips.
Following is the lip pencil 01 which is applied from where the lip pencil 05 finished, up until the inner part of the lips. I find that this specific nude colour is great to help you blend in bright colours to your natural lip tone.
Final touch
As you can see, the lips are basically finished. As a final touch, I apply the lip pencil 02 on top of the first lip pencil 09 on the outer line of the top and bottom lip. This is done to tone down the dark red. I use a light pink pencil so that the final pencil colour does not clash or darken the primary colour. Rather, it gives the primary colour a smoother look, while also remaining in harmony with the rest of the shades.
To make the colours really pop, I used light pink lip gloss. It does not change the colour of the gradient lips, even though the lip gloss looks very bright. When used on its own, it gives off a natural pink tone.
Eyeshadow with Gradient lips application
This eyeshadow with gradient lips usually takes 15 minutes max. to apply.
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