BEAUTY: Purple Smoky Eye Tutorial

I would say that I lean toward the colorful side of the world (maybe you noticed?) and I just can't get down with neutral smoky eye looks, no matter how many times Cosmo or whatever tells us how essential they are. I do like brown and gray eyeshadows, but when I'm going to the trouble of using multiple shades, like in this smoky eye look, I want some color payoff that pops. I love purple eyeshadow because it can be dark enough to seem conventional or bright enough to seem experimental. Also, it is supposedly a "good" color for those of us with brown eyes, according to the companies that are trying to sell us eye-color-specific eyeshadow palettes. Who can we trust if not them?

WHAT YOU NEED

 Purple Eyeshadow Palette {I'm using the Wet n Wild Petal Pusher palette}
Purple Eyeliner Pencil {I'm using Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Liner in Lust}
Black Gel Eyeliner {I'm using Wet n Wild gel liner in Little Black Dress}
Mascara  //  Eyeshadow Brush  //  Crease Brush  //  Eyeliner Brush

HOW TO DO IT
As you can see above, I added numbers to the shades we're using to keep it simple. First, use the eyeshadow brush to sweep shade #1 all over your lid from lash line to brow bone. 

Next, apply shade #2 to your crease with the crease brush (duh).

Use the crease brush again to apply shade #3 in the outer corner of your eyes. You're going for a "V" shape situation here, so imagine a letter "V" with its butt diagonal from the end of your eyebrow and its mouth about to chomp down on the outer half of your eyelid. That analogy actually makes this sound more complicated than it is, and it really makes the letter "V" out to be kind of a jerk, but work with me here.

Use a small fluffy brush (I'm using my crease brush AGAIN mostly because it was right there) to apply shade #4 just under your eyebrow and in the inner corner of your eye as a highlighter.

Next, I applied a bit of shade #2 to the outer half of my bottom lash line and shade #4 to the inner half of my bottom lash line. An eyeliner or smudge brush works best here, but I'm using an eyeshadow brush because I can't stress enough how close it was to me.

Next, I applied my gel eyeliner. I wrote about some BH gel liner recently which I was not super happy with, but this Wet n Wild gel liner is pretty decent. I've been using it daily and have been happy with its lack of transferring and its staying power. It is SO easy to apply and very pigmented. I don't know how, but Wet n Wild keeps tricking me into buying things with Fergie's name on them, which I never saw coming.

Finally, I put on mascara and applied the purple pencil liner to my waterline for a purple-y pop. The phrase "purple-y pop" is like the word equivalent of a bouncy ball. Say it in your mind...now try to stop. Sorry, but it's actually impossible.

THE FINAL LOOK

You know it's summer because these nose freckles are OUT TO PLAY.

In case you prefer illustrations to humans, below is a instructional graphic that I made just for you. Also, you should know that an illustration will NEVER love you back no matter how hard you try.

Hey, these numbers match the numbers above - what a coincidence!

I should also add that the mascara I used is TERRIBLE. I got it free with the purchase of a small eyeshadow palette and thought I'd give it a try, which I did here, but found it to do almost nothing for my lashes. It felt too liquidy in the tube, and seemingly ceased to exist when I put it on my eyes. I would call this ghost mascara, meaning that it was invisible, not that it is a ghost beauty product, in case that wasn't clear. I don't want anyone getting any ideas.

So, are you down with purple eyeshadow? Don't you get kind of bored with neutrals and black/gray looks? Why is Wet n Wild so AMAZING most of the time and then truly suckish at others? The world's great mysteries...

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