Make-Up Monday: How to wear Red Eye Shadow

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A huge trend on Runways and in magazines for the spring collections this year was bold red eye shadow... which is a look most people don't think they can pull off.

Make-up is 50% skill and 50% attitude as I always say.  Have confidence in yourself and you can do anything... and that applies to make-up just as much as it applies to anything else.

The first step to rocking red eye shadow is picking shades of red that works with your skin tone.  People who are fair skinned with cool complexions (like me) should stick to an orange/browny-red.  If you use a pinky-red, this is just going to pick up the red in your skin.  The brighter the red, especially the pinky-reds, the more red the rest of your skin will look.  Try something like Simga's Reveal Eye shadow.  If you have a very dark skin tone, then feel free to find the brightest red out there.  I like Inglot's AMC 501 on darker skin.  For Olive toned, or people with golden/yellow under tones, try Barry M's Dazzle Dust in Cherry Red 84.

The important thing to remember, especially for those who have a lot of red on their skin naturally is to do a really good job with your concealer.  It will make the overall look much cleaner.

With reds, I prefer to work with a loose powder, to have more control over the amount of pigment going on the eye.

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If you're using a loose powder, I recommend using a concealer brush, that has rather stiff (but not hard) bristles and a rounded tip, like the one pictured.

For close set eyes, I would recommend using the a darker red on the outer corners (or a rust color for pale skinned folks) and a light color, like pink (darker or golden skin tones) or orange on the inside.  Remember if you have close set or small eyes, a dark color all the way across the lid is just going to make them look smaller.

For deep set eyes, I would concentrate the majority of the red pigment in the crease and just above it, with lighter colors on the lid.

For hooded eyes or protruding eyes, a matte shade is best, though I wouldn't recommend this look for either one, as it can make you look a bit Sci-Fi monsterish.  If you are really set on wearing red eye shadow, test it out at home first to see how it looks and how it holds up.

Remember, as with any bright color, a little can go a long way.

I always recommend reading my tips and tricks page before trying any new looks.

Aching for more make up?  Check out my Make-up Only blog, "The Daily Look"