When it comes to our most prized possessions, most things fall into two categories. There are your everyday essentials and your gotta-have-it, special-occasion items (the ball gown you bought at a sample sale, the zoodle-maker you still haven't figured out how to use — you get the drift). And nowhere is this more evident than in our makeup bags. As beauty addicts, we get really excited about new, sparkly shadows and out-there colors. We scoop them up and play with them for a bit, but eventually they get relegated to the bottom of our stash. And how sad is that?
We say, enough is enough. We're challenging you to dump those makeup bags upside-down and embrace your forgotten favorites. Because, unlike that ball gown, your beauty game is made to be versatile. We'll even start you off slow — five days, eye makeup only. We enlisted the help of pro makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci to dream up five easy-to-follow looks that are enough eye candy to light a fire under your, er, eye-shadow brush. To pull 'em off, you're going to need more than one or two basic mascaras, though, and that's where Revlon 's wardrobe of new options comes in. The five formulas with unique brushes do everything from define to lengthen, so you'll find the perfect one to show off your brand-new look. Ready? Let's do this.
Day 1: Get Colorful
We'll ease you into this first look with just one bright flash of color, so dig out your favorite, eye-popping liners or cream shadows, either formula will work. (We used the glitter sides of Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art™ Lid + Lash + Line.) The rest of your tool kit can remain neutral — brown or taupe shadows, brow pencil, mascara, and subtle, rosy lipsticks. With your base makeup complete and brows defined, use a soft blending brush to sweep a neutral-colored shadow across your lids. After cleaning your brush, sweep a rose-colored highlighter beneath your browbones and in the inner corners of your eyes.
Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Next, add your burst of color. Line all along your lower lashlines. (Don't be afraid to really layer it on! ) Then, with a pointed cotton swab and some eye-makeup remover, clean up the edges and taper off the color in the inner corners of the eyes. You'll want your lashes to hold their own against your vibrant liner, so double up on coats of a defining mascara just on your top lashes.
See? Day one down and you're already rockstar status.
Revlon, $8.99, available at Revlon Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Day 2: Brighten Up
Sometimes it's the most unexpected color combos that make for our biggest makeup crushes. Case in point: this two-toned, colorblocked eye that uses both bright turquoise and metallic gold. It sounds wrong but looks so right.
Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Start with a gold cream shadow. Apply this to each eyelid, stopping just short of your crease. For extra staying power, you can also use a flat brush to press a matching powder shadow over the cream, like the gold shade in Revlon ColorStay 16-Hour Eye Shadow in Surreal. Next, dip a wet angled brush in turquoise powder shadow. Line your upper lashline, layering on for intensity when needed. Then, trace along the edges of the gold shade. Extend both lines out ever-so-slightly at the outer corners of your eye to connect the two together. To help your lashes stand out against a sea of colors, apply a lengthening and volumizing mascara, combing all the way through from roots to tips. The result — nothing short of stare-worthy.
Revlon, $8.99, available at Revlon Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Day 3: Mismatch With Purpose
Okay, by now, you're in the full swing of this challenge. You've probably received some new compliments from coworkers, even fallen in love with a long-lost liner. So we're taking things up a notch. Nothing scary — just a little mixing and matching. To start, pick out two cream shadows in contrasting shades. Ciucci used Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art in Peach Prism and Cobalt Crystal for this look since the cool-toned shades aren't so jarring.
Photographed by Gregory Keith.
If your cream shadow has a doe-foot applicator, you can use that to apply the shadow. If not, use an angled shadow brush. Draw a line of shadow along your upper lashline. Ciucci finds it easiest to start at the outer corner of the eye and work inward, stopping about three-quarters of the way across. Then, use a pointed cotton swab and makeup remover to clean up any stray pigment and to taper off the ends. Next, switch shades and repeat on your opposite eye. Since this look is fairly minimal (but impactful nonetheless), load up on the mascara. Choose a volumizing formula that will give your lashes extra thickness, so the pop of color just peeks through.
Revlon, $8.99, available at Revlon Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Day 4: Play With Palettes
When you're creating a tonal eye like this one, you can really get the most out of your multi-shade eyeshadow palettes. Choose one that has a variety of light and dark neutrals (like the Revlon Not Just Nudes Palette) to create this chocolaty version of a daytime smoky eye.
Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Start by using a soft blending brush to sweep a bone-colored shadow over each lid. With that same brush, buff a darker, tan shadow through your crease for added depth. Switch up your tools and use a small, domed brush to drag the tan shadow along your lower lashline as well. Next up, line those lashlines — both upper and lower — with a black pencil. Use the built-in smudger to soften and smoke out the lower lashline. Then, finish with a healthy coat (or two) of mascara for mega impact on both your top and bottom lashes.
Revlon, $8.99, available at Revlon Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Day 5: Smoke It Out
Remember that multipurpose shadow palette you used earlier? On this last day of the challenge, you’re going to use the darkest shades in the pan. We’re daring you to get sultry — and also a little artistic. Prep your eyes by applying a shadow similar in tone to your skin over the entire lid. Next, use a black kajal liner to sketch in a triangular shape at the outer corner of each eye (Ciucci used Revlon Kajal Eye Pencil in Matte Coal here). It should be farther out than where you would draw a typical cat-eye. Instead, line the shape up with the tail end of your brow.
Photographed by Gregory Keith.
Extend your line about three-quarters of the way across your lid, then all along your lower lashline. To keep everything feeling soft and smoky, diffuse and blend the color out with a smudger brush. Next, add a coat of lengthening mascara. It's especially helpful to choose one with a tapered wand to grab even the smallest lashes in the inner corner of your eye. And that’s it — you made it. Feels good to shake up that makeup bag, right?
Revlon, $8.99, available at Revlon Photographed by Gregory Keith.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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