Lately, I’ve been talking to a lot of makeup artists. Why? I’m getting married in a few weeks and would just as soon dump an entire tube of makeup down my dress than attempt to apply it myself. And while I’m talking to these artists, I’m getting the same question over and over – how do you envision your bridal look? Do you want “sexy vixen” or “glamour gal”? You could be “fun and flirty” or better yet the “no-makeup makeup” look?
Frankly, I envision my bridal look as Michelle Obama’s toned arms mixed with Heidi Klum’s supermodel height – but that’s not going to happen without 50 push-ups a day or, far more unlikely, lengthening surgery. So for now, I’m sticking with makeup. At this moment, I’m toying with “sexy vixen” (not literally).
“Sexy vixen” is all about the smoky eye. Put some smoldering eye shadow and mascara on your peeps, and you’ll be strutting down the sidewalk with more confidence than a tomcat in an alley of kitties. And here’s what I’ve discovered, complete with eco-product suggestions.
First, what to pick? The key to a great smoky eye is to find the shade that best works for your skin. Black is traditionally thought of as the go-to color for smoky eye, but not if you are fair-skinned. (Unless you want to look like a vampire.) If you have darker skin, go with black and deep purples. If you have lighter skin, pick moss greens, browns, grays, and plums. And check out this handy guide to pick the perfect eye shadow for your eye color.
One of the best eyeshadows for the smoky eye is Tarte’s Lock & Roll 12-Hour Eye shadow ($17). And you can read more about it here. It is free of phthalates, petrolatum, SLS, and synthetic fragrances. But it is not entirely natural – click here to read about its ingredients to determine your own comfort level with them.
Tarte also offers a high definition eyeliner called EmphasEYES, which comes in with a Skin Deep rating of 4. This eyeliner is one of the easier to use on the market, as it allow you to get a clean line on both your lower and upper lids.
Mascara? Our pick is Lavera’s Volume Mascara. This product’s ingredients seem low on hazard levels, and it is free of parabens and heavy-metals. Also? It works like a charm and is available in browns and blacks.
Next, pick up an eye gloss. Yes, eye gloss exists and it is awesome. Jane Iredale’s Eye Gloss is available in dusky colors great for accenting your eyes. It goes on smooth and adds a beautiful finish to your eyes. Best of all, they have the safest rating possible from Skin Deep.
Now we have our products. How to apply to become sexy vixens? Using your dark eyeliner, line your upper and lower lash lines as well as the inside rims of your eyes (carefully). Smudge out the outer lines with a cotton tip. Then apply your eye shadow to your lids and blend it well into the crease. Do this twice to increase the effect.
Apply the same eye shadow under your lower lash lines and be sure to smudge it out. Apply the eye gloss or a shimmery eye shadow to your brow bones and on the inside corner of your eyes. Curl your lashes and apply two coats of mascara. Finally, finish with a soft pink blush for a natural look, as well as a nude lip gloss.
Finally, just add Significant Other and prepare for an eco-seduction.