"Gigi Hadid carries off blue eye makeup with panache, while I look like a pitiful case of domestic violence when attempting a navy smoky eye," read the caption on a popular Pakistani Instagram account, under a picture of the aforementioned model of the moment. There’s a general misconception that blue eyeshadow or eye makeup looks garish and aging on sub-continental skin tones. This is as much a lie as the fact that the earth is flat. Warmer skin tones and brown/dark eyes can instantly look fresher and more luminous when paired with the correct shade of cyan. There are of course certain factors that need to be taken into consideration while choosing the shade of blue but once you’ve gotten past the initial hurdle there’s nothing stopping you from embracing this season’s beloved beauty trend.
Fair/Light Complexion
This is probably where it gets the trickiest - darker skin tones actually carry off colour better than their fairer counterparts. Start by using a colour correcting primer (I love Urban Decay’s Primer Potion or Benefit Cosmetics Stay Don’t Stray) to create an even canvas for your makeup. Choose brighter instead of lighter or cooler hues, particularly if your skin has a warm undertone since cooler shades on light skin can make one look washed out. Ditch your black eyeliner for a blue one, whether in pencil or liquid form. You can even create an eye opening reverse ombre effect by lining your eyes from the inner corner to the middle of your lid in light blue and connecting it to the outer corner using a darker shade in the same colour family. I recommend Bourjois’s Contour Clubbing Waterproof pencils in Golden Grey Session and Blue Remix for this.
If your complexion is peaches and cream, olive or tawny, shy away from frosty blues that tend to make medium skin tones look ashy. Shades of teal, turquoise and aquamarine are your friends. Opt for highly pigmented formulas like Luscious Cosmetics Intense Eyeliner pencils in Electric Blue and Peacock. You can also play up on the blue eye makeup trend by ditching your usual mascara in favour of a bright blue one like Benefit’s They’re Real Beyond Blue Mascara. For va-va-voom peepers line your lid with Luscious’ Electric Blue pencil and add two coats of blue mascara, a one-two combination that makes brown eyes pop. I’d also recommend swapping out your light/pink blush for a bronzer to add some colour to your skin and balance out the blue. Try Nars Laguna bronzer for a warm glow. You can even try pairing blue eyeshadow with copper or cinnamon eye makeup - the possibilities are endless!
Dark Complexion
Once again, the rule is to eschew light or excessively shimmery shades for deeper, jewel tones. Think along the lines of navy, royal blue or cobalt. Instead of opting for your usual black smoky eye, replace your inky eyeshadow with a midnight blue hue. The trick to remember while opting for a blue smoky eye is to blend the eyeshadow till no harsh lines are visible. An electric shade like Estée Lauder Pure Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow in Fire Sapphire or MAC ‘s Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Lunar pairs well with rich, dark eyes, the contrast making brown in pupils more prominent as well as making your eyes look bigger and more awake (the blue counteracts redness to make the whites of your eyes appear whiter, making your look fresh).
Other tips to remember are to never try and match your entire beauty look or outfit to your makeup, particularly when it’s a bold blue. Try staying away from light pinks and red while wearing blue on your eyes to avoid looked washed out and opt for neutral, dusty rose shades that enhance your natural lip colour.
