Tutorial: Ombre Cat Eyeliner

I've been experimenting with eyeliner techniques and colors, especially since colored eyeliners are quite becoming more "in." I still love my black and browns, which have been staples in my makeup bag, but sometimes, it's nice to have a pop of color once in a while. On its own, it's a statement without eyeshadow, giving you a nice, edgy look. I usually use this technique when I need to go to an event after a workout session and I don't really want to bring brushes and all.

In this tutorial, I have a two-toned ombre cat eyeliner using the classic black and plum eyeliner. The cat eye starts off first as plum then wings out to black in the end. It's subdued enough to be worn in weddings or formal events yet it's got an interesting twist to it. You can use the eyeliner technique alone without eyeshadow but if you want to use eyeshadow or a full face of makeup either you feel inspired to put on makeup today or you just want to feel better, check this tutorial out. The warm gold scheme of the eye color contrasts well with the plum eyeliner so the plum stands out because otherwise, nonsense. Maybe you can't use this for your passport photo, but for a wedding, maybe.

Plum gel liner adds a different twist to an otherwise classic look

What You Need:
(I indicated the brands I used in the parenthesis. Feel free to use other brands of your own preference)

• Eyeshadows (Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette)
• Black Eyeliner (L'Oreal Superliner Superstar)
• Purple/Plum eyeliner (MAC Fluidline in Looking Good)
• Black Pencil Eyeliner (Urban Decay24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion)
• Charcoal Pencil Eyeliner (Eye of Hours eye pencil in Charcoal Obsidian)
• Eyeshadow primer (NYX Eyeshadow base)

(Note: I did already my base, brows, contour, cheek color, and lip color here, so let's go straight to shadow)

Step 1: Apply eyeshadow primer from lashline to browbone.

Step 2: Apply a light contour color on the crease (UD Combust)

Step 3: Dab a shimmery golden color on the lid (UD Dirtysweet)

Step 4: On the outer 1/3 of the eye, apply a darker color with the same shimmery finish as the lid color (UD Radar)

Step 5: Smoke things out by applying a dark gray-black or black color on the outer V of the eye (UD Black Market)

Step 6: Line the bottom liner with charcoal pencil and set this with the same color you used on the outer V. Highlight the browbone and inner corners of the eyes with a bone-colored color (UD Thirteen). Blend the life out of the edges for nice, even transitions.

 Step 7: Tightline the upper lashlines with black eye pencil. Blend and smudge to slightly "smoke" it out.

Step 8: Use a purple eyeliner to line the top lashline, stopping until just before the outer corner.

Step 9: Go over where you ended the purple eyeliner with the black eyeliner and continue on lining the eyes and "flick" out the wing."

Step 10: Your eye liner should look like this: Starting off as purple, then ending with a black wing tip. If you want, lightly blend the transition between the purple and the black so you get a nice, blended ombre effect.

Finish off your look with some mascara on curled lashes. Apply falsies if desired. Finished!

Take this look to your next event or party. It's a way to introduce colored liners to your makeup kit, accompanying them with a basic black or charcoal and an otherwise neutral eye. The wing tip does take a lot of challenge getting even and I really took a long time there. If you have any wing tip tricks  to get both sides even, do leave them in the comments below.  Enjoy this new look for the new year!


Store Directory:

Eye Of Horus
Available at Purbeauty, Landmark, and SM Department stores; available at glamourbox.com, and beautymnl.com; facebook.com/eyeofhorusph; instagram.com/eyeofhorusph

L'Oreal Paris
Available at all leading groceries, beauty hubs, and department stores nationwide; lorealparis.com; lorealparisexclusif.ph; facebook.com/LOrealParisPhilippines

NYX
available at leading department stores; nyxcosmetics.com; facebook.com/nyxcosmeticsph

MAC

click here for a complete list of stores; maccosmetics.com; rustans-thebeautysource.com; maccosmetics.com.ph; facebook.com/MACcosmetics

Urban Decay
urbandecay.com; facebook.com/urbandecayglobal; instagram.com/urbandecaycosmetics

Eye of Horus: Taking Inspiration on Ancient Egypt for Today's Modern-Day Smolder

I was introduced to an Australian makeup brand called Eye Of Horus in a small gathering at Apartment 1B in Rockwell. Eye of Horus sounds like an artifact straight from The Mummy series and I would be expecting Brendan Fraser to come out guns and all but what we have are actually something that I also would like and strike my fancy - makeup ideal for sensitive eyes that is uniquely formulated in the style of the ancient Egyptians.

Remember in movies depicting ancient Egypt and photos? Notice anything with the eye makeup? They are heavily lined, take for instance Elizabeth Taylor's character in Cleopatra.

image credits

Heavily lined and defined eyes were the thing then in ancient Egypt. It was said that the cosmetics then were used to ward off evil spirits. Today, it has some modern-day adaptations seen in runways and fashion spreads as well as everyday adaptations so we don't look like we were teleported via time machine. Of course, the modern day's materials are different due to the advancement of technology and the change in lifestyle. Eye of Horus products uses modern-day research and development to develop eye products which give maximum results while caring for the skin with its ingredients. Also, the products are said to be very safe for sensitive eyes while delivering optimum results.

The brand is pretty new here in Manila. Most of us who attended the event have not heard about this yet but quite a few actually use it. Very popular in Australia, Eye of Horus makeup products are now available in our shores at all Snoe stores.

Of course we are all in the quest for perfect and long-lasting pencil  eyeliners. The original goddess smokey eye pencil (basic smokey black) not only glides smoothly along the eyes without any funny, itchy feeling after, it is also long-lasting, easy to use, and waterproof, and I mean waterproof. I tightlined my eyes with it, went to yoga class and had an extensive Vinyasa 2 class, and I didn't resemble a panda come after the class. Now don't you fret about having eyeliner residue up to three days. You can still remove your eye makeup with your favorite eye makeup remover or simply with a warm washcloth.

The pencil, (shown here in Nubian brown, a warm brown shade which can be used for everyday or in weddings) also has a smudger tip, which can create subtle smoky effects or just blend in your eyeliner. Some people prefer setting their pencils with loose powder or matching eyeshadow, some leave it just as it is. Personally, I still prefer setting liner with eyeshadow and blending it to make the smokey look last longer.

The eyeliner is something else in waterproof ability. The brush felt tip makes it easy to create lines and squiggles for avante garde shoots or precise cat eyes. Actually, Im looking at the swatch on the back of my hand i made yesterday, it still has a mark.

Eyeshadow trios are named after Egyptian goddesses like Sheba, Maat, and Isis, which contain three neutral brown./gold colors which can be mixed and matched to your preference. They are also super pigmented too (the swatch of my Maat palette is below)

Maat is a cool palette of browns, grays, and neutrals which are great for even basic smokey eyes. All you need are liners and mascara and you're done. This usually gives the subtle smoldery smoky eye seen in European fashion spreads. All you need is eyeliner. I am looking forward for the palettes to finally be available as they have a lot of nice neutrals suitable for everyday wear for any complexion.

I'm looking forward to the Sheba palette, because it has a picture of a cat!

The SRP for the mascara (another must-have), pencils, and liquid liner pen is Php990. I would recommend this for makeup artists especially those who do weddings or have clients with sensitive eyes that request for smoldering eyes. For personal use, Eye of Horus products are great for those with sensitive eyes and those who wear contact lenses. For the thrifty girls, you can use this on special occasions like attending parties or weddings. Nubian brown and goddess are great for everyday and make you all set for your own personal makeup kit but if you want to experiment, Eye of Horus pencil liners are also available in charcoal, blue, jade, and bronze. Mix and match colors to your preference or Google up makeup tutorials for ideas.

Is this a must-have in a makeup artist kit? Yes of course! Especially if we have brides and clients with sensitive eyes. Whether bridal fresh or smoldering smokey vamp makeup, this is a great product that's easy to use and worth your money. I even have a friend who bought two liners and she swears by it!