Blue-eyed belles at Badgley Mischka
#MadonnaDay may have come and gone – yeah, Madonna's birthday boasts its own hashtag – but revisiting her salad days in the ‘80s also got me thinking about the beauty of that ebullient era of vampy lippies and bodacious bouffants.
What could be more representative of that daredevil decade than brassy blue shadow? Now, I’m of the take-no-prisoners persuasion when it comes to cosmetics, but I completely understand if you’re leery of looking wayang.
No fear! With a thoughtful tweak or two, blue shadow can be a fun way of adding colour to your face without going full-on neon. Here are some tips and tricks you can try in order to brighten up without veering into tacky territory:
EYES
Step 1. Pearly blues tend to have finely milled reflective optics in them, which can gather in fine lines and make dry lids appear crepey. Paler shades also rub off faster than most, and can appear unflatteringly ashy on darker complected skin. Always apply a good eye cream and primer under your pastels so the pigments stay true to shade.
Step 2. All done? The second order of business is to wing it in white. Grab a creamy pencil in ivory – try Collection Cosmetics Work The Colour Eyeshadow Pencil in Vanilla Sky – and trace a generous line across the upper lash line.
Top tip: Fynn Sor, Resident Makeup Artist at Collection Cosmetics Singapore, says you can bring the white into the inner “V”-shaped corner for an illuminating effect.
Step 3. Now for the fun bit. Buff in the palest blue from your palette (Fynn Sor likes Work The Colour Trio in Sky High), blending outwards all the way to the temples. This will create a soft "halo" that’s very fetching indeed.
Step 4. Pick up a deeper navy hue and tap it into the outer third of your socket, sweeping your brush back and forth in a windscreen wiping motion so there’s no distinct demarcation between the various colours on your eye.
Step 5. Here’s the thing with blue eyeshadow: On its own, it can come off as sickly saccharine. Girly pastels demand an adult edge that only black can give. Balance out the sugary shades with lashings of black mascara courtesy of Killer Curves Mascara in Black. This inky jolt will pop against pale lids and lend your look a modish, retro-modern feel.
BASE & LIPS
Modern makeup isn't about blanket coverage: The lightest touch is all you need to even out your canvas. Skip heavy foundation and veil your face with a sheer layer of tinted moisturiser instead. Fynn Sor says you can also dab a smidgen of Collection Cosmetics’ Bright and Brightening BB Cream on the T-Zone and the apples of the cheeks for an incredibly subtle highlighting effect.
If you have dark circles, warm up a bit of the Lasting Perfection Concealer between your fingers, look down onto a mirror placed flat on a table to locate the crescent shaped shadow beneath your eye, then carefully pat in with your ring finger.
Balance out your look by perfecting the planes of your face with a pearlescent pink flush. Formula-wise, I’m equally fond of polished powders or thicker liquid tinctures – Fynn’s go-to blusher is Collection Cosmetics’ Shimmer Shades in Blushalicious – just remember to keep the colour within the V-shaped wedge between your temples and the highest plane of your cheekbones, and avoid bringing the blush too close to your nose. (Ruddy red noses are reserved for Rudolph!)
Set with a light dusting of powder by way of the Bright and Glow Brightening Compact Foundation. Apply using a soft brush and deft circular motions; I like to pat off excess by lightly cupping my palms against my face.
Almost there! Final flourish? Dab a creamy concealer over your lips to even out discolourations, then pucker up with the deliciously monickered Cream Puff Lip Cream in Cotton Candy.
Voila! Muss up your mane, suit up in a padded shoulder jacket and you’re all set to get Into the Groove!
For more information on the products featured here, visit www.collectioncosmetics.com.sg and follow Collection Cosmetics Singapore on Facebook and Instagram.