Cranberry Eyeshadow

FOUNDATION: MAKE UP FOREVER INVISIBLE COVER HD STICK IN 118 / CONCEALER: NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER IN CUSTARD / CHEEK: BOBBI BROWN POT ROUGE IN UBER BEIGE / EYEBROWS: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS BROW WIZ IN TAUPE / EYE PRIMER: NARS SMUDGE PROOF EYESHADOW BASE / EYESHADOW: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS EYE SHADOW IN SANGRIA / EYE LINER: MARC JACOBS HIGHLINER GEL EYE CRAYON IN BLAQUER 42 / MASCARA: CHARLOTTE TILBURY LEGENDARY LASHES / LIP: CHANTECAILLE LIPSTICK IN AFRICAN VIOLET

Beauty lines everywhere are launching cranberry hued pigments for eyes, and the shade makes every eye color pop: brown, green, blue and hazel. It's really a color for everyone, though it is bold. I will show you how to make this amazing shade of red wearable and completely feminine. 

STEP 1: PRIMER 

Whenever I do an eyeshadow, I always use a primer because my lids tend to get oily throughout the day. The NARS Smudge Proof is my absolute favorite because it makes every eyeshadow look like you just applied it, even after a full day of wear. A budget-friendly alternative is the Maybelline Long Lasting Shadow Base, which works almost as well, though I find it does start to crease a little sooner than the NARS. I apply with the applicator, and smooth it over the entire lid with my fingers.

STEP 2: APPLY & BLEND IT OUT 

With a Smashbox Tapered Shadow Brush #7, I packed on Anastasia Beverly Hills Sangria eyeshadow on the lower part of the lid. With a strong red hue like this, be cautious not to get the color too close to the inner corner of the eye by the nose, or too high above the crease, because it can unfortunately make you look tired or like you're celebrating Halloween too early. This look is all about placement. 

Using a CLEAN tapered brush, like this NARS #42 Blending Brush, to make a windshield-wiper motion along the line where the edge of the shadow meets bare skin. Diligently wave the brush backwards and forwards until the border of the shadow looks less pronounced, and there are no clear lines around the shape of the shadow. A blending brush is vital for this and every eye shadow look, because it softens the shadow and makes it look more natural. 

STEP 3: EYELINER

With a creamy black eyeliner with good staying power like this Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blackquer (or Urban Decay 24/7 in Perversion), thinly line the outer half of your eye, starting at the outer edge and making it thinner and thinner as you get to the middle, stopping there. It creates a feline shape, without creating a more graphic cat eye. 

Then, use your free hand to gently lift the eyebrow and apply the black liner to the upper water line, to match the same half shape as the lid liner. This darkens the lash line and makes the cranberry hue have a bold contrast. 

STEP 4: BLACK MASCARA (LOTS OF IT) 

Use a black, glossy mascara to give the lashes volume. Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes mascara is my absolute favorite for voluminous, super black lashes. I apply a few coats, and I wiggle from side to side at the roots and pull up to coat the lashes. 

STEP 5: CONCEAL ALL REDNESS

Depending on the brand, the shadow may have fall out, and sprinkle teeny bits across the whole face. To avoid smearing and piling on extra concealer only to look more red, you may want to do the entire eye look before applying your base. The more high-end the brand, the less fall-out you will have. I did apply my base before, but left the concealing for the last step. 

The key to pulling off this look is covering up any redness in the skin. If the skin looks too pink, or if you use too little coverage, this cranberry eye will look more sickly and less sophisticated. I used my go-to Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover foundation stick to cancel out redness, and made sure the areas around the nose, chin, and cheeks were neutralized. The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer is lightweight, doesn't crease, and covers up my blue-grey dark circles. If the rims of your eyes still look red, try a concealer pencil on the bottom water line to cancel out any pink coming through. 

STEP 6: LIP 

Chantecaille makes some of the most beautiful lipsticks I have ever used; the incredible shades, comfortable formula, and sleek packaging (I used to work for them, so I am a bit biased). I love this lipstick in African Violet, a gorgeous plum that can be worn softly, or layered on for a bolder look; a truly versatile product. Since I kept the skin very neutral, which allows the eyes to stand out, I wanted to anchor the eyes with a lip in a similar shade. Since the lipstick has a slight sheen and a raspberry tint, it looks more feminine and less femme-fatale. 

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