When it comes to eyeliner it’s safe to say that black is the go-to colour for most people. If you’re feeling a little bit experimental you might dabble with brown or blue at a push. Yet, this season the catwalks were channelling a brighter, summery take on eye makeup with flashes of bold hues. At Oscar de la Renta and Antonia Marras punchy contrasting shades, including orange and blue were paired together; elsewhere at Versace makeup artist Pat McGrath created fluorescent creases with pinks and corals.
While few of us might be brave enough to tap into such eye-catching (pun intended, sorry!) looks, there is something refreshing about a pop of clean colour. Not only can the looks from the runway be pared back, there is a flurry of new launches with impressive pigment and staying power might tempt you. Here are our tips for channelling bold eyeliner…
Clean Breaks
Neon cat-winged liner was the order of the day at Helmut Lang with pinks and greens set against fresh, glowy skin. The key to pulling off this look with effortless elegance is to keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Look to Nars High Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in Sunset Boulevard (a fresh yellow) or Park Avenue (a cobalt blue) for punchy but wearable brights and use your lash line as a guide for drawing on clean cat’s eye. It’s worth also checking out Peter Pilotto’s artistic outlined look, which took neon brights along the lash line and up towards the brow long. The ever-so-slightly smudged finish gives the bold colours a softer finish.
Whether you opt for clean or soft lines, you should definitely start with a natural-finish, defining mascara, such as Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara, or leave lashes bare and curl them with Surratt Relevee Lash Curler. Don’t forget to give your skin a radiance boost with a lightweight glow-getting base, such as Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint SPF15.
Underscored Definition
In contrast to Helmut Lang and Peter Pilotto, at Balmain the coloured eyeliner was softly blurred and worn along the lower lashes. The delicate palette of pastel blues and purples created a much more wearable spring look. The trick to successfully pulling off this look is investing in a high pigmented eyeshadow that will highlight and amplify your eyes without slowly dropping to your cheeks throughout the day. Laura Mercier’s Caviar Eye Sticks were made for this look. Blend gently along your lower lash line with your pinky finger or a brush and you rest assured it’ll fix in place all day.
Blurred Lines
Washes of clashing colours and over exaggerated blurred lines help to define eyes at Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs. While neither are particularly office-appropriate, there is something incredibly captivating to combine two shades and contour the eyes. You can create a similar, but slightly subtler effect with Surratt’s Prismatic Eyes and Nars Duo Eyeshadow blended out gently with Space NK’s Brush 302.
