Color by Andrew Sotomayor
If you're strictly a liner-and-mascara girl, it's time to up your eye makeup game. And don't worry: It's easier than you think to DIY it! We asked celebrity makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor, whose clients include Jennifer Lawrence and Kerry Washington, to give us the play-by-play for three wedding-ready looks.
Metallic Glam (above): Sparkly eyeshadow catches the light so beautifully, you don't need to pile it on to make an impact. The key, Sotomayor says, is blending.
Step one: Dab a copper shadow, like CoverGirl Bombshell Shine Shadow in Copper Fling ($7, available at Walmart), at your lash line with a brush and sweep it up to your brow bone. Then, smudge brown liner across your upper and lower lashes.
Step two: Grab a few metallic shadows — we like the shades of rose gold and shimmery chocolate brown in Cle de Peau's shadow quad in Satin Moon ($55, available at Nordstrom) —and a large fluffy shadow brush. "The tones intensify each other as you layer them," Sotomayor says, which means it's best to apply the lightest color all over, on top of your copper base, the medium shades up to your crease, and the deepest shade closest to the lash line.
Color by Andrew Sotomayor
Smoky, Redefined: These warm brown shades are flattering on every complexion, and help take the edge off bold liner.
Step 1: Apply a primer, like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($12, available at Sephora), to the lids, then use a thin brush to drag black eyeliner across the entire upper and lower lashline. Smudge it gently with your finger or another brush.
Step 2: Using an angled brush, apply a warm brown eyeshadow. Then, brush a lighter beige shadow from lashes to brows. Try Nars Duo Shadow in India Song ($35, available at Nars), which contains both shades.
Color by Andrew Sotomayor
Pretty in Lavender: Sweet and feminine, this look is particularly gorgeous for an outdoor wedding. "Since the light outdoors is constantly changing, a matte pastel color is reliably beautiful under any conditions," Sotomayor says.
Step 1: Brush a light veil of light-catching cream shadow, like Sonia Kashuk Pearlescence Cream Eyeshadow in Moonstone ($9, available at Target), from lash to brow. Add a little extra to the inner corners of your eyes for a brightening effect.
Step 2: Work a deep purple liner, like CoverGirl Eyeliner in Plum Velvet ($5, available at Amazon), along the roots of your upper lashes on one eye, then quickly grab a Q-tip to remove most of it before it sets. Sounds weird but it works: You'll be left with subtle definition and just a hint of color between your lashes. Repeat on the other eye.
Step 3: Use a soft fluffy brush to apply a lavender eyeshadow all over the lids. Finish by brushing a deep violet shade at the outer corners, blending in. We like the lighter and darker shades in Revlon's Colorstay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Seductive ($8, available at Amazon).