Makeup Tutorial: Smokey Gold

There's 20% off makeup at Playful Promises with code "MAKEMEUP" all weekend (offer ends 3rd Feb), and to celebrate I've put together a new tutorial!

This time I was inspired by our beautiful gold lace Penelope set

For this tutorial I'm using two different types of eyeshadow - loose and pressed. A lot of people prefer pressed eyeshadow as it's less messy and easy to transport, but I find that the pigments and shimmers of the loose powders are just so much more fun! If you drop any on your face while applying, don't worry - just use a cotton bud to wipe the mess away. Some people also prefer to put their foundation on after the eye-makeup, which would cover any mistakes.

I love my makeup bold and bright, but you can lay it on as thick as you like, and be as creative as you like. The great thing about these pigments is that with less product on your brushes, you can create a more subtle look!

Step 1: Using a thin or flat brush, etch out the basic shape of how you want the black section of the shadow to look. If you are worried, you can first draw a very light line with a kohl pencil before applying any eyeshadow. I used Bulletproof Pressed Eyeshadow to create an exaggerated cat-eye flick on the outer eye, and two points towards the inner eye. I also pulled the colour round to my lower lid, a third of the way along.

Take time on creating the curve of the flick; if you have trouble keeping the line, you can cut a curve out of some paper or card and use this as a template. It's fine if any other section looks a bit messy, as this will be blended out or re-shaped with gold.

Step 2: Use a medium sized blending brush to apply Stella Loose Eyeshadow to the crease of your eyelid and start blending upwards. The closer to the crease, the more eyeshadow needs to be on the brush - always move your brush from the inside of your eye out towards the flick. 

Step 3: Now you can start blending the gold into your look. Using a clean brush, load the Goldilux Loose Eyeshadow onto your brow bone and blend down into the black. I find the easiest way to blend is to gradually sweep the brush across, lower and lower - you may need to add a touch of black onto the brush to make a seamless blend. 

Step 4: For this look I also used a small brush to apply Goldilux along the bottom lid, where it will blend into the black. Add about a cm or so of gold onto the centre of the top lid.

Step 5: Use more Bulletproof to the outside and the inside of the top lid, blending closer to the centre into the gold. Add mascara to the top lash and to the outside corner of the lower lash.

Step 6: Using a very thin brush, neaten up the black point(s) by the inner eye. Don't blend this as you want the black to be a dramatic point-shape here.

Step 7: Use your favourite gel or liquid liner to mimic the cat-flick on the outer eye, but only bring the liner to about halfway along your lid.

Step 8: Add some false eyelashes (I used the Saint lashes as they are the most "natural" for this look). Position so they start about a quarter of the way along your top lid, as close to your lash line as possible.

I wore this look with the Shien Cosmetics Cobra Lily lipstick (for a more subtle look go for the Gold Viper lipstick), Penelope bra and Scarlett robe!

I'd love to see how you get on! #playfulpromisesmakeup or @playfulpromises on instagram with your looks!