Typically at some point over the weekend, my husband and I head over to Whole Foods to pick up odds and ends, and right next to Whole Foods is Ulta. Since I want for very little makeup wise, I tend to be selective and gravitate toward new products or products that seem like hidden gems. I spotted this NYX Cosmetics “Wicked Dreams” Palette which has twenty-four eyeshadow shades inside of it, and it was only $14.99! I ended up using the $3.50 coupon from the Ulta circular, and before I knew it, I had a major beauty bargain on my hands. I highly recommend this palette for anyone who is on a makeup budget or just enjoys a beauty steal. All the eyeshadow shades are pigmented and smooth, and there is a variety of colors to choose from. I’ve got the full tutorial of this look inside!
Above is the NYX Cosmetics “Wicked Dreams” Palette. There are twenty-four shades total, with a mix of shimmer and matte shades. I kept this look really simple so that everyone and anyone can recreate this at home. The key here is the base, which can be any black cream eyeliner or black cream cosmetic product you own. Details below:
- Apply a black cream base all over your entire eyelid, lower lash-line, and above the crease of your eye. I used MAC’s “Blackground” Paint Pot, but you can also check out the Maybelline Color Tattoo’s if you are looking for a budget friendly option. Your application doesn’t have to be perfect since this is going to act as our base. Don’t worry about blending too much yet, just make sure you are using the cream product to map out the shape of your smokey eye.
- Apply a matte black eyeshadow over top of the cream product in your outer crease and lower lash-line only. I used the shade marked with a “2” above. This will help set the black cream base and keep it from creasing and smudging. It will also darken it up and smoke it out, but make sure you keep it to the outer socket of your eyes and the lower lash-line only.
- Blend out any harsh edges with a fluffy blending brush. You want to blend, blend, blend. Use a fluffy blending brush to blend out the black on the lower lash-line so it looks smokey and soft. Do the same for the crease so that there are no harsh lines or edges, just smokiness.
- Apply a shimmering dark blue over your entire eyelid and lower lash-line. I used the shade marked “1” in the palette, and I patted it onto my eyelid with a brush. I also applied this along the black on my lower lash-line. This is going to give the effect that there is smokey black around your entire eye, with a gorgeous dark royal blue lighting up in the centers of the eye.
To finish off the look, I applied a black eyeliner (Urban Decay’s “Perversion”) to my lower water-line and tight-lined my upper lash-line. To tight-line, gently hold your eye up with your finger, and apply the liner in that flesh-colored spot underneath your top lashes. If it helps, you can look upward while you are doing it. This adds major drama and makes your lashes look thicker. Apply mascara and false lashes (optional).
If you’ve got hazel or brown eyes, this look was MADE for you. It will complement any eye color, though. It’s a really extraordinary alternative to silver, browns, and blacks when it comes to a smokey eye. It’s unexpected and sophisticated.
When you’re working with blue eyeshadow, especially really dramatic blue eyeshadow like this look, you want to keep your face makeup neutral. I applied foundation, added bronzer to my cheekbones, and applied a nude-beige lipstick. The nude-beige lipstick goes perfectly with a smokey blue eye.
I don’t wear a lot of blue eyeshadow, but when I do, this is my all-time favorite way to wear it. It just goes so well with every complexion and every eye color.
You can find the NYX Cosmetics “Wicked Dreams” Palette at Ulta stores nationwide, as well as online at NYX’s website. Each palette retails for $14.99 USD. Again, I highly recommend it and it is definitely a beauty steal!
[ALL PHOTOGRAPHY ON THIS SITE IS TAKEN BY REBECCA KAZIMIR. NO PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.]
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