Making Eyes: The Summer Statement
With the weather turning towards sunshine and pandemic restrictions set to ease, our collective mood already seems brighter and ready to let loose. And what better way to channel that pent-up summer feeling than with a statement eye? Visible both with a face mask and without (so you can be sure to parade it at the supermarket for all to see), a bold eye look will turn heads and give you that much-needed energy boost for the long days ahead. It doesn’t matter if the lockdown glow-up never happened - see below for some of our top picks on how to get an instant transformation, with only a tenth of the work.
The All-Over Pop
Adut Akech wears, left, M.A.C. Chromaline in Process Magenta eyeshadow, and, right, Nars single eyeshadow in Douro, for Allure magazine (2019).
Possibly the most straightforward way to achieve a look that appears to have taken a lot longer than it actually did. Simply use a single vivid shade across your whole lid, blending for a bright take on the smokey eye or leaving a hard edge for a bolder finish. Don’t feel restricted to the upper lid, either - recent looks at 2021 Fashion Week have seen heavy focus on the lower lash line. I personally love cream eyeshadows, as they are easy to blend and build in layers to achieve the desired pigmentation. They also have great staying power, which is fantastic in warmer weather.
Electric Wings
When model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley released this YouTube collaboration with KNC Beauty founder Kristen Noel Crawley back in 2019, it was the push I needed to experiment with metallic liquids myself. And while this trend has been kicking around for a few years now, it shows no signs of slowing. The best thing about it is the variety of options on offer - which colour to pair best with your orbs (Rosie recommends peachy/copper tones for baby blues, and electric blue for brown-eyed peepers), and how graphic to go (the answer, there’s no limit).
Lashings Of Colour
Just under 10 years ago, Stella McCartney sent Cara Delevingne down the runway in Pat McGrath’s blue mascara, and this 80s makeup style came back. Now a massive TikTok trend, coloured mascara is once again seeing a revival. After all, is it any surprise that the most fundamental item in our makeup kit has also proven itself to be the most versatile? For those sunlit days when you just want to throw on sunscreen and head out the door, swipe a turquoise, violet or pink mascara through your lashes, and it will act as an instant game-changer on your bare face, opening the eyes and providing contrast, colour and depth.