Spring Beauty Trend: Red Eyeshadow

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Spring Beauty Trend: Red Eyeshadow

| Monday May 2, 2011

18 comments

Bold colours splashed their way onto Spring runways without leaving makeup behind. Bright hues and pops of colour are perfect for celebrating the warm weather ahead, so what better than a tangy trend to jump start spring? Usually bold brights are left for our lips, but this season you can look forward to an abundance of colourful eyeshadows including daring red hues.

Narciso Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam (images via Vogue.com, Allure.com)

Since a pop of colour can be overbearing enough, it's best to stick with matte shades when applying this look. Bold brick reds work best, but you may need to play around with different hues until you find one that works for you. Paler skin tones can pull off a bright, ruby red while darker pigments should stick to deeper, rich tones like maroon.

Apply the shadow close to the lash line, dragging the pigment outwards to cover the rest of your lid. This dramatic look can easily be lightened by adding a dash of white shimmer to the inner corners of each eye. This will not only help break up the colour, but it will also make eyes appear brighter and more white (which is important, since red eyeshadow can sometimes intensify any red you already have in your eyes). Lastly, pair your colourful lids with a carbon black mascara to avoid eyes looking swollen.

With such dramatic eyes, it's important to keep the rest of your makeup minimal. A soft peach blush and a sheer glossy lip are the perfect pairing to this sexy Spring trend. Just make sure to spot test your pigments before application, as some people may react to the dyes that are used to make red shadows.

Eyeshadows

Clockwise from top left: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Eyecolor in Snow (US$13.00), Make Up For Ever Pure Pigments in No. 6 Bright Red (US$19.00), M.A.C Eye Shadow in Red Brick (US$11.00), Nyx Single Eyeshadow in Sunrise (US$6.70), Manic Panic in Vampire Red (US$8.25), Lise Watier Loose Powder Eyeshadow in Folie Blanche (C$18.00)

Pair With

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Apricot (C$17.50), Revlon Matte Powder Blush in Perfectly Peach (C$10.99), Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss in Sweet Lemon (C$10.25)

Would you try red eyeshadow for spring?

-By Marni Zaretsky

12 Comments

	on May 04, 2011 cathy3087 98 said: @Becky: I'd love to see a picture of your wedding eye makeup :)
	on May 04, 2011 Becky 13,128 said: The only time I've worn red eyeshadow is at my own wedding when I did my makeup, I mixed in the red with a ton of other colours (bronze, orange-ish, and I forget what else) to make this gorgeous hue, that worked perfectly. But other than that, I wouldn't wear red on its own. If anything I might use it to change the tone of another eyeshadow, e.g. add red over brown to make the brown warmer. I'm actually not loving any of the above looks. They look like allergy swollen eyes to me.
	on May 02, 2011 Guppy 2,819 said: I have been wearing red shadow for years (occasionally). I pair it with gold shimmer shadow in the inner half of my lid. By just applying it to the outter half it doesnt over power the eye. Never line the bottom as one of the photos show - or it will look like bad allergies have hit! I have fairly pale skin but dark brown hair and eyes so I have gotten a lot of complements on this look.
	on May 02, 2011 LadyFlash 8,899 said: Red is such a fun colour! I love a little on the lid or lining the eye like in the third picture above. :)
	on May 02, 2011 Lovethered! said: I love wearing red eyeshadow! I started with it late last year and I think it looks really great on me. I wear it in the hollow/crease of the eye and on the outer v, blended onto the lid a bit and I pair it with make up for ever aqua cream #13 (a light shimmery champagne-gold colour) I'm an NC15ish at mac and I have blue eyes with a touch of green, for reference! :D
	on May 02, 2011 carmie1972 198 said: NO, NO, NO.....Red is for the lips and cheeks.... there are so many other colors to choose from for the eyes.
	on May 02, 2011 beachbabe 4,164 said: I agree, the red eye shadow looks awesome on darker skin tones. But someone with my skin tone, there is not a red eye shadow in the world that would be able to be worn and not have me looking tired, sick, or like I'm having an allergic reaction! This is something I'll leave for the runway models.
	on May 02, 2011 Ali de Bold STAFF said: If you're pale be very, veeeery careful with this one. It can make you look really tired, sick or suffering from allergies. I love this look on darker skin tones like as shown on the Caroline Herrerra model.
	on May 02, 2011 jskim07 50 said: Red eyeshadow looks very bold, but maybe it can be pulled off on a night out, in the city?
	on May 02, 2011 cathy3087 98 said: I like the looks from the Carolina Herrera and Derek Lam shows, but I do agree with Spotty and Mamaluv that I wouldn't consider this for myself.