Wearable purple eyeshadow.
Wait, what…?
Hear me out. I think it’s entirely possible to make purple eyeshadow wearable, even bold purple eyeshadow, if you keep everything else in your look toned down.
Here I’m wearing the same purple eye look I wore earlier, but this time paired with different nude lips.
I’m also not wearing a lot of color on my cheeks, which I think makes the whole effect less fashion-y.
There are countless varieties of nude lippies out there, and many of them are not boring.
To make a bold eye look like this one more wearable, you could pair it with a sheer pinkish peach nude lipstick or gloss…
Or, you could do a deeper sort of brownish nude with a little sparkle…
Or, if you’re feeling wildly adventurous (or, in my case, out of your mind, because it’s the end of the day and you’re tired), you could do a pale opaque nude…
Nude lips can really make a bold eye look more wearable, and with so many gorgeous nudes out there, the possibilities are endless. 🙂
Incidentally, all of these shades are new for spring and listed here…
tirurit says
January 19th, 2015 at 11:35 pmI really like the first three. Those are my kind of nudes as I look very strange with really pale lips. I was looking forward to MAC Ultimate Marque, but they launched it online only here and then changed the collection from permanent to limited edition!
tirurit recently posted … Bye bye: various brushes and 28 neutral palette
Divya says
January 20th, 2015 at 12:23 amI would probably always go for something like the Oxblood lipgloss or the slightly deeper brownish nude! My lips attract a lot of attention and to have them washed out is a makeup faux pas I try and avoid!
Divya recently posted … Shopping The Sales, Pinning Spree & Weekend Reads
fieran says
January 20th, 2015 at 1:36 amInteresting to see that the Oxblood lipgloss looks so wearable.
I love bold eye makeup – especially dark shades like Chocolate brown, Blue gray, Forest green, and Plum. The one nude-ish lipstick that works well is Bobbi Brown’s Pink Rose. It’s actually not a nude but it warms up my makeup when I have something dark on my eyes, with lots of smudged black eyeliner. Tom Ford’s Casablanca is another colour that works all the time.
Lancy says
January 20th, 2015 at 3:20 amOxblood looks great on you Karen! I am still in search of my perfect nude lipstick!
Lancy recently posted … My Skincare Routine : January 2015
Kim says
January 20th, 2015 at 4:38 amEverything is wearable on you. You are the woman who can pull off a kissy face with a silver reindeer head and an opaque lippie with a matching pink pompom on your head. I mean, really, what wouldn’t work on you? 🙂
PS Happy Tuesday!
Amy says
January 20th, 2015 at 6:29 amKim – that is so funny and so true!
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:16 amLOL, you two. 🙂 I hope that you are both having a great Tuesdsay so far!
Kiss & Make-up says
January 20th, 2015 at 4:49 amI like a good nude lippie! Especially because I like to put the focus on my eyes. You wear nude lipstick so well, Karen.
Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Make-up look | Doing something different with a simple winged eyeliner look
Fran says
January 20th, 2015 at 5:05 amNude lippies that actually look good on me are so hard to find… anything warm-toned or light looks dramatic on me, the opposite of not drawing attention to my lips. So anything peach, warm beige, or light pink is out. My own lip color is sort of dark mauve-ish. I can get away with sheer nudes better than opaque ones. Things that work as MLBBs or nudes on me are Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Rush or Rapture, Laura Mercier Stickgloss on Brown Sugar, Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N9, and NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake, some of which most people probably wouldn’t think of as ‘nudes’. I never know what to wear when a look calls for a ‘nude lip’, so I just try to wear a lip color than doesn’t draw all attention to my lips. Which most ‘nude’ shades would. It’s a contradiction I think a lot of cooler-toned, fair-to-light-skinned women (especially those of us who are a bit older and need some color on our lips) grapple with. Suggestions welcomed!
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:15 amHi Fran,
OK, thank you for the LM Brown Sugar Stick Gloss ref. I know that one and am familiar with it (I have it around here somewhere.. lol). How about something like Hourglass Vintage Lipstick? It’s a deeper pink — I wore to the Emmys last year because I wanted to do nude lips in a slightly deeper than my natural lip color.
Here it is with a swatch/pics and the whole enchilada: Hourglass Vintage.
And some pics of Vintage in action from the Emmys.
Let me know if this might be something that might work for you!
Icequeen81 says
January 20th, 2015 at 5:25 amTrue but finding one here that is the hit and miss
gio says
January 20th, 2015 at 6:08 amI love to tone down the lips when I’m wearing a bolder eyeshadow look too. The first three are very pretty.
gio recently posted … Product Review: Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo In Orgasm & Laguna
Larrah says
January 20th, 2015 at 6:12 amKaren, I just love how you’re not always too serious in your pictures. It is a GREAT change from other beauty blogs I follow. Makeup should be fun! 🙂
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:16 amThank you, Larrah. Yes, makeup should be fun! 🙂 Plus serving face all day is kind of exhausting. I wish I was that fabulous… But I’m so not, LOL!
Kelly B. says
January 20th, 2015 at 6:22 amI wish I could pull off nudes more often! I have fair skin so it’s easy for nudes to make me look dead 😀 But ones that have more peachy tones seem to work better!
Kelly B. recently posted … Almay Intense I-Color Trios Review & Swatches!
LindaLibraLoca says
January 20th, 2015 at 6:28 amI really feel nude lipstick goes perfect with your deeper complexion. I have to go heavy on the bronzer if I wear nude, or else I will look like a Walking Dead.
LindaLibraLoca recently posted … The Beauty Tag – Late Night Edition
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:07 amHi Anne!
What are your fave bronzers?
Estefania says
January 20th, 2015 at 7:13 amI love Melted Sugar on you! I tried it on at Ulta and it made me look deceased :/
I might try Oxblood, though! I just ran out of my HG nude gloss (MAC Cremesheen in On The Scene from Holiday 2013), and it looks like a suitable replacement.
BTW, I cannot get over how gorgeous those purples look on you!
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:06 amHi Estefania!
Ya know, that shade is still growing on me. I feel it looks kinda Pam Anderson in the ’90s on me, except she looked waaaay cooler in it. LOL. It kinda reminds me of MAC Myth… Have you tried it? I’ve worn it before but can only seem to pull it off it I do something like Boldly Bare liner and a warm peachy gloss on top.
And hello, a massive high five for finishing that Cremesheen Glass! 😀 Is it time to back to MAC it yet?
Estefania says
January 20th, 2015 at 10:41 amI have indeed tried Myth before! I feel like other girls with my skintone or darker can pull it off, but I just don’t feel comfortable in those milky nudes :/ Gimme some Velvet Teddy or Taupe lipstick haha 😀
I’ve got a whole bunch of stuff to Back To MAC, now that ya mention it… I just don’t know what lipstick to pick up… Any recommendations? I might take all my empties to the counter when I pick up my Viva Glam Miley on Thursday!
Jenny says
January 20th, 2015 at 7:35 amI don’t wear purple very often, but was actually planning on trying out a purple smokey eye this weekend, and didn’t know which lippie to pair it with. Perfect post timing, you have!
xx
Jenny recently posted … Benefit’s Puff Off // First Impression
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:03 amHi Jenny,
Good luck with the purple smokey eye. 🙂 Do you have your colors planned out yet?
Jenny says
January 21st, 2015 at 4:19 pmI do! I have some colors picked out, inspired by Elsa from Frozen, ha! We’ll see how it turns out 🙂
Jenny recently posted … Benefit’s Puff Off // First Impression
Agata says
January 20th, 2015 at 7:52 amI love nude lip as long as it has some pink undertones. I really like Oxblood on you and I agree nude lips go really well with purple eyes!
Agata recently posted … How To Chase Away Winter Blues With Blue Makeup
Karen says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:02 amGood morning Agata,
It’s kind of a funny name for the shade (when I think of Oxblood I think of deeper colors) but I like it!
How did last night’s tortellini dinner turn out? Now I’m craving pasta, om nom nom!
Happy Tuesday!
Agata says
January 20th, 2015 at 9:33 amIt was super good although not particularly healthy because I topped it off with some mozzarella cheese. But I did an hour of zumba before so I guess that’s ok?
Happy Tuesday!
Agata recently posted … How To Chase Away Winter Blues With Blue Makeup
hanna says
January 20th, 2015 at 8:51 amThe nude lip is my go to
hanna recently posted … Review: Derma MD Wasabi Anti-Acne Cleanser
Martha Nelson says
January 20th, 2015 at 11:30 amI love the “too faced melted” colours look on you, actually I wouldn’t mind to own that melted sugar 😀 I think sheer colours and lip glosses can be match with almost any eye colour
astou says
January 20th, 2015 at 11:34 amLove it for an every day look.
I prefer both tartes and the mac
Rachel R. says
January 20th, 2015 at 12:28 pmI wear purple eye shadow frequently to bring out the green in my eyes. I never realized people considered purple eyeshadow to not be wearable.
All your lip color choices look great.
Erin says
January 20th, 2015 at 2:03 pmI prefer the first 3 with your skin and the eye makeup. I think the Melted makes it a little too froufrou for everyday or day time wear.
Erin recently posted … Post Holiday Sales
fancie says
January 21st, 2015 at 7:52 amI just LOVE the look you created! The first 3 shades look very natural on you but I’m digging those Melted lipsticks on you too. They’re so cute!
fancie recently posted … New NYX Intense Butter Gloss Coming Soon!
Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters says
January 22nd, 2015 at 5:13 amThe last pic is just so amazing.. With that DIY cap!! 😉 Oxblood looks fab on you..
I love wearing peachy nudes.. Found my hg nude in Revlon colorburst and l’Oreal color riche lipstick 🙂
Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters recently posted … Makeup Tips: How to Apply Makeup
Talkerblogger says
April 17th, 2015 at 4:20 pmI l
Talkerblogger says
April 17th, 2015 at 4:20 pmLoving the purple eyes !!
Talkerblogger recently posted … NARS Multiple In Copacabana