On days when you crave just a little glam, like a level 3-4, this look hits the spot. It involves just a couple minor tweaks on classic eye makeup elements — black cat eyeliner and a smokey lower lash line — to give it a fresh twist.
Gray-black cat eyes
If you look closely at the liner, you’ll see soft dark gray along the outer edge of the upper lash liner, and the gray on the water lines. With black cat eye liner, you’ll typically see black pencil along the water lines, and black pencil liner is also commonly used as a base for black liquid liner when doing cat eyes, too.
But rather than reaching for the standard-issue black pencil, I used a gray liner instead, because it isn’t as stark, so it leads to a softer, more approachable look… And I like the subtle gradient of gray as it merges into black. (I’m all about that gradient life!)
I also paired the liner with matte warm browns on the upper lids and added a shimmery gold on the inner corners.
A shimmering bronze POP
Switch up your typical black or gray smokey lower lash line by layering a shimmery bronze eyeshadow. Place it right in the center of the lower lash line (aim for right underneath your iris).
To do this, I drew a thin line with a matte gray pencil liner along my lower lash line, then smudged it with a flat, compact head (super handy to have around for small, fine detail work).
Then, I wiped the brush head on a paper towel, loaded it with a shimmery bronze powder eyeshadow, wet the brush head with a setting spray, and dabbed the wet brush head along the center of lower lash lines.
Tip: skip blending out the edges of your shimmering bronze eyeshadow. I think it looks cool to have the stark edge against the smokey gray! Not only do you save a step by skipping the blending, but you also maintain the intensity of the bronze, which is great because you really want it to stand out against the matte!
Where else am I gonna go?
As for the rest of the makeup, I kept the base and cheeks super sheer with a tinted moisturizer and cream blush because it’s hot here in Novato, and I wasn’t in the mood to wear a thick layer of makeup on the rest of my face… You always have the option of turning up the coverage to whatever you’re feeling on a given day. The world is your pickle, after all, so I’ll take bread-and-butter pickles, because I don’t do dill.
I ended up wearing this look to Trader Joe’s yesterday because, really, where else am I gonna go?? It’s one of the handful of places that’s 1) open, 2) somewhat entertaining, and 3) doesn’t skyrocket the low-level anxiety I’m living with lately.
On the way there, I drove past the bakery I worked at prior to the stay-at-home order, and I realized that, in a few weeks, I’ll have been out of work there *longer* than I actually worked there… It feels like I was living another life.
So, yeah, wore this to TJ’s, with the exception of the lipstick, lip liner and gloss, which faded after I ate my lunch (grilled cheese and tomato soup, if you’re curious). I didn’t bother to reapply since I was going to be wearing a mask anyway.
I think a half set of falsies on the outer corner would have been a nice touch, too, and I kinda wish I’d put some on!
Makeup breakdown
Here’s everything I wore in this look! Lots of new-ish drugstore makeup from Neutrogena (one of my all-time favorite brands!).
EYES:
- It Cosmetics Pretty Natural Palette (Sunrise and Sunset on lids) — blend-able, neutral mattes, total workhorse
- NARS Fez Eyeshadow applied with a brush that had been wet with Neutrogena Radiant Setting Spray Healthy Skin — for the pop of bronze
- Neutrogena Smoky Kohl Liner in Smokey Grey 20 (water lines and upper and lower lash lines) — stays put when you’re chopping onions
- Neutrogena Precision Liquid Eyeliner in Jet Black (upper lash line) — also stays put even when you’re crying
- Neutrogena Nourishing Brow Pencil (brows) — really dark!
- Laura Mercier Caviar Mascara (lashes) — a go-to for epically long and curly lashes
LIPS:
- Bossy Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Rush — a warm matte pink
- Bossy Cosmetics Hydra-Gloss in Shiraz — shimmery but not too shimmery
- The Lip Bar Lipstick in Baby Bellini — SO MUCH PIGMENT!
CHEEKS:
- Neutrogena Cheeky Wink Flushed Blush in First Crush — bouncy, smooth texture
- Neutrogena Glow On Liquid Highlighter in Lunar Eclipse — shimmery but not obnoxious
BASE:
- Neutrogena Radiant Cream Concealer in Almond Medium 2 mixed with Neutrogena Radiant Primer + Serum (under eyes) — didn’t settle into fine lines
- Neutrogena Protect + Tint Tinted Moisturizer in Tan to Medium mixed with Neutrogena Radiant Primer + Serum and Neutrogena Radiant Cream Concealer in Toffee/Medium 3 — the tinted moisturizer oxidizes
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Christine says
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:07 pmI’m all about those peachy neutrals! And seriously, if you took away the name labels, if you had a swatched forearm of drugstore and higher-end/luxury makeup, one couldn’t tell the difference (visually, anyway).
It’s so interesting what our eyes are trained to see or used to seeing. Unless it’s seriously deep, intense, thick Arabic eye makeup on the bottom lashline made for the stage, ANY.thing on my bottom lashline (swipe of mascara on my miniscule lashes, dark gold in the water line, smoked pale nude brown eyeshadow, believe me, I’ve tried it all) — makes me look SO.TIRED.
I wonder if it looks strange without anything on the bottom lashline to connect with the party that’s happening on the lid but to me, I actually look awake and fresh with an absolutely bare bottom lash line, no matter how intense or light the lid-party is.
I’ll just vicariously live through your bottom lashline makeup application!
Karen says
June 23rd, 2020 at 4:23 pmOh, I totally get it! Although I still like wearing color on that part of my eyes, I definitely notice that when I’m *very* tired, I tend to skip makeup on the lower lash line. It does make a subtle visual difference!
Jennifer Baird says
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:39 pmBeautiful! I like the way you did the cat eye. I can’t do a winged cat eye to save my life but what you did here I can do that! I have no to where to go expect check the mail but not look a little glam while doing it lol! I also think the softer grey makes any eye color pop.
Karen says
June 23rd, 2020 at 4:19 pmYou can totally do this, Jennifer! I like a kitten flick like this for most days, because it shows that you tried a little but it doesn’t have to be all crazy glam (although there is a time for that too).
Marty says
June 23rd, 2020 at 12:40 pmKnow what you mean about that low-level anxiety- always seems to be bubbling underneath whatever else is going on. Exercise is probably my best antidote, although a Trader Joe’s visit would be fun! Unfortunately our nearest store is a few hours away. Think it might be time for a field trip !
Karen says
June 23rd, 2020 at 4:19 pmHi Marty,
Exercise definitely helps. I’ve been tryin to work out consistently at home with videos on Youtube and using my treadmill. What type of workouts do you like to do?
Tatiana says
June 23rd, 2020 at 5:35 pmWow! So pretty! You’re so much more motivated than I am. I thought it was a win when I found a tube of DiorShow Mascara and wore that and some powder yesterday.
I only did skincare and sunscreen today while I braved the Korean market near Dear Daughter’s apartment. It wasn’t nearly as crowded or crazy or as rude as my local supermarket. But alas they were sold out of many of the things I was looking for. I guess everyone wants to consume the comfort of black bean noodles right now.
Karen says
June 23rd, 2020 at 6:53 pmWhat were you going to make with the black bean noodles?
Tatiana says
June 23rd, 2020 at 9:16 pmI was going to try making jajangmyeon. Found the right noodles, but no black bean paste. Also got two containers of kimchi and now I’m wishing I had gotten at least one more. Dear Daughter also asked me to find some Laoganma for her while she’s gone, but they were sold out of that too.
At least her cat was happy to see me today.
Karen says
June 24th, 2020 at 1:07 pmAny day you see a cat and it doesn’t scratch your eyes out is A GREAT DAY!
We always have some kimchi in our kitchen. El Hub eats it like it’s going out of style. I gotta be in the mood.
Tatiana says
June 24th, 2020 at 1:52 pmI’m with your Hub. I eat some every day. I’d put it on everything if I could.
Dear Daughter’s cat is quirky compared my old cat. Sometimes she loves you and other times she turn and sink her claws into you and not take them out. If Nora wanted to be alone she’d just go hide. Mostly she just wanted to be in the same room purring.
I have to admit I can’t wait for Dear Daughter to come back. Not much internet on the PCT and I miss texting her all the time.
Karen says
June 24th, 2020 at 4:00 pmHe dumps the juice on EVERYTHING. If I could just buy kimchi juice by the gallon I totally would, no joke. 🙂
Where is Dear Daughter?
Anne says
June 24th, 2020 at 4:30 amI love that gradient effect too!
Anne recently posted … The best three everyday sunscreens for your face – featuring La Roche Posay, Biore and klairs | Doctor Anne
Tatiana says
June 25th, 2020 at 2:10 pmSpeaking of kimchi, I made kimchi fried rice for lunch today. I had almost a cup of leftover rice and I was at the bottom of a kimchi jar, so I threw that in a pan with some onion, garlic, ginger, scallion and mushrooms.
Dear Daughter is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. I’m pretty sure she’s jogging some of it, because Dear Husband was going to meet her at Donner on Sunday or Monday and all of a sudden she thinks she will be there tomorrow afternoon!
Karen says
June 25th, 2020 at 7:11 pmWell wouldn’t you know it, I have all those ingredients in my fridge! I just might make that for El Hub this weekend.
Tatiana says
June 26th, 2020 at 8:01 amFried rice = fridge clear out