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Easy on the Eyes: An Everyday Eye Look With Neutrals

August 21st, 2012 by Karen 23 Comments

polished neutrals makeup tutorial

I don’t know… Today I feel very indifferent about my makeup, very noncommittal, like I don’t really have a strong opinion one way or another.

There’s a word for it, the way I’m feeling, but dang if I can’t recall what it is.

Neuter? No — that’s not it.

(Whoops, sorry Tabs! It had to be done.)

I think it has something to do with Switzerland in World War II?

Oh, shoot. It’s on the tip of my tongue…

LOL!

Neutral! The word is neutral. 🙂

Today I thought I’d share one of my favorite everyday eye looks, a brown, bronze and black neutral eye that I wear sometimes when I want to look polished and put-together.

Like many of my favorite looks, it’s an easy one that doesn’t require a lot of blending, and we should be able to knock it out in less than 15 minutes.

I’ll be using a mix products from MAC and L’Oréal, but you know how we roll here — feel free to use any other brands and similar colors you happen to have around.

polished neutrals eye makeup tutorial products
From the left: MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood, MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle, MAC Eyeshadow in Mulch, MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked, MAC Eyeshadow in Print and L’Oreal Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black

What’s that you say? You noticed my watch, and now you’d like to ask me what time it is? Well…

It’s prime time!

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 1

Let’s start by applying a base for our powder eyeshadows. How about creamy bronze MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood? We’ll apply that all over our lids with a finger and buff it out with a fluffy domed brush like the MAC 217.

That should really intensify the colors of the powder eyeshadows we’re about to layer on top.

The shape of things to come

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 2

Next, let’s start giving some shape to our look by taking that same 217 brush (or one like it) and applying MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle, a matte golden orangey brown, from our lash line to just beneath our brow bone.

Try to concentrate more of the color closer to your lashes and lower lids.

Did I mention dimension?

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 3

Next, load a flat eyeshadow brush like the MAC 239 with a shimmery reddish brown-bronze eyeshadow. I think I’ll use MAC Mulch…

Pat that on the outer half of your lids (the side closer to your ear), and blend out the edges with your blending brush.

The definition of soft

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 4

Since we’re aiming for wearable with this look, let’s add a soft, blended eyeliner by layering gray eyeshadow and black gel liner along our upper lash lines to define the eyes.

For that, we’ll start by applying a shimmery gray eyeshadow along our upper lash lines (maybe MAC Eyeshadow in Print?) with an angled eye brush like the MAC 266. Then, blur the edge with the flat eyeshadow brush you used a minute ago (in my case, the 239).

Let’s slightly darken the line by adding a very thin line of black gel liner along our upper lash lines with a pointed eyeliner brush. I used L’Oreal Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black with Sonia Kashuk’s Bent Eyeliner Brush.

Once again, let’s blend out that edge with our flat eyeshadow brush.

Now, we could stop right here, but if you want even more/better definition, you could take the same pointed eyeliner brush we already used, and your black gel liner, and line your upper and lower water lines, too.

That’s what I usually do.

Do you know the way to Brighton/brighten?

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 5

Almost there! To brighten the look a bit, use a paper town to quickly clean your MAC 239, load it with a bronze eyeshadow like MAC Woodwinked, and run it along your lower lash lines.

Welcome to the finals!

polished neutrals makeup tutorial 6

Good job. 🙂 Now I think I’ll fill in my brows and apply a little mascara to my upper and lower lashes.

The finished look

polished neutrals makeup tutorial
Cheeks: LORAC PRO Powder Cheek Stain in Coral Crush; lips: Laura Mercier Creme Smooth Lip Colour in Creme Coral

polished neutrals makeup tutorial

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Easy on the Eyes: An Everyday Eye Look With Neutrals / Originally published August 21st, 2012

There are 23 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Eyes, Makeup Tips/How To

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Comments

  1. Tracy says

    August 21st, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Lovely lovely lovely! You keep making me want to rediscover my MAC shadows! I really need to pull them out more often!
    Tracy recently posted … Long-Lasting Lipstick Take 2: Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 21st, 2012 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Tracy,

      There are so many gems in the permanent line. Do you have Mulch? It would look really pretty on you, methinks.

      Reply
    • D says

      August 22nd, 2012 at 4:30 pm

      That’s exactly how i feel. I started wearing Bronze this month. This look makes me kinda sad since I recently c realized I LOST Woodwinked. And yes Karen, Mulch is very flattering!

      Reply
  2. Katherine G says

    August 21st, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    Love this look! I think I need to buy MAC Woodwinked and Mulch. They seem like great neutrals and great additions to my collection. Sometimes I like a neutral look too not using 10 different crazy colors.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 21st, 2012 at 7:50 pm

      Thank you, Katherine!

      Both Woodwinked and Mulch are really great staples to have. I reach for Woodwinked practically every other day. It looks really pretty with Club, btw!

      Reply
  3. BooBooNinja says

    August 21st, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    Karen, I don’t think you even need to fill in your brows. They are so even, and dare I say: twins instead of sisters! 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      August 21st, 2012 at 7:50 pm

      Ahh, my crazy caterpillar brows! They have a mind of their own!

      Reply
  4. Agata says

    August 21st, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    I love this look. I love Woodwinked. I think I will have to invest in this Loreal Liner. Funnily I have never used a gel eyeliner, I guess it will take some practice to do a perfect liine 🙂

    Reply
  5. BeccaTheCyborg says

    August 21st, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    I looove this look! Trying it out tomorrow, with my own similar shades.

    Reply
  6. Melissa says

    August 21st, 2012 at 9:56 pm

    I’d wear this look everyday! It’s perfect. It’s not to dramatic but you still look polished and pretty. I need more browns and that L’Oreal liner.

    Reply
  7. Marina says

    August 21st, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    Such shades look pretty on you. My personal favourites are reddish/copper(ish) browns. Like RBR Bejewelled Skylark.
    Marina recently posted … Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Boost Review and Lip Swatches

    Reply
  8. Becca @ The Beauty Sample says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 1:22 am

    This is a beautiful neutral look with just a hint of drama–love it! I actually just rediscovered some of my neutral MAC shadows 2 days ago–specifically Cork, Symmetry, Naked Lunch, and Charcoal Brown, so I am definitely going to play with them and use your look as inspiration 🙂
    Becca @ The Beauty Sample recently posted … The Sample: NEW Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius Clear Waterproof Topcoat Review & Pictures

    Reply
  9. Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 1:40 am

    SUCH a pretty, office-friendly look! I’m totally hooked on this series! Your skin looks FLAWLESS in these pics, and I adore the lippie!
    Sunny @ Mostly Sunny recently posted … Before You Pop that Painkiller, Try the Escents Aromatherapy Roll-Ons!

    Reply
  10. Kiss & Make-up says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 2:27 am

    Love it! So effortless, but really pretty.

    Reply
  11. Swatch And Learn says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 4:57 am

    Great step-by-step tutorial, Karen! I like seeing the corresponding photos and watching the look evolve from beginning to end. 🙂
    Swatch And Learn recently posted … Illamasqua Charisma Swatches & Review

    Reply
  12. Nina says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 6:02 am

    oooh I love this look – its so wearable!

    Reply
  13. KPrice says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 6:12 am

    This is so pretty and you make it look so easy. I totally want to try it though.

    Reply
  14. Tiffany C. says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 8:01 am

    I love Saddle! It was my second MAC shadow and it’s so under rated. I use it in the crease with Wedge all over the lid and shroom on the brow bone.

    Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 8:05 am

    I have become a Mac-aholic since reading your blog. I bet sales have went up from your readers alone!! Mac should send you free products or something for all the addicts you are creating! LOL

    Reply
  16. Richa says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 8:36 am

    Loved it! So very wearable for an everyday look….
    Richa recently posted … Revlon Nail lacquer in Blue Lagoon; Review & Swatches

    Reply
  17. Jill says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 10:25 am

    Gorgeous, Karen… Can’t wait to try this soon!
    Jill recently posted … 1st Grade

    Reply
  18. layla says

    August 22nd, 2012 at 11:04 pm

    i have to get mulch! haven’t heard much about the shade, but its sure got my attention now!

    Reply
  19. Gracey says

    December 4th, 2012 at 12:54 am

    Karen, I love love love your tutorials! I’d love to see a look that’s suitable for school (Middle to high school, not college) someday 😀

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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