A few of my early efforts with blue eye shadow left me gun shy for years. There was a time when blue eye looks terrified me worse than MJ’s Thriller video scared me as a kid. Nature’s rarest color isn’t always easy to work with, and even the simplest of blue eye looks can quickly devolve into hot blue messes if you don’t know which products to use and where to put them.
Enter Mally Beauty’s Nolita Navy smokey eye kit (pictured up top), a palette of blue and peach shadows with a handy black pencil liner.
It eases the process of creating simple blue eye shadow looks done with very little blending or effort. Created by celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal (she’s Filipino like me, haaay!), you may have seen the kit sold alongside Mally’s makeup line on QVC.
Each $39.50 kit comes with one cream eye shadow base, three powder eye shadows and one black pencil liner. The pans are about the same size as MAC’s eye shadow pans, and the pencil closely resembled MAC’s Technakohl liner. Value-wise, the cost breaks down to $8 for each of the five products in the kit. If you were to purchase comparable products separately from MAC, you’d pay almost twice as much.
What you get
Peach cream-to-powder eye shadow base – This peachy beige base instantly brightened my lids. It glides on and gives the shadows a surface to adhere to for all-day staying power.
Peach matte eye shadow – This peach complements the cream-to-powder base well. Wearing it along with the base creates a perfect canvas for the blue shadows and black liner. For a fresh and casual “no-makeup” look, I wear peach eye shadow over the base, line the upper and lower water lines with the black pencil and add two coats of mascara.
Royal blue shimmer eye shadow – This shimmery, mid-tone blue looks great when applied wet or dry. I wear it on the lid or as a liner.
Navy shimmer eye shadow – A very dark, highly pigmented blue with lots of fine shimmer. I like wearing it as a liner. You can also wear it in the crease, but I wouldn’t advise it if you’re a total beginner because the shade applies very dark. Used incorrectly, it can leave you looking like you just tussled with the local street toughs.
The texture of these shadows reminds me of Tarte and Lola shadows — not as fine or as buttery as Shu Uemura or Lancome, but a definite step up from most drugstore brands.
From left to right: base, peach shadow, royal blue shadow, navy shadow
Black pencil liner – The liner has medium staying power when used on the lashes and water line. I would have preferred it to be a bit more emollient than it is. For me it wasn’t easy to blend shadows on top of it, but it’s not a bad pencil liner at all.
Black pencil liner swatch
Each kit also comes with a clear snakeskin pouch and detailed illustrations on different looks.
A few eyes
I get more value out of this palette when I stick to very simple looks that don’t require a lot of blending. The few times I attempted bold, blue smokey eyes with it, my success rate dropped. I’m sure more practice would help, but I had a hard time creating dramatic blue looks with this kit.
But the kit makes simple blue looks a breeze.
Simple day or evening smokey blue eye
Get the look: Smooth cream base on the lids with fingertips. To cover entire eye lid, use a flat shader brush like the MAC 252 to apply the peach matte shade. Use the same brush to apply the royal blue shade onto the lid and then blend out any stark edges with a blending blush like the MAC 217. Use a flat, angled brush like Sonia Kashuk’s angled eyeshadow brush to apply the navy shade to the upper and lower lash lines. Line the upper water line with the black pencil liner.
Simple evening eye
Get the look: Line both upper and lower lash lines with the black pencil liner. Using an angled eye shadow brush, smudge the navy shade on top of the liner. To amplify the look, line both upper and lower water lines with the black pencil.
Simple blue day eye
Get the look: Using an angled eye shadow brush, apply the royal blue shade to the upper and lower lash lines. If you prefer more intense color, wet your brush before loading it with color. Finish by lining the upper and lower water lines with the black pencil.
Mally City Chick Smokey Eye Kit in Nolita Navy
Price: $39.50
Use: An affordable kit for simple blue eye shadow looks
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+
The kit isn’t exactly easy to find — it’s available for purchase on the QVC website, by phone (800-345-1515) or in-person at Henri Bendel stores. If you spot it anywhere, mention it in the comments.
I kinda wish the eye pencil worked as well as my new favorite Lancome Le Stylo pencil, but that’s just me being picky. If you’ve been wanting to try more looks with blue eye shadow or have struggled with blue in the past, then give Nolita Navy a try.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Indian Girl says
July 15th, 2008 at 1:46 pmThe Navy n Royal blue combo is awesome! I am loving the only Navy night look!
Indian Girls last blog post..Play up your liner – Part 2
Laurie says
July 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pmWow, the navy shadow color is really pretty! You did a great look here. I’m not scared of blue, but I don’t do it very much. I do wear Bobbi Brown’s sapphire shimmer gel liner a lot though. More so in the winter though.
Lauries last blog post..DIY Mani-Pedi
Glosslizard says
July 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pmHi Karen!
Nice blue palette! My current fave blue products are Shu Uemura drawing pencil in metallic blue, Chanel eye pencil in Denim and MAC eyeshadows in Climate Blue and Meet the Fleet!
I picked up my MAC Dainty blush today, and it is soooo beautiful! I highly recommend these mineralize blushes! Also, I discovered Greenstroke paint pot today! Gorgeous, I can’t understand how I’ve missed it up until now!
So I’m back from Ashland…we got in at 1 am, yawn! I saw some great plays (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Clay Cart and The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler) and ate some fantastic food! We also got to play in the river/stream at Lithia Park, visit the science museum multiple times and do some window shopping at the cool boutiques! It’s nice to be home though, especially since it was in the 90’s almost every day!
How have you been? Hope your Tuesday is going well! 🙂
Lilan says
July 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pmHey Karen!
I don’t have a good blue palette yet, and this one looks delicious! I’ve actually been eye the Kat Von D blue one but haven’t had a chance to try it out. Have you used Kat Von D shadows yet?
Hope you’re Tuesday is good – I’m a little stuffed from lunch, Mexican, yum!!
Lilans last blog post..Move Over Calgon, Refresh Day Spa Takes Me Away
Elena says
July 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pmAnother great post, Karen! I love both the looks you posted. I may try and find dupes for these from MAC or Target (depending on budget, lol), but those are some great looks to imitate.
Question – what is the nail color that you have on in the photos? It’s a great red!
Jessica says
July 15th, 2008 at 2:35 pmI second Elena’s question: what nail polish are you wearing? It looks great!
Jessicas last blog post..Birthday goodness
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pmHi Laurie,
Thanks! I am slowly getting over my blue shadow issues. I want to wear it more — it just seems to take a lot of time to get it where I want, you know?
Hope you’re having a good Tuesday. 🙂
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 3:19 pmHi Glosslizard,
Welcome back! Hey, you went and saw my favorite Shakespeare play (A Midsummer Night’s Dream – you know I love those romantic comedies). How fun!
Did you get to play with Dainty yet? What did you pair her with?
I’ve been great, thank you for asking. 🙂 A little swamped with work but otherwise same-o, same-o. Right now I could use a nap and some ice cream, though, LOL.
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 3:19 pmHi Lilan,
Yummy! Can I just say that I’m totally in food overdrive right now and want to eat everything in sight? Mexican tamales sound really good right now.
I played with the Kat Von D palette when I went to Sephora the other day. I like it, but wasn’t moved enough to get it. Sometimes I feel like I need more hours in the day to play with makeup, sigh. 🙂
What’s up with you? Any exciting plans for tonight?
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 3:20 pmHi Elena,
Thanks, girl! All you need are two blues in the same family (a mid-tone and then a dark one) and then you’ll be good to go. A duo might be a good idea, so that they do the work of matching the colors for you. Sonia Kashuk has some good ones at House of Tar-ghay!
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 3:20 pmHi Elena and Jessica!
That nail polish is Lippmann Collection Lady Marmalade. You can see it here in all it’s sparkly, strawberry glory!
Dao says
July 15th, 2008 at 4:14 pmLOL at Mimi’s picture! Everytime I do a blue look, her face is what on my mind to keep me from over-doing the blues! I love Mally Roncal since forever. She makes makeup looks so easy. The middle blue looks like Bell-bottom blue, you think?
Daos last blog post..7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup: Bare Essentuals
Nosh says
July 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pmWow, Karen, I have never liked blue eyeshadow before this post! The 3 looks you did are all equally beautiful! It’s blue but not in your face. Very elegant.
I am hesitant to purchase the palette, though, because I already have bare canvas base and deep truth e/s (which look similar to peach and the navy in the palette, but I am not sure if it is).. I hate purchasing similar colors, lol 😛 Plus, if I purchase any more black liners, I will be disowned by friends and family! So that leaves the peach and royal blue e/s… I wonder what good dupes would be for those!
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 5:03 pmHi Dao,
LOL, me too! 🙂 Someday I’d love to meet Mally. She seems really cool!
Yah, it does resemble that Pigment, now that I think about it. Good eye, girlie!
Karen says
July 15th, 2008 at 5:07 pmHi Nosh,
Thanks, sweets! 🙂 You can totally dupe these looks with what you’ve got. I have Bare Canvas, too, and to get a natural looking eye I often pair it with Shroom (has a bit o’ shimmer), Ricepaper (also shimmery) or Brule (matte).
I don’t have Deep Truth (I’ve heard *great* things about it, though, so eventually it will be mine, mwhahaaha!), but I think I’m thinking Moon’s Reflection would be pretty lighter blue complement to it!
Glosslizard says
July 15th, 2008 at 5:30 pmA Midsummer Night’s Dream is my favorite too! That’s why I saw it in its third incarnation for me this year! It was a blast! They set some of the lines to music and added some dance numbers! The “fairies” were of the Castro Street variety — big musc’lar guys in mesh shirts, leggings and combat boots with tutu skirts! You can see some pictures here:
http://www.osfashland.org/browse/production.aspx?prod=87
It was loud, colorful and energetic! I loved it! 🙂
Today I left my cheeks bare so I could play with Dainty as soon as I got home with her! I was wearing Greenstroke PP paired with Laura Mercier metallic creme shadow in gold and NARS Abyssinia on the browbone and inner corner. Chanel’s Denim eyeliner on the outer corners only and black mascara. My lippie was a very sheer brushing of Smashbox Vixen lipgloss topped with a swipe of Gold Light. I was happy with the look overall and it was actually a really good lazy look! And finally, when I added Dainty to the apples of my cheeks it really brightened up my whole face!
Mmmmmm, I can think of nothing better right now than a nap and ice cream! I’ve been thinking of Ben & Jerry’s cake batter ice cream all day! 🙂
Marisol says
July 15th, 2008 at 5:44 pmThe Navy Shimmer shadow is hot. I like that first look a lot.
Marisols last blog post..Song of the Week
Lydia says
July 15th, 2008 at 7:30 pmThis is sooo pretty! I love the eyeliner!
Melissa says
July 15th, 2008 at 7:48 pmLovin’ the blue on you! Blue is my fave. My new baby is Sea and Sky, the best blue EVER!
Melissas last blog post..If the shoes are hot and the makeup is crazy…it has to be Sex and the City GNO.
Mariah says
July 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pmGorgeous! I love how perfectly applied it looks on you! I wonder how close to Deep Truth that darker blue is! It looks a lot like it!
If that’s the case I am totally trying this out soon!! 😀
Mariahs last blog post..Missing break?
Lilan says
July 15th, 2008 at 10:53 pmYou know, I’ve never had a Mexican tamale before! Maybe I’ll get that next time I’m at the taqueria 🙂
Alas Miss Karen, I always feel like there needs to be more hours in the day for everything!
Tonight I just ran some errands – went to the grocery store and did some writing. Now I’m wiped and think I might go to bed after this episode of Ace of Cakes. I’m not a huge cake eater but everything Duff makes looks delish!
Lilans last blog post..Letting It All Hang Out..
Laura B says
July 16th, 2008 at 1:08 amHello!
Love the looks! I actually have a new blue outfit which i’m wearing to a swanky work event on Saturday. I’d love to do a co-ordinating blue eye but I have suffered bruise-eye in the past…
I’ve recently acquired Naval Blue pigment as part of a set – anyone have any tips?
It’s 9am here in the UK – the sun is shining but there are 8 more hours of work…sigh.
gio says
July 16th, 2008 at 7:10 amThis is gorgeous! Love the eyeliner!
gios last blog post..New collection: Laura Mercier L’Heure Magique Collection
i♥makeup says
July 16th, 2008 at 9:20 amSTUNNING..
How r u girly?
i♥makeups last blog post..Manish Arora for M.A.C- Product Info
Amanda says
July 16th, 2008 at 10:59 amGREAT post Karen. I’ve never used or tried Mally….too bad it is so hard to find. I wonder if the kit comes in other color combos?
I have mac’s moon’s reflection eyeshadow (medium blue) and a navy shu shadow so I might dupe some of these looks. I love the smokey one-and I think it’s still dramatic….even though you catergorized it as simple. 🙂
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:34 pmHi Glosslizard,
How cool! I bet the dance numbers were lots of fun and added so much to the play. I love that story so much that I want to name one of my future cats Lysander.
Anyhoo, onto makeup. I wore Dainty today, too. It’s so very pretty and soft on the cheeks, almost airbrushed. I love!
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:34 pmHi Marisol,
Thanks, girlie. It’s indeed a great shade, and I think I can get it to work for more dramatic smokey looks if I take some time to practice with it.
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:34 pmHi Lydia,
Thanks! It’s a decent liner, but not as long lasting as Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof.
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:35 pmHi Melissa,
Oh! I am so new to blue! Besides Sea and Sky, what do you like?
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:35 pmHi Mariah,
Deep Truth seems to have a cult following. Imma have to get on that train!
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pmHi Lilan,
Really? Tamales are really good. Try ’em!
Do you ever bake cakes? I went through a serious bakery phase a few years ago and would just make cakes for fun because it reminded me of chemistry lab. I’d churn out three or four on the weekend if I was feeling ambitious. I’d take pictures of them and everything. Anyhoo, if you like baking I have a couple of really yummy cake recipes.
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pmHi Laura B,
I hear ya, girlfriend. I’ve had many a bad blue incidents.
How about pairing it with with a beige matte shadow? You could do the pigment on the lid and just into the crease, and then the beige matte on the brow bone and then blended into the blue. A thick black or navy gel liner on the upper lash line (like a cat eye) might be cute… It’s an easy look without a ton of blending.
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pmHi Gio,
Thanks! Do you think you might give it a go?
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:37 pmIheartmakeup!
What’s new, hon? I’m good, just kinda tired. I’m gonna hit the sack soon so I can get up early for the interview tomorrow. What’s new with you?
Karen says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:38 pmHi Amanda,
Thank you! 🙂 I hear ya about the availability; I would be nicer if it easier to find so that you could test it before hand.
In regards to the other colors, there are several other kits! Turns out you can buy ’em on amazon. Here’s a link along with the shades.
Lilan says
July 16th, 2008 at 8:56 pmHey Karen,
I LOVE baking! Send over your recipes, girl!
I usually only bake cakes when it’s someone’s birthday or a holiday around here. For my mom’s birthday earlier this year, I tested a two recipes before making one to bring to Tahoe. I did a super chocolaty chocolate cake, and a lemon cake with raspberry filling with white chocolate butter cream. The lemon one was really yummy since you know I don’t have much of a sweet tooth – that chocolate one was too much!
Needless to say, my coworkers were really happy I did test baking that weekend. 😉
What are some of your favorite flavor combos?
Lilans last blog post..Rock the Vote Red from Stila Cosmetics
Glosslizard says
July 16th, 2008 at 10:42 pmThat’s a great name for a cat! 🙂
Yay! You got Dainty too! I’m really loving it too! Tomorrow I’m trying it over my bronzer!
Ok, Lilan’s making me drool!
Lilan says
July 16th, 2008 at 11:04 pmGlosslizard and Karen – we gotta get together for some makeup and cake! woo hoo! 😀
Lilans last blog post..Rock the Vote Red from Stila Cosmetics
Karen says
July 17th, 2008 at 7:06 amHi Lilan,
I have a few you might like then. I have a poppyseed cake that’s not too sweet (don’t eat it before a drug test); my fave is an Italian cream cake recipe my friend gave me from a recipe book from the 50s. It’s really easy and delicious, and is my go-to cake for special occasions.
Karen says
July 17th, 2008 at 7:08 amHi Glosslizard,
You know you’re CCL when you’re planning your future cats names. 🙂
Yes! I love Dainty. It looks like it would be a lil’ scary in the pan but it’s so not. I used one of the MSF on top of it to give it a bit more shimmer. I bet your Guerlain would look really great with it.
Lilan says
July 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pmHi Karen,
Happy Friday – it’s finally here!
The Italian cream sounds divine and oh so retro – I can’t wait to try it!
Hope you’ve got some fun plans for the weekend 😉
Lilans last blog post..Getting Through the Friday Afternoon Slump..