Editor’s Note: We’re celebrating 30 Days of Beauty to help you get ready for all of those holiday parties. Prizes or discounts will be awarded randomly, so you won’t want to miss a day!
Nothing is more surprising or flattering than purple eye makeup done right. Regardless of skin tone, a clear purple or violet or periwinkle blue makes the whites of your eyes extra-white, and really pops your natural eye color.
It’s easy to be afraid, very afraid, of Going There. Most purples have way too much pink or red or gray in them, which can look really scary on, and send you hurtling back to your safe browns.
But now you don’t have to. I’ve found two Perfect Purples that’ll look gorgeous and anything but scary:
You don’t have to wear these together. In fact, I wouldn’t. Too much of the same thing can be a drag. I like contrast.NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in St. Marks Place ($23) and Lancôme Color Design Lustrous Powder Eyeshadow in Miss Sweetheart D #303 ($18).
Let’s talk about the NARS liner first. Named for the groovy street in the East Village in Manhattan, St. Marks Place is a creamy but precise crayon liner that glides on smoothly, lasts 12 budge-proof hours without smearing or caking (which also makes it perfect for lining under your bottom lashes), and is a vibrant, but not extreme, true violet. It twists up for more, and has a built-in sharpener. Wear this on its own or with any eyeshadow except purple. It’s beautiful.
Next the Lancôme eyeshadow. This one, like the coral shadow, I wrote about previously,
I’m completely in love with. The texture is silken and the pigment-packed color is buildable and sheer. It’s slightly iridescent but not too sparkly for daytime. I love the idea of doing a smoky eye with this. It’s a fun alternative to the grays and blacks we usually see. Wear this with a black or silver or gold eyeliner for maximum New Year’s holiday dazzle.
