How to pull off bright eyes in 4 steps

Eyeshadows in barely-there shades of taupe and brown look great, but when you want your makeup to really stand out, look no further than the bright eye trend. This season’s vibrant, rainbow-inspired colors provide a bold yet surprisingly wearable update to your everyday color palette. So get a little daring and make your eyes pop with a splash of cobalt blue, deep plum, emerald green or golden pink. The trick is to pick a color that works with your skin tone and blend, blend, blend.

Step 1: Choose your shadow

When picking a color, note that all brights are not created equal. What might look great on some women might not look the best on others. For example, olive-skinned women can look sallow with the wrong shade of green and bright pink can make pale skin look tired. The one exception? Cobalt blue. According to New Jersey makeup artist Amy Hemming, this jewel tone looks good on just about every skin tone. Emerald green and rose gold are also flattering shades. Emerald green enhances hazel and brown eyes, while a shimmery golden pink looks best when paired with blue eyes. When in doubt, meet with a trusted makeup professional and pick a vibrant color that speaks to you.

Step 2: Use an angled brush

Dab an angled makeup brush into your chosen palette of eyeshadow. Swipe the brush along your upper lash line to distribute the color. You may want to repeat this process a few times to reach your desired level of color saturation.

Step 3: Blend

Using your brush, blend the color from side to side and up and down to smooth out the edges of the color. The key is to blend, blend and blend some more. Keep the color below the crease for daytime wear. The darkest part of the color should be at your lash line and should gradually fade towards the crease.

Step 4: Lash up

Add a swipe of mascara to polish off the look.

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