PRELUDE: BEAUTY
WORDS BY CHRISTINA KALLERY
Shadows & Fog
This year, fall runways indulged a fascination for all things luxe, dramatic and romantic—rich velvets, delicate lace, Russian furs and a notable return to basic black. It’s no use pairing such sultry intensity with a too-sweet makeup palette—a little like mixing your Dostoevsky with Danielle Steel. We’ve tracked down a few tips for adding shades of (wearable) drama to your beauty look.
Smoke gets in your eyes
Think of the electrifying instant Anna Karenina locked eyes with Count Vronsky. For moments of high romance, nothing beats a smoldering, sexy gaze. Mally Roncal, founder of the Mally Beauty collection and makeup artist to stars like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez, concurs. “The easiest way to cultivate drama is a strong, smoky eye. “But you want it to look classic and beautiful—not messy and grungy,” she advises. “Start out with a cream eye shadow base. It helps to set the color and keeps it from getting smudged.”
Next, apply a shimmery neutral to the entire lid. Follow up with a deeper shade in the eyelid crease, and lightly blend. Follow with pencil eyeliner in a rich black shade, like Chanel Le Crayon Khol in Noir (www.chanel.com). Line just the top of the eyelid or, if you are feeling particularly daring, the top and bottom. Then smudge with abandon. “For an ultra dramatic look and to really make eyes pop, I line the inside of the lower eyelid,” Mally says. For expert application, we adore the Mally Beauty City Chick Smokey Eye Kit (www.qvc.com), which comes complete with base, three gorgeous shadows and a pencil liner. Another pro-worthy bet is LORAC’s Croc Palette (www.sephora.com). For chic, flirty lashes, finish with a swipe of the blackest mascara, like Benefit’s BADgal Lash (www.benefitcosmetics.com).
Soft-focus lens
As anyone who’s ever been hooked on daytime soaps can tell you, sultry drama plays best against a backdrop of innocence. “I keep the rest of the face soft and beautiful,” explains Mally. “A general rule of thumb with a smoky eye is to go with a lighter lip. You want soft balance. I recommend a nude lip or, for a little more color, a stain.” To keep it subtle, try a sheer, glossy hue like Lola Sheer Lipstick in Hold Me (www.lolacosmetics.com) or a soft pinky-nude stain like Urban Decay Ink in Naked (www.urbandecay.com).
“Cheeks should stay natural. I like soft apricot or pinky blush—something that compliments cheeks’ natural color.” Bésame Boudoir Rouge in Sweet Pink (www.besamecosmetics.com) or Tarte Cheekstain in Tipsy, a sheer peach, (www.tartecosmetics.com) both offer a demure hint of color—as if you’ve just been caught staring at the handsome stranger across the aisle. And just in case you have, those smokin’ eyes can’t help but generate a little heat.