QUESTION: Why use a blue eyeshadow instead of a blue liner?
ANSWER: Why not?
Picture it: dark blue liner coupled with super deep, dark, almost black nails, only, instead of using a pencil, gel or liquid liner, you use a powder eyeshadow.
Do you ever just get stuck in a rut and feel like you’re wearing nothing but brown and beige? Feel like trying something different but don’t want to go over the top?
I’m always looking for ways to keep things interesting for myself, especially when it comes to wearable makeup looks — ideally chic and wearable, but not totally snooze-worthy, if you catch my drift.
One day I decided to pair dark blue liner with dark blue claws, and the first thing I thought when I finished was, “Why haven’t I done this before?”
Seriously, though, why use a blue eyeshadow as a liner instead of an actual blue liner?
Using a dark blue eyeshadow as a liner, instead of a dark blue pencil, gel or liquid eyeliner, creates a more diffused edge, so the overall effect looks softer.
I’ve done it with lots of different liner styles, too, like spicy cat eye looks, and even soft washes of color, where the liner is smudged along my upper and lower lash lines.
Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a blurred edge (and the accompanying less attention to detail).
Just for fun: add dark blue nails
I like seeing the flash of dark blue on my fingers whenever I tuck my bangs behind my ears or push my (nerdy Gamma Ray computer glasses) up.
And it think it sort of reinforces the blue liner, too. You know, more blue.
I also like how the softer liner contrasts with the harder edge of the dark blue nails, so you also have that contrasty thing going.
I call this liner look the Tabby T-1000 (after the liquid metal Terminator from T2)
For this cat liner look, I applied metallic dark blue NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Giove ($29) with an angled brush.
First, I applied it dry to create the shape of the cat eye and get that softer edge. Then I wet the brush head, dipped it back into the pan, and applied the shadow on my lash line close to the lashes, to sort of intensify the metallic finish and crete a subtle gradient.
You could definitely keep it simpler by picking one — just wet or just dry — but ya know. I’m just saying.
