Hmm… What does one do, and where does one go, while wearing shimmery royal blue cat eyes, teal brows and aqua blue lips?
Perhaps waaaaaaay far into the future behind the wheel of a time-traveling DeLorean? To a time in a fantastical future when bad-@ss babes run the show wearing makeup by MAC and clothing by Chromat?
Gigawatts of girl power course through the MAC Chromat collection, which electrifies domestic MAC counters and the MAC website starting June 29th (and internationally this July), and it got me fired up to turn this look into a tutorial.
The MAC Chromat collection: Overview
Blue and gray supercharge the eight-piece limited edition release, while pops of orange and red crackle, and the collection comes complete with bionic-seeming blue LE packaging that looks like something straight out of Tron!
I’m feelin’ the eyeshadow palette, the lipsticks and the mini angled brush, which is a re-promote from the MAC permanent line. The blue mascara, blue gel liner and blue pencil liner, however, aren’t quite as electrifying IMO. I don’t dislike them… I think they’re fine. The only thing is, they require lots of layering to get them to really show up on me. Major patience.
The collection is a collab with designer Becca McCharen of Chromat and partners the line with MAC and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund — the Council of Fashion Designers of America, which is a non-profit that hosts a yearly contest for new and up-and-coming designers that awards funding and provides opportunities for business mentoring. Becca was one of 2015’s CFDA finalists.
Feminine power and athleticism characterize Chromat’s clothing to me, and the clean lines in their swimwear and lingerie inspired me today, so that’s what I went for in this look. I did shimmery royal blue cat eye, which I then accented with orange and teal lids and a bold, bright aqua blue pout.
Oh, and teal glitter brows! Because, as you know, in the future, everyone wears glittery brows… OBVS. 🙂
A makeup tutorial with royal blue cat eyeliner, deep orange lids and bright aqua lips
First, ‘ze eyes!
I like to do the eyes first, because with glitter and blue eyeshadow, chances are you’ll end up with fallout on your face, so I suggest doing your eyes first, then cleaning up any stray flecks with a makeup wipe before following up with your face makeup.
1. Pop a pair of false lashes on your peepers
Start by applying a pair of false lashes.
Now, I know that many YouTube makeup tutorials save this step for last, but I like to do it first, because the lashes help me figure out how high up I can take my crease color, and how far out I can take my cat eye flick.
2. Build your blue cat eyes
Begin building your cat eyes by mapping out the shape with a blue gel eyeliner, and don’t worry for a second if it doesn’t look purr-fect! — because you’re going to layer shimmery blue eyeshadow on it anyway.
I took my line from the inner corner all the way out to the outer corner on my upper lash line, and then just from the mid-point out to the outer corner on my lower lash line.
After you’ve built out the general shape, intensify the blue by loading an angled brush with a shimmery blue shadow, spraying it with makeup setting spray, and layering the wet shadow directly on top of the blue gel liner.
I like to do the liner before the eyeshadow because, again, it lets me tell how far into the inner corner, and how far out to the outer corner, to take my crease and lid colors.
3. Carve out the crease with orange eyeshadow
Next, carve out your crease with a satiny orange eyeshadow, and then blend out the edges.
4. Lay down a few layers of teal-blue duochrome shadow on your lid
Complete the eyeshadow by dipping a flat brush into a bluish green duochrome and applying a couple layers on your lids. Next, blend out the edges. Then, wet that same flat brush with a makeup setting spray, load it with more bluish green shadow, and pack the wet shadow on the lower part of your lids to create a subtle gradient.
5. Tightline your upper and lower water lines with a deep navy liner
I’m pretty sure you already know how to do this, but here’s something that makes it easier for me: run the point of your pencil across the back of your hand a few times first to soften and warm it up before you line your water lines.
6. Fill in your brows with teal glitter
Brush a glitter glue into your brows, then pack as much (or as little) teal glitter on your brows as you want.
7. Complete your eyes by coating your lower lashes with blue mascara
And really get up into those roots!
8. Finishing the rest of the look
Clean up any stray flecks that ended up on your cheeks or elsewhere with a makeup wipe, then do your foundation, concealer and powder. After that, you’ll want to do your lipstick before your bronzer — again, to better gauge how much color to put on your cheeks — so apply your blue lipstick, then sweep your bronzer on your cheeks (I’m skipping blush this time because I think it’s a little OTT coupled with the eyes and lips).
The final look is a little out there and crazy, I know, but it might not be out there for you if this is something you’d normally wear on a Tuesday, LOL! If it’s a little too much for you, though, just modify it. You can skip the glitter brows, for instance, and swap the blue lip for red to create something bold but still totally wearable.
Or, for everyday edgy, keep the blue lip, but skip the brows.
Give it a try! Have fun. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Bad ass look! Love it
Thanks, Erin! I hope you try it. 🙂
So pretty! Great going out look–if I went “out” anymore! Ha. Any who, I was *just* looking for a blue liner. Are Pearlglide liners no more? I think the Bionic Bae is in my future!
Hi Kelly,
I popped onto the MAC site and was surprised to not find the Pearlglides. 🙁 I’m not sure what the official word is on whether or not they’re being discontinued, but it seems like the signs point to yes, which is a bummer. I’ve always liked them.
I LOVE your eye look. What a great collaboration… definitely picking up that eyeshadow palette!
Hi Brooke,
Thank you! The eyeshadow palette is one of the best things about this collection. I hope you love it!
That is quite a look indeed! I might have been inclined to try it some 20 years ago. It’s funny but I love your understated look in the previous post and it inspired me to go back to some of my Chanel products in my limited collection. I love my Rose Ecrin blush and Espresso waterproof liner.
Be well.
I love that! and you’re freedom. Have a nice day.
Wow Karen! It does look futuristic! I especially love it with the red lippie!
How many times have I told you how much I love that cat-ear headband? However many, it’s not enough. Every time I see it, it makes my day! 🙂
It’s the blue brows that really make the futuristic look. So much fun glitter and who would think to use it on their brows? Very cool!
Ok, I’m not that daring to wear blue lipstick but I love this collection, really nice to see a more colourful and different launch!
Believe it or not that blue is surprisingly wearable. I think you could rock it!
That pic of you with the red lip…you look twenty years old!!! Motherhood looks GOOoooooOOD on you, girl.
Aww, thanks Brian! It’s been ages. I hope things on your end are good. Are you still working with MAC?
I absolutely love this look on you, and I do mean with the blue lipstick and teal brows!!! I wish I could pull off this look myself! The red lipstick is a good color on you, too.
Thanks, Tammy! I hope you try it sometime, even if it’s just for fun. You never know if you can pull it off until you give it a go. 🙂
I’m sooooooo lovin the brows!!! Sweetness!
I love the eye shadow and red lipstick on you. Not into blue eye brows so much. I own a lot of blue eye liners and a couple of blue mascaras. That palette is calling my name! I love blue and gray eye shadows and the orange pop is so different. So cool. This is the first time I’ve seen this collection. Fast work Karen!
This is an awesome look, and you are rocking all of it! Love!!!
Oooh, I’ve been looking for blue lipstick… I love this look. Especially the glitter brows! But maybe I’d do a slightly less bright lipstick with the eyes & brows. (Maybe my grey lipstick that I love? Hmmm…) I wish I had some of these supplies to try this.
No more pearlglides? That is bad News. You look great though, perfectly prepared for our robotic space future.
I get why you would apply the lashes first, but I find it so hard to do liner even with my lashes just with mascara, I don´t think I could handle the full flutter of falsies.
How is the blue mascara compared to Work It Out in the blue shade Hold for 10???!!! I don’t want to get it id it’s not as good because I don’t love this brush.
Hi Ariesbabie,
Eh, it’s OK but didn’t particularly rock my world. I prefer the colorful mascaras from Work It Out because you could actually see the color, you know? With this one I felt like I had to really build it for it to show up.
Perfect, thank you!!! I’ll just spend extra to get Hold for 10 mascara shipped! ??
You’re very welcome. Enjoy your beautiful mascara!