How to work the metallic eyeshadow trend

There are certain make-up looks that just scream Christmas to us; the classic red lip, a winged eyeliner and of course, metallic eyes. Offering a more sophisticated take on sparkle, we can’t resist a touch of silver, gold and bronze during the festive season.

To make sure you’re working the trend right, we’ve put together some hints and tips:

Pick the right colour for your skin tone

If you have a light skin tone, silver and platinum shades will look especially flattering. Darker skin tones should look towards golds and bronzes for a warmer take. Rose gold is universal and looks great on everyone.

Choose your coverage

Are you creating a day or night look? Sheer formulas are ideal for the daytime, giving a subtle touch of shine, while more opaque formulas create a stunning evening look. Amp up the drama by layering your colour.

Use a primer

To help your eyeshadow last longer and stay in place (i.e. not smudged under the eye!) remember to use a primer. You could either use your usual make-up primer, or get a dedicated eye primer.

Apply it right

How you apply metallic shadow is up to you. Most people like the extra control they have when using their fingers as you can layer and dab on colour where you want. If you decide to use a brush, opt for a smaller brush for more control.

Pair with mascara

Mascara helps to add definition to the eyes, making your metallic look pop. Go for black and don’t be shy – the bigger the lashes, the better!

Remember to highlight

Even though metallic eyeshadows have a lot of sheen in them, it’s still worth highlighting the eye. Add a touch of white shimmer the the inner corners of your eye and under the brow bone. This will add dimension to your look.

Adapt your eyeliner

If you’ve gone big on the mascara, you won’t need eyeliner. If you don’t want to skip it, keep it soft, smudged and subtle.

Keep your base matte

With so much shimmer going on around the eyes, it’s best to keep your base make-up matte. You can add touches of highlight, but avoid an all-over dewy look.