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One of this year’s biggest fads is the Ombre effect and if you have been keeping up with hair or nail techniques you have certainly seen it. The word “Ombre” is French and basically means shading or graduation. It refers to the graduation of color from darker to lighter. Now that the Ombre effect has conquered the hair and nail industry, it makes sense that the next step will be for it to spill over into makeup. Ombre lips and eyes are quickly popping up everywhere. Creating Ombre eyes is the easiest and most effective way to add this impressive effect to your look. With the ability to incorporate any variations of colors, the possibilities are endless. Here, we are going to show you how to achieve the perfect Ombre eye. Remember, you can wear any color you choose, just make sure you create a gradient effect keeping it darker on the bottom and use lighter shades of the same color as you move up the eyelid.

Face

Brows

Eyes

Lips

Tools

Get the Look

  • As always, begin by priming your eyes, this step is very important as it will prevent creasing. If you don’t have a primer, you can use a small amount of concealer with a tiny amount of powder placed over it or any cream eyeshadow.
  • Begin by placing a line of black eyeliner at the base of your top lashes. It doesn’t have to be perfect but we do want the darkest part at the bottom of your eyelid. With the same black eyeliner place a thin line under the lashline coming in 1/3 – 1/4 of the way.
  • With a pencil brush like the MAC #219, buff the color up and out slightly and to soften any harsh lines.
  • Using a small, flat brush like the Makeup Forever 5s, take the blue shade from the Makeup Forever Flash Color Palette, (this is very expensive a good alternative is a Jumbo Eye Pencil from NYX in the color Electric Blue ) and pat this color on the lid staying half way on the lower eyelid. To help feather the color out, flip your brush upside down and pull the color up slightly.
  • Pick up your pencil brush again and soften out any harsh lines from the blue color you just placed.
  • Wipe off that small flat brush really well and go in with the light aqua color. If you are using NYX Jumbo Pencils try using the shade Baby Blue. Place this color over the line left from the previous color and blend up going slightly past the crease line. Once again, take your small dome brush and soften any harsh edges.
  • Again, wipe off that flat brush and take the white shade from the Flash Palette or use NYX’s color in Milk and swipe it sideways across the line left by the lighter blue color. Remember, the key is to keep blending until you achieve a gradient effect that the Ombre look is known for.
  • Next is where we really get to have fun with blending. The key to this look regardless of what colors your are using is to have a black and a white and then 3 shades of the same color transitioning from light to dark.
  • With a flat stiff brush place Makeup Geek’s Neptune all along the lid going up on the first ½ of the lower eyelid.
  • Wipe off that same brush really well and go in with MAC’s Winkle and place right above the dark blue bringing the color up to the crease.
  • Now with a crease brush, like the Makeup Geek Soft Dome Brush, go in with the MAC shade Aqua and place it in the crease feathering the color out to create the light to dark or gradient effect.
  • Wipe off your dome brush and go in with Makeup Geek’s White Lies and place under the brow and blend out any harsh lines. If you have darker skin you can use a cream or ivory colored eyeshadow like the Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean.
  • At this point with all the colors that have been placed you will lose some of the darkness on the very bottom of the lashline from the eyeliner. Go back in with the liner and place along the lashline over where you placed it before.
  • To help darken it and give it a true Ombre look, go in with a pencil brush and Makeup Geek’s Corrupt, and use your pencil brush to buff out some black along the lashline to darken it.
  • Pick up some more of the Corrupt and place under the lashline over the black eyeliner to intensify the color and keep the darkness at the bottom of the eyes.
  • Add a pop of blue liner to the waterline of your eye by dipping your eyeliner into dark blue from the Flash Palette or if you used a NYX Jumbo Pencil apply that to the waterline.
  • The next step is very important especially if you have any bags under the eyes. Any fallout from the blue eyeshadow will intensify the color of the bags under your eyes. Apply a small amount of concealer under your eyes and buff out to help clean up and open up your eyes.
  • Set the concealer with a pink tinted powder or eyeshadow to brighten the eyes.
  • Curl your lashes and apply two coats of your favorite mascara.
  • With an angled blush brush apply a muted shade like Tarte’s Exposed to the back of the cheeks.
  • This step is optional, but for a good highlight use a flat foundation brush for maximum control and sweep your highlighter on your cheekbones, just enough for the light to catch it.
  • For the lips we want a muted pink color. If your lips are naturally highly pigmented then you will want to cover them with concealer to help mute them out some. If your lips aren’t pigmented you can easily skip this step.
  • Lastly, take the color Shy by Makeup Geek, which is a stunning muted pale pink, and place on your lips with a nude lipgloss to add shine and make your lips look fuller.

The Ombre look isn’t just for hair and nails anymore. Using this technique you can have stunning Ombre eyes in all of your favorite shades. And with so many bright and fun colors for the summer changing having a different Ombre eye for every day is effortless. Have fun and try this look out for yourself. It’s a quick and easy way to add the Ombre look to your wardrobe.