Gray eye shadow might sound kind of dull, but in fact, going gray is anything but drab. Beauty pro and makeup artist Tyron Machhausen says that the smoke gray eye is a great alternative to the classic, black smoky eye.
"Gray is the new black," says Machhausen, reporting for Sephora's Fall Backstage Beauty campaign. " It's just such a nice alternative. It has the same feeing, kind of, but it's much more modern and new."
Pretty in Pewter
Although grey lids are all the rage for stars, celebs, models, and beauty professionals, the gray eye shadow look is very easy even for makeup novices to master if they use any product that is shimmery because it is so easy to blend and is very forgiving. Wearing gray along the crease of your lids or as a smoky eye alternative will enhance the shape of your eye and make your eye color pop. And gray eye shadow looks stunning on women of just about every skin tone at any age.
How to Wear Shades of Gray Eye Shadow
Machhausen explains that the pretty in pewter look is very versatile - more so than the traditional black smoky eye - because it can easily transition from a day look to a an evening look. Just don't go overboard for day looks, to avoid looking like you're sporting a shiner.
“Wear a rich, pigmented [gray] for a night club look, or go for a sheer wash of gray during the day,” says celebrity makeup pro Napoleon Perdis in a feature of InStyle.com.
Once you've blended the perfect shade of gray on your lids, play up your smoky look by applying a thin line of black or charcoal gray liner into your lash line. Finish it off with a coat or two of glossy black mascara to top and bottom lashes, and voila!
The gray smoky eye is a very powerful look, so to balance your intense eye shadow, keep the rest of your face fresh and nude, and wear a dewy, soft colored lip product.
To rock the pretty in pewter makeup trend, try these fabulous products:
- Stila Red Carpet Palette
- Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Skinny Jeans (Pretty Pewter)
- Urban Decay Eye Shadow in S&M
- Sephora Colorful Eye Shadow Duo #8
- Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Tutorials Rocker Eye
- Too Faced Smokey Eye Palette
- Dior 1-Couleur Powder Mono Eyeshadow in 065 Silver Dust
Check out this video to learn how to master the smoky eye makeup technique from New York professional makeup artist Susan McCarthy.
