20 Fall Essentials #19: Neon Elements

Yes, I have disappeared off the face of the Earth for the past… almost two weeks… but my birthday was last Friday and I was pretty frantic. I had the best birthday in the entire world though and I’m so blessed to have this many great friends who know how to throw amazing surprise parties and make me feel so special! I definitely will be sharing all the fun gifts I got… like a duck mug and a gigantic cupcake cookie jar – seriously!

My Fall series is almost over and I’m giving you back-to-back similar posts on achieving super bright looks in this otherwise dark & gloomy weather – so keep your eyes peeled wide open!

This past summer, I did a post on how to incorporate neon colors into your wardrobe without looking like you stepped in and out of a rave. For today, I decided to share how to wear these colors in make-up form, since that can be quite tricky! One of my favorite designers Jeremy Scott presented his Fall 2011 collection with punk-inspired models decked out in playful looks. Tightly pulled pigtails were mixed with rainbow colored extensions and adding to the fun factor even more was saturated eye makeup in acid greens and fluorescent orange hues. The models’ vibrant eyes seriously popped with color and while the look appears flirty and fun, it’s not exactly something you’d think about wearing everyday!

To get the look to be more appropriate for daily wear, Rebecca Cox from UK Glamour Magazine shows and tells a super easy method to pull off the neontastic look.

I never thought yellow lids would look so good – that’s usually one of the hardest colors to pull off especially if you have a light skin-tone. Here’s a step-by-step guide on achieving this look, courtesy Rebecca. *Disclaimer: I tweaked a few of the steps according to my make-up routine which I find to be easiest, as well as to cater to readers considering the makeup used in this tutorial may not be available to everyone. All other notes are strictly by Rebecca and I do not claim any of her work!

Step 1: Base & Shadow: Apply a base of shadow primer using the tip of your index finger or a small concealer brush. Follow with a light foundation applied with a highlighter brush touched up with concealer in one shade lighter than your skin-tone. Then, using your favorite green-yellow eye-liner pencil, apply all over the eyelid as a base to define your eye – blend, blend, and blend using an eyeshadow brush!
Step 2: Eye Definition: Apply shades of rose, camels, and browns on the crease of your eyelid to advance the green-yellow color even more. Try a palette like Sigma’s ‘Dare’ as seen above! Then, using a deep burgundy red eye-pencil, angle a line up from your lash line and along the socket line, blending with the shadow.
Step 3: Liner & Lashes: Using your favorite black eyeliner, line the crease of your eye and blend so it won’t appear too bold. Layer your lashes with a lengthening mascara.
Step 4: Blush & Lip: Apply a light rose blush onto the apples of your cheeks and blend back towards your ears. Cover your lips using a hot candy pink lip pencil and finish it off with a semi-sheer pink gloss to make the look pop!

In four easy steps, you’ve achieved a neon look that you can pull off just about any time of day!

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