The Peacock Eye: 2 Variations on the same look. Dramatic, vs VERY Dramatic!
I did this colorful, dramatic look some time back (let me know via Disqus or hit the reply button to let me know if you prefer this old-school image/text tutorial or you prefer gifs), and it got blocked when I was having technical issues with my Queue posts.
I redid the look recently using super-cheap shadows just to see how it’d look (an 88 shimmer palette or any of the 120 or 252 palettes would have these shades), and added a pair of “peacock" themed paper lashes that you can get - much cheaper - than regular Paperself ones. alternatives to these.)
- Purple base: Maybelline Color Tattoo
- Purple Shimmer: Urban Decay ACDC
- Blue Shimmer: MAC Freshwater
- Teal Shimmer: MAC Steam
Brushes: One blending fluff (shaped like a MAC 217), and one flat liner or pencil-shaped brush
Black liner (pencil or gel)y
Mascara
Paperself Peacock lash dupes (Design #5) from bornprettystore.com.
Tutorial below!
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Step 1: First apply a light layer of purple shadow over the entire lid, concentrating the color on the mobile lid and fading up and out to just under the brow bone. This doesn’t need to be too neat or pretty. It’s just there to intensify the powder shadows that go over it.
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Step 2: Apply the metallic purple shadow over the outer half of the lids, concentrating your color on the lid once again, then very very lightly blending up and out until you hit the brow bone.
Important note on winged eyes; make sure the bottom edge of the wing goes from the outer corner of the eye up to the end of your brow, angling upwards gently. It should not be going straight out to your temple (or worse, slope down).
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Step 3: Along the lower lash line, I used a slightly damp detail brush to apply a teal shadow, applying it almost like liner. (Applying shadow slightly damp is a way to intensify the color and reduce fallout.)
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Step 4: On the inner halves of the lids, apply the metallic blue the same way, packing color on the lid and then gently smoking up and out towards the brow in circular buffing motions.
The finished shadow look should be intense and the colors quite defined, but also well blended so there are no harsh edges around the edges.
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Step 5: Finish the eye with black liner along the lower waterline and the tightline (inside the lashes) if you don’t want that rim of flesh to show against the strong makeup. Run black liner along the upper lash line as well. You don’t need a very strong and precise black line, so I would skip liquid liner.
Then curl lashes and apply black mascara.
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For the more intense and dramatic look
I simply swopped out the blue and purple shadows with a richer, deeper ocean blue and purple. They were really cheap and not too well-made, but the purple base below made all the difference.
You don’t even need to change the shadows, because the key thing is really the peacock lashes.
Peacock Lashes
I found some well-made Peacock lash dupes (Design #5) from bornprettystore.com. They are not 100% identical but the difference is not noticeable unless you own the originals. And at around $4 a pair with free shipping, who’s complaining?
I cut a strip into 2, ditching the “bird’s head” in the center. Then I simply applied lash adhesive to the base and popped it on to the outer halves of my eyes so they complement the look but don’t take over everything. Make sure your glue is already super tacky before you try to apply it.
After you let your paper lashes sit a bit and stick firm, gently push the lashes upwards slightly so they point slightly up and out and the design is visible when someone looks at you straight on.