Long breaks are the perfect time to give a different beauty regimen a shot—like a makeup trend you've never dared test before. It's an opportunity to figure out new looks that work for you... and learn which ones definitely don't. Plus, you'll be experimenting in the confines of your own home, so if the look doesn't quite hit the mark, nobody will know except for you. Need some makeup inspiration to get started? Below, we've put together the looks we can't wait to try this break!
Majestic Metallics
This pink/purple metallic eyeshadow that Tia Mowry has going on is a wonderful look that transitions wonderfully from fall to winter. You can make it as dramatic or subtle as you want it to be; it all depends on how much pigment and eyeliner you use.
Get the Look:
- Make sure your face is matte as opposed to dewy so that the attention can be focused on your eyes.
- Using NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Violetta ($35), apply the lighter color onto the inner V of your eye and blend up and outwards to the lids.
- With the darker color, apply to the outer V of your eye and then blend inwards to your lids to achieve a daytime look.
- For a nighttime look, apply more of the darker color to your lid and then add a metallic/shimmery plum (such as Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow Shimmer in No. 33 Dying For Shoes, $13) in the outer V. Blend that into your crease.
- Don't forget to finish it off with eyeliner and mascara!
- To complete the look, just add a dab of your everyday go-to gloss, or a rosy gloss, such as Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Rose Petal ($14).
Leggy Lashes
All we want for Christmas is to learn how to recreate Kim K's look in about the 5 minutes we have from rolling out of bed in the morning to running to class. Fake lashes are a trend that, we believe, will never go out of style. The trick to perfecting them? Practice, practice, practice. As for wearing them during the day? Less is more.
Get the Look:
- Prep your face however you want. We prefer a radiant/hydrating foundation or tinted moisturizer, like NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($42).
- To lift your cheeks and get a natural glow, use NARS Blush in Orgasm ($30). And for those with darker skin tones, give Buxom True Hue Blush in Rendezvous ($24) a try.
- For your eyes, use a large angled eyeshadow brush (such as e.l.f. Studio Angled Contour Brush, $3) to apply a wash of matte nude in a shade 1 or 2 steps down from your skintone.
- To give some definition, use a fine-tip liquid pen (such as Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $18) to line the top of your eyes.
- Apply your lashes as close to your lashline as possible. Sephora Collection Bulls Eye Lash Applicator ($12) really helps in the application. For those who want a softer and more subtle look, try brown fake lashes (3 pairs for $7.32).
- To complete the look, just add a touch of lip gloss and you're ready to go.
Glamorously Gothic
For a modern take on the gothic look, we look to Evan Rachel Wood for inspiration. This cool look is a more polished version of that middle school phase most of us went through, when we had no idea what exactly we were doing with makeup. Evan matches her lips to her eyes, which looks eerily fabulous.
Get the Look:
- For the gothic look, start out with a matte face.
- Use a rose color on your cheeks. Try out Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dazzled, or Blushing Bride for darker skin tones ($26).
- If you're going to match your eyes to your lipstick and still obtain the glam goth look, two colors that are wonderful are a dark red and a plum. For a red, try out Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in S848 Raspberry ($21) and Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in Courtisane 02 ($12.50). For plum, we recommend Make Up Forever Artist Shadow in D926 in Blueberry ($21) and Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in Crush 23 ($12.50).
- Apply the eyeshadow to your lids and then blend up and out all the way to your brow bone.
- Use a thick and pigmented eyeliner (such as Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, $20) to line the top and bottom of your eyes.
- Finish off your eyes with some mascara.
- Use the corresponding lip color to complete the look!
Color Craze
Adding some color is always a fun way to drastically change up your eye look from day to day. If you have a colorful eyeshadow palette, your possibilities are endless (and cheaper than buying each eyeliner color separately)! The only thing that limits you is your own imagination. Use this break to experiment with a whole slew of colors and combinations. An icy blue is sure to turn heads as you hit up this season's holiday parties. You can even channel Peta Murgatroyd and match your eyes to your jewelry.
Get the Look:
- Prep your eyes by applying a wash of nude to your lids and a lighter color to your brow bone.
- To make the eyeliner color pop, apply a shimmery pearl or champagne color to the inner V of your eyes and blend it into your lids.
- Using a colored eyeliner (such as Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Electric, $20), line the entirety of your eyes and let it dry before the next step.
- If you're using eyeshadow, dampen an eyeliner brush (like Sephora Collection Classic Must Have Angled Liner Brush #90, $14) and then use whatever color you would like: We love Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow Shimmer in No. 14 Surfin USA ($13).
- Using a fine point black eyeliner (like Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, $18), line the top of your eyes and the outer 1/3 of the bottom of your eyes.
- Add mascara to finish off your eyes.
- To complete the look but also keep all the attention on your eyes, use a barely-there pink on your cheeks and lips. For blush, try out Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface, or Flush for darker skin tones ($26). For lips, try out Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Enchanted ($24).
Which one of these looks are you going to try? Let us know your results: We want to know what worked and what didn't!
