‘Brat’ Brought Back Partying: Here’s The Smoky Eye To Wear To It
September 24 | 3 minute read
Words by Ruby Devlin
The makeup look itself has three key components: a perfectly imperfect smoky eye (bonus points if it’s the remnants of last night’s makeup, topped up with more liner) and a touch of sparkle that catches the (strobe) light, paired with a barely there complexion that appears to have almost fully sweated off.
According to Half Magic founder and Euphoria’s Head Makeup Artist, Donni Davy, the reign of ‘clean aesthetic’ is coming to an end, and we’re long overdue a grungier makeup trend: “[Grungy glam] is the perfect blend of high-impact makeup with a real-world, real-me spin. It’s like OG Instagram makeup and Gen Z had a baby.”
Here are our tips to help you achieve a ‘I’ve just left Charli XCX’s Boiler Room set’ makeup look.
VIOLETTE_FR founder, Violette, says she prefers to keep the complexion lowkey with simple skin prep and a touch of concealer: “I don't like to put concealer too close to my lash line, because I like to use my natural shadow almost as an eyeshadow."
If you’re wanting a bit more coverage, we suggest a lightweight, buildable skin tint like NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer or for a glowier base with the illusion of natural dewiness (‘post-party sweat, but make it chic’), Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter.
Next up is the focal point of the look: the eyes. Donni says the key here is nonchalance: “Don’t be precious about how your eyeshadow is applied, or if it’s perfectly done. It should look like you hardly spent any time doing your makeup.”
With that in mind, start by sweeping a cool-toned matte shadow into the crease and outer corner. This will intensify the smokiness of the look, but if you’re in a rush, you can jump straight to a brown-black liner. In true party-girl style, we recommend using your ring finger to smudge (gently).
Image credit: Instagram/@charli_xcx
As for the touch of sparkle? Do what feels the most you.
Take inspiration from the French and layer a shimmer over a matte to give the lid more depth – we love VIOLETTE_FR’s Yeux Paint Twinkling in ‘Violette Sauvage’, inspired by the original party girls of Studio 54.
Or, you could go down the Euphoria route with Half Magic’s Glitter Puck (which founder Donni calls “grown-up glitter”). It’s perfect (and easy to use) for either a quick hit of shimmer or an intense sparkle.
Another option is to forego the glitter shadow altogether and stick on a Half Magic Face Stud as a faux piercing, which Donni says gives a “conversation-starting finishing touch.”
