The 80s are back with a vengeance and with this, a flirtation with red eyeshadow.
This was highlighted on the catwalk for Kenzo where intense lipstick-red blush migrated from the cheeks onto the eye. To take this from runway to real way look at Olivia Wilde's perfectly shaded burgundy lids at the 2016 Golden Globes. This woman can do no wrong in the makeup stakes. She has been rocking this look ever since her days on House.
![The perfect burgundy rendition at the 2016 Golden Globes: Olivia Wilde always gets it right.](/web/20161020165720im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/3/r/b/u/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gs3rkw.png/1476668448954.jpg)
Don't be afraid of red: it comes in a zillion shades from pinot noir to Bordeaux, to cherry, brick, rust, copper and even pillar box red. The safest option is a cool wearable burgundy shade that can go on as a soft wash of colour or full throttle rendered as an intense smoky eye.
If you freak yourself out with the intensity you can always tone it down by blending a soft bronze eyeshadow over the top. I experimented with a truly delightful cherry eyeliner just the other day that I adored; it got two extreme reactions: "love that eyeliner it makes your eyes look so green" (tick), to "have you been crying".
![Cara Delevingne working a rusty eye at the Australian premiere of Paper Towns.](/web/20161020165720im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/3/r/f/d/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gs3rkw.png/1476668448954.jpg)
TOOL KIT
As with all things beauty prep is the key to nailing the look.
- Start with clean clear skin and disguise any flaws with concealer as red shadow will bring out any redness in your skin. Blend it under your eyes, around your nose, and on your chin.
- Use an eye cream to depuff under the eye and on the lids to create a smooth eyeshadow-ready surface.
- Prime the lid with a dedicated eyelid concealer to help the shadow colour stick.
- Work with an eyeshadow brush to help to blend the desired density of colour.
- One of my favourite pitch-perfect eye shading tricks is to use a warm red-based blush with a blush brush and swipe it over the entire lid right up to the brow line. Two seconds and you are done.
- Golden rule: keep the rest of your makeup minimal. Black or brown mascara as a backdrop and a sheer nude pink lipstick and you are set to go.
FOUR FAVOURITES
- Nars Single Eyeshadow in Persia for a rusty all-rounder.
- Kevyn Aucoin Pure Powder Glow Blush in Fira the perfectly wearable brick red.
- Kat Von D's Metal Crush Shadow in Raw Power burgundy must-have.
- Make Up For Ever's Aqua Liner in Iridescent Red a defining moment in red.