Advertising Feature: A make-up artist’s guide to creating a metallic eyeshadow look

Metallic shades aren’t just for the festive season: a glowing complexion and shimmering eyes are perfect for warm summer nights. Partner & Make-Up Artist, Sophie Hamedani shows us how to balance metallic accents with a natural backdrop.

It might seem odd to start with your eye make-up, but Sophie stresses the importance of applying eyeshadow before foundation, ‘so you can clean up any fall-out or smudging without completely ruining the rest of your look!’

Sophie starts by applying Metal Vision from Bobbi Brown’s Molten Drama palette. ‘This new palette is one of my favourites – the powders feel lightweight but are richly pigmented; perfect for creating a dramatic effect’. Sophie recommends blending the shadow outwards into a cat-eye shape, as this will create a smokey finish. Next, place golden, shimmery Lost Treasure on top. 

Sophie suggests using your fingertip, gently building up the product until reaching your desired intensity. She warns that ‘adding too much, especially when you’re dealing with glitter, can look messy’. For a more dramatic effect, finish by framing the eyes using a liquid liner and coating your lashes with Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara. 

Sophie advises ‘keeping your base subtle, so as not to overpower’. She used Dior’s Forever Skin Glow Foundation which provides a full-to-medium coverage and is enriched with SPF 35 – perfect for summer. The formula also contains hydrating pansy extract to help prevent the skin from drying out.
 
Sophie recommends using a dampened beauty sponge to apply, being careful ‘not to overload the skin with too much product’. This will help to create a base that’s smooth, dewy and radiant. To set the foundation, she then applies Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder. She says ‘this powder is incredibly long-lasting and has a lovely, glowing finish’.

Sophie also used Bobbi Brown Highlighter Powder in Bronze Glow to help accentuate and add light above the cheekbones. She says ‘highlighting powders are great for adding facial structure. Simply apply to areas that would naturally catch the light.’ However, she warns you should ‘be careful not to use too much’, so as not to draw attention away from the showpiece: your metallic eye.

Sophie says ‘a bold lip will distract from the eyes, and create a look that’s too overwhelming’, so she advises opting for a nude shade, like MAC’s Viva Glam* VI.

When choosing a nude shade, Sophie suggests taking a look at your natural lip colour. She says, ‘some lips are naturally more rosy, while some have a warmer, brown undertone. A nude will always look right when you pick out the natural tones of your skin and reflect that in the shade of your lipstick.’ MAC’s pretty Viva Glam VI suits most lip tones and adds a final touch of polish.

*M·A·C Cosmetics’ charitable campaign, VIVA GLAM has raised has raised over $500 million since its inception in 1994, exclusively through the sale of M·A·C VIVA GLAM lip products. VIVA GLAM funds support healthy futures and equal rights for women and girls, and the LGBTQ+ communities while maintaining its decades-long support for those living with HIV/AIDS. The full recommended retail price (RRP) (less VAT) of VIVA GLAM Lipstick is donated to organisations that support the health and rights of people of All Ages, All Races and All Genders. M·A·C Cosmetics will make grants to non-profit organisations they believe can make a meaningful impact on health, rights and equality.