The alternative smoky eye
On a rainy afternoon at Milan Fashion Week, I went back to my hotel room and got to work Trial A Trending the Giles alternative smoky eye that I’d seen the previous week in London.
I always opt for a bold lip over a bold eye and on the rare occasion that I do experiment I tend to look more punched-in-the-face than smouldering and sophisticated. So an alternative smoky eye – one that is centred on the inner corners - could be just the thing to sway me.
Using a fluffy blending brush I apply Mac Eyeshadow in Carbon, £13, onto the inside of my eye, sweeping the powder underneath my lower lash line and then diffusing the edges by continually buffing with the brush. I keep the rest of my make-up paired-back, using a matte foundation that I also dab over my lips.
Look complete, I wander into the hallway to get better light for my picture, during which time I also lock myself out of my room. Off I go, down to reception to ask for a new key, momentarily forgetting about my make-up. The receptionist looks at me with some confusion; I’m not sure whether it was my Northern accent or she was staring at the bruise coloured shadows around my eyes, fearing that I may have been involved in a fashion week scrap.
I bump into a fellow beauty journo and ask her for conformation. 'Does it suit me'? I ask. ‘It makes your eyes look smaller, and like you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a while’, she replied.
Verdict: Unsurprisingly, I haven’t been converted. But I would try it again using lighter, creamy shades or even a pop of pastel.
