Beauty Board: Get The Look - Balenciaga & Lanvin
The experimental, product-loving, wannabe makeup artist inside of us is over the moon about the slew of compelling beauty looks that debuted on the fall runways. While we haven't broken out our teasing combs to try sexy sixties hair yet, we did spend part of our Saturday afternoon mastering our new favorite trend—panda eyes.
Autumn always seems to call for some variation of dramatic dark eye makeup (be it cat-like or smoky in style), but this new look is particularly powerful. The panda eye requires a bit more effort than your average khol binge. Rather than running a black pencil around your lid a few times and calling it a day, it's all about achieving a coolly graphic shape and then adding texture and shine to the dark makeup. As seen at such important shows like Balenciaga and Lanvin, it’s equal parts gritty and glossy, and imparts a certain sort of edgy strength upon the wearer. Unsurprisingly, the panda eye trend is the brainchild of maquillage maestro, Pat McGrath.
In the beauty and fashion industry, McGrath is considered the high priestess of product and is a practically omnipotent force when it comes to setting trends. The benevolent dictatress crafts genius runway and editorial looks, which in turn influence what the rest of the world carries in its makeup bag. As she created the fall face for both Balenciaga and Lanvin, we were wholly thrilled when she agreed to disclose the details about how one gets this dangerously bold beauty look at home. Mascara devotees take note: McGrath skipped this product entirely to keep the focus on the clean shape of the eye, so put away your wands!
Lanvin
McGrath first perfected the models' skin with liquid foundation and concealer. She uses MAX Factor ColorGenius Foundation
($9.49) or Dior DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup
($42), as well as the makeup artist favorite, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
($28). Then she dusted a colorless loose powder, Shu Uemura Face Powder Matte
($33), on the skin to give it a matte finish. For the eyes, she blended black cream shadow, specifically Dior Eye Show in Glam & Glitz Black
($30), on the lid and up to the crease, in an extended oval shape (it's so panda-like!). Next, she lined the lower lid with a black eye pencil; try Givenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil in Black
($21.50). Using a wet eyeliner brush, McGrath applied the silver shade in CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Eyeshadow in Drama Eyes ($5.49) to the inner eye corners and added sheen to the upper lid with a smidge of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
($16).
Brows were lightly defined with Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
($24); try CoverGirl Brow & Eye Makers in Soft Brown
($2.69) for a similar look. Then she used NARS Blush in Zen
($25) to contour cheeks and highlighted both cheeks and brows with the nude beige shimmer of NARS The Multiple in Copacabana
($37). Finally, McGrath lightly brushed NARS' Concealer
($21) on the models lips for a nude mouth.
Balenciaga
Again, McGrath started by perfecting the skin (see all her favorite products above in Lanvin). Next she lined the entire eye with black pencil, CoverGirl's Perfect Blend Eyeliner in Basic Black
($3.99), and smudged it to softer the effect. Then, using a soft shadow brush, she blended black eye shadow, specifically Stila's Matte Eye Shadow in Makalu
($18), over the pencil liner. McGrath then added NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Zardoz
($21) across the upper lid. She applied a bit of gloss to the center of the lid for a wet shine (again, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, $16). The look was finished with Kevyn Aucoin's The Sculpting Powder in Medium
($42) on the cheekbones and a light coat of MAX Factor Erace Concealer
($3.99) on the lips.
1. Dior Dior Eye Show in Glam & Glitz Black ($30)
2. Givenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil in Black ($21.50)
3. NARS The Multiple in Copacabana ($37)
4. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream ($16)
5. CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Eyeshadow in Drama Eyes ($5.49)
6. Stila Matte Eye Shadow in Makalu ($18)
7. MAX Factor Erace Concealer ($3.99)
8. Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Zardoz ($21)
9. Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil ($24)
Photos, courtesy of FirstView.
Autumn always seems to call for some variation of dramatic dark eye makeup (be it cat-like or smoky in style), but this new look is particularly powerful. The panda eye requires a bit more effort than your average khol binge. Rather than running a black pencil around your lid a few times and calling it a day, it's all about achieving a coolly graphic shape and then adding texture and shine to the dark makeup. As seen at such important shows like Balenciaga and Lanvin, it’s equal parts gritty and glossy, and imparts a certain sort of edgy strength upon the wearer. Unsurprisingly, the panda eye trend is the brainchild of maquillage maestro, Pat McGrath.
In the beauty and fashion industry, McGrath is considered the high priestess of product and is a practically omnipotent force when it comes to setting trends. The benevolent dictatress crafts genius runway and editorial looks, which in turn influence what the rest of the world carries in its makeup bag. As she created the fall face for both Balenciaga and Lanvin, we were wholly thrilled when she agreed to disclose the details about how one gets this dangerously bold beauty look at home. Mascara devotees take note: McGrath skipped this product entirely to keep the focus on the clean shape of the eye, so put away your wands!
Lanvin
McGrath first perfected the models' skin with liquid foundation and concealer. She uses MAX Factor ColorGenius Foundation
Brows were lightly defined with Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
Balenciaga
Again, McGrath started by perfecting the skin (see all her favorite products above in Lanvin). Next she lined the entire eye with black pencil, CoverGirl's Perfect Blend Eyeliner in Basic Black
1. Dior Dior Eye Show in Glam & Glitz Black
2. Givenchy Magic Khol Eye Liner Pencil in Black
3. NARS The Multiple in Copacabana
4. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
5. CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 4-Kit Eyeshadow in Drama Eyes ($5.49)
6. Stila Matte Eye Shadow in Makalu
7. MAX Factor Erace Concealer
8. Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Zardoz
9. Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil
Photos, courtesy of FirstView.
also, perhaps in a future beauty posts can you suggest a nude lip suggestion sutitable(sp?) for darker complexioned women, too?
Posted by: margeaux | 2008-07-24 09:28:06
oh, yay! thank you for this post...i always adored panda eyes. don't think i'll do it (i have pretty bad undereye blotches) but thanks for the steps!
Posted by: margeaux | 2008-07-24 09:24:10
Damn I commented on the wrong post lol.
Posted by: Anna | 2008-07-23 23:33:15
I'm in love w/ those boots!
Posted by: Anna | 2008-07-23 23:30:56
Oooh im so going to try this! MEP, u are one sad sad person, i actually feel sorry for you that u have to take it out on a fashion/style/beauty blog. ur pathetic.
Posted by: cordelia | 2008-07-23 14:25:17
fashionchalet.blogspot.com says... Smokey eyes are my favorite.
Posted by: Fashion Chalet | 2008-07-23 09:52:39
i agree!!! MEP, you should just go be miserable all by yourself and leave everyone else, who actually enjoys this site free of your negative opinions. geez, you must be a super unhappy person.
Posted by: j | 2008-07-22 20:43:10
Hallelujah! I've missed the Beauty Boards and this one definitely does not disappoint! Pat McGrath is a genius!
Posted by: bella vita | 2008-07-22 14:45:55
Love it! It looks sexy and glam. Very nice for a night out.
Posted by: Amber | 2008-07-22 14:41:44
Love this look. Smashbox has a great new collection out that gives the purrfect smoky eye and nude lip combo similar to this. I love this site! www.choice-threads.com
Posted by: lisa | 2008-07-22 13:23:18
Hooray for Pat McGrath!! It's her world folks and we're all just living in it...seriously there's not a beauty trend around that doesn't come from her. She's a scary genius, thank god she's using her powers for good. I obviously won't wear this look to the office, but it would be so cool for a big night out or whatever.
Posted by: georgie | 2008-07-22 13:15:58
MEP- every time i read a post you say something negative. you are rude and unnecessary. if you have a problem with everything (and obviously you do) leave, and let everyone else get on with their lives.
Posted by: crazygal | 2008-07-22 12:35:48
I was just about to write about this on my blog and now I don't feel like I should...ahh! A lot of people call this the raccoon eye and not smokey eye carmen because it goes in to the inner corners of your eye and the smokey eye just extends outwards. This is definitely more intense. www.afreshdille.wordpress.com
Posted by: Claire | 2008-07-22 10:49:30
this is awesome for the runway, but i think thats way too much dark make-up for even the nite-time. By the end of the night i think you would look less like a panda and more like you got out of the ring with mike tyson.
Posted by: Kara | 2008-07-22 10:46:59
Really need some graphics and afew more images for this look.
Posted by: melody | 2008-07-22 09:08:23
I wish there were a couple close-up pics or diagrams so that I could visualise the instructions better... I only know the basics with make-up, so for me at least, a diagram or close-up would be really helpful.
Posted by: Caroline | 2008-07-22 08:59:54
Very impractical makeup for the average day in the city, but definitely a fun look to try for nighttime. Where is #9 in your list of products of this post? I was actually interested in buying that!
Posted by: Mary Kate | 2008-07-22 08:55:04
isn't this called the "smokey" eye? i love the fashion/beauty biz. always trying to make the same old thing new to sell more product.
Posted by: carmen | 2008-07-22 08:21:56
ehhh. :/
Posted by: jmgb | 2008-07-22 08:12:38
How easy! Armed with my undereye baggage, workout hair, and a 99-cent black drugstore eyeliner, I can look just like Lanvin's starving model!
Posted by: MEP | 2008-07-22 08:02:22
i love this look, but you have to be pretty fresh faced to carry it off...balenciaga has the edge here. i just can't get over the schizophrenic posting on this site, one day you give us that unholy mess on kirsten dunst, now some actual cutting edge fashion. make up your mind (no pun intended)
Posted by: sarah | 2008-07-22 05:12:12
nude lips will always be my saviour. dam my pink-pignmented lips. www.thedailyalygator.blogspot.com
Posted by: alison | 2008-07-22 03:57:35