Epic Eyes

We all want eyes that mesmerize, it is the beauty feature we can play up the most. Whether it be using creamy shadows, inky gel liners, pigmented glitters or lash building mascaras, eye make-up has the power to add depth and dimension, elongate and make your eyes appear bigger or cleverly enhance the colour- all drawing attention as you hold that gaze.

So forget the quick daytime flick of liner and simple swoosh of mascara. With festive events starting to fill up our diaries and the desire to dress up stronger than ever, try experimenting with new textures and colours to celebrate your eyes as the main event.

At PIBE we have curated an approved list of six eye essentials that dazzle. So pick up a brush to smoke, shade and blend away, it’s time to create an eye look that is…..epic.

Monika Blunder Beauty Blunder Cover, £45
It all starts with a base. This is a key step not to miss, as creating a smooth surface for your eye products to follow will not only help to amplify your eye look but allow it to last longer. Blunder Cover is a foundation/concealer hybrid that will cancel out any natural redness. ‘As a working makeup artist, I really value multi-use products,’ says Monika Blunder, Celebrity Make-up Artist, Founder & CEO of Monika Blunder Beauty. ‘I created Blunder Cover to be buildable and I wanted to make it as versatile as possible. One of my favourite ways to use it is on the eyes. I’ll use the same shade as my base all over as an eye primer, it’s wonderful at providing a clean canvas, says Blunder’. Top tip- apply with a fluffy brush and wait a minute before blending over your lid and under eye. This will allow the formula to semi-set, meaning it lasts for longer.

Pat McGrath Labs Venus in Fleurs Luxe Quad in Voyeuristic Vixen, £45
Epic eyes are meaningless without a touch of Pat McGrath Labs. The ‘mother of makeup’ has created this dazzling quartet containing four versatile bronze and copper hues that can carve out any eye shape. Blend the silky pewter all over your lid as a reflective base before working the rich smoky shade into your crease to add natural shadow to the eye. Top off with a pigmented swipe of a jewel toned glitter in the centre and inner corner of the lid to really catch the light. All four powders have an intense payoff and buttery texture so don't do this half-heartedly. Go in and build up each shade for a truly impactful eye look.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Roach, £17
When creating an epic eye look, we also need to show the lower lash line some love. Look no further than the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, as once smoked out, they do not budge. Run the pencil along the lower lashes side-on to coat the whole area and then use a small dense brush to gently blend and pull the colour out to elongate the eye. Keeping it smoky will make the eye look messy, dramatic and lived in. The shade ‘roach’ is a delicious bronze with flecks of copper shimmer running through. It also contains vitamin E and jojoba oil so that the eye area will not dry out- this is longwear eye colour at its best.

La Perla Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black, £31
A cat eye is nothing but sensual, so where better to turn to for eyeliner than Italian lingerie brand La Perla who have launched into the world of beauty. This indulgent gold tube contains black liquid liner that uses innovative gelling polymers so the liquid can coat the fine brush and glide effortlessly across the eyelid, giving you the smoothest application. ‘The formula also contains crystal flex, a lustrous polymer that will give a wet-look effect, so your lash-hugging lines and feline flicks will be rich and glossy looking’ says Nikki Taylor, La Perla Beauty Global Brand Trainer. To create a graphic eye, line your lashes and then angle outwards, before bringing your usual outer corner flick back across the contour of the crease and lightly blend it out. This makes the cat eye more wild and hazy. The liner is also vegan and fragrance-free, meaning if you suffer from sensitive eyes, you can still create a dramatic look without the compromise.

Christian Louboutin Tape à L’Oeil Beauty Eye Metallic in Carnelian, £38
The word Louboutin only conjures up connotations of glamour and excellence and ‘Tape à L’Oeil’ means eye-catching, making this an aptly named collection of beautiful liquid eye paints. Think of this step as ‘dressing the eye’ as these new generation eye colours are a fusion of water and metallic pigments, inspired by highly reflective jewel tones. Carnelian is a rich wine colour and can be used as a frosted top coat on any eye look. Use the bristle brush applicator for optimal pick up so you can swipe over the centre of the lid, leaving you with an intense sparkle. Top tip- use the pad of your ring finger to gently soften out the edges of the liquid shadow before it dries, giving your eye a festive flair.

Kjaer Weis Im-Possible Mascara, in Black £30
The final touch to an epic eye look is mascara. Seductive and expressive, our eyes feel naked without it, so don’t hold back on seamlessly applying multiple coats for high impact. This mascara by Kjaer Weis is a certified organic breakthrough. Sustainably sourced beeswax and carnauba wax create a no-clump texture, while raspberry fruit water helps condition lashes and sunflower seed oil stops breakage and stimulates lash growth. The packaging is sleek yet made from 50% recycled plastic and is refillable, all proving that mascara can be organic without compromising on performance. Use the curved side of the brush to wiggle the colour into the base of the lashes to build volume at the core. Then switch to the flat side to easily lengthen and define. Just be sure to capture and fan out every tiny lash in the inner and outer corners of your eyes to create that ‘wide eyed’ effect.

This PIBE Beauty exclusive has been produced by:
Words by Beauty Editor / Sarah Barnes
Photography / David Marquez