The Secret To Seductive Eye Makeup

With respect to make-up, what you consider sexy is subjective: it could be a red lip, glowing, bronzed skin, or even a bold brow. But there’s no denying the eyes play a significant role in the realm of seduction. It’s a known fact that when you’re attracted to someone, your pupils dilate as a response. Therefore, it’s only natural to associate sexiness with eye makeup. 

So, when you want your eyes to look extra sultry, what are the looks to try? Clarins breaks down the best seductive eye looks for you and how to do it.

1. The feline flick

We can’t talk about seductive eye makeup without a mention of a 50s feline flick of liner. Make-up artists have been known to spend ages perfecting this kind of look.

• Apply a pale, shimmery eyeshadow across your eyelids to brighten them up. Then, stick a half set of false eyelashes on the outer corners of the eyes to make them seem almond-shaped.
• Trace your upper lash line with a brown eyeliner like the Waterproof Eye Pencil in 02 Chestnut, and create a flick. Press a chocolate-hued powder eyeshadow on top to soften the line.
• Blend a cool brown powder eyeshadow on a small brush along the lower lash line to add subtle definition and balance the heavy upper eyelid. Try Ombre 4 Couleurs, and the brown colour in the shade 04 Brown Sugar Gradation is one perfect option to blend on the end of your eyes. 
• Run a nude or white eyeliner along the lower lash line to make the eyes look brighter.

2. A classic cat-eye

If false eyelashes aren’t for you, you can create the illusion of a heavy upper eyelid with just a simple winged eyeliner.

• Use a felt tip liner in a carbon black shade like the Graphik Ink Eyeliner to trace along your upper lash line, from the inner corners to the outer corners.
• At the outer corner, extend the line to create a wing angled towards the end of your brow.
• Connect the tip of the wing back to the lash line and thicken the rest of your eyeliner.
• Coat both top and bottom lashes in mascara. Two coats will give you added volume. Clarins Wonder Volume Mascara XXL in extreme black will give your lashes longer and fuller in just one coat, bringing more definition to your eyes. This mascara contains the [VOLUMISING WAX COMPLEX], enriched with sunflower, jojoba and black acacia waxes to help thicken, define and protect lashes.

3. Bedroom eyes

There’s nothing sexier than a slightly smudgy kohl-rimmed eye. The only rule to abide by to create a lived-in, morning-after look? Embrace imperfection. Make sure all edges are blurred and hazy, but don’t make it too perfect.

• Line your upper lash line and waterline with an eyeliner pencil.
• Use a small brush to smudge the line lightly. You could also use your finger or a cotton swab to blur any hard lines. Follow up with a second layer for more intensity.
• Define the eye sockets with a matte brown eyeshadow. Sweep what’s left on the brush along the lower lash line to emphasise the hazy effect.
• Press some champagne eyeshadow in the inner corners to brighten the eyes. Dab a hint of it on the centre of the lids as well.
• Finish with tons of mascara.

4. Soft smoke

A smokey eye doesn’t always require four different shades of eyeshadow. Sometimes, all it takes is one good eyeshadow to create the most sultry look.

• Find an eyeshadow in an earthy shade that suits you — it could be a warm brown, charcoal, or even a plum. We like the Ombre 4 Couleurs in 01 fairy tale nude gradation and 04 brown sugar gradation.
• Apply it across the eyelids and along the lower lash line. Use a blending brush to diffuse the colour into the crease and sweep it outwards in a winged shape.
• Define the lash line with a pencil eyeliner in a brown or plum shade.
• Curl your lashes and apply a thin coat of mascara. For longer lashes, use Supra Volume Mascara. It will intensify and enhance your eyelashes with extra care of the Volume Boost Complex. For curl, use Supra Lift & Curl Mascara that enhances lashes in the blink of an eye while protecting them with bitter orange blossom wax coast.  

5 tips to master the sexy eye makeup look

The smudgier, the better

A small smudging brush will be your best friend when you’re trying to recreate any of these looks. Use it to soften your kohl pencil and blend away the harsh edges of eyeshadow.

Choose earth tones

While a smokey blue eye can be fun, nothing is sexier than an earthy colour palette. Eyeliner and eyeshadows in brown, charcoal and rust shades are great picks to lighten up a smokey effect.

Emphasise your lashes

Your lashes frame your eyes, so don’t skip mascara. Choose a formula that provides ample volume, like the Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D Waterproof, to coat both top and bottom lashes. For a doe-eyed effect, add an extra layer of mascara on the lashes along with the outer corners of your eyes with the end of your mascara wand. Formulated by Clarins Research to visibly lengthen and strengthen lashes, the mascara contains vitamin B5 panthenol, meaning lashes are left thicker and visibly longer with just a single brushstroke.

Prime & powder

Yes, you’re going for a lived-in look. But to keep the makeup from smudging more than you want it to, prime your eyelids with an eyeshadow base. Also, use a powder to set any make-up (foundation or concealer) applied around the eye area. Use Ever Matte Compact Powder which melts into the skin for a natural matte finish.

Keep the skin dewy

Fresh, glowing skin will make your sultry eye makeup stand out more. To achieve this, apply an illuminating primer like the SOS Primer in White to boost glow and increase skin luminosity.

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