Bronze Summer Eye Makeup

I'm not one for big eye makeup looks but when the heavens opened on Saturday, I had an urge to bring some Ibiza to the weekend in the form of golden eye makeup. I wasn't doing anything special - seriously, watching the Grand National was the peak of my day - but I like to try something fun at the weekends because I don't have time during the week.

As I'm not an expert at smokey eyes or anything of the sort, my skills only take me so far but I like to think this means it's more attainable to the average beauty girl, including myself.

I started off by applying Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze as a light base all over the lid. I just use my fingers because it heats the product enough to blend it easily. I pat it on with my ring finger then use my middle finger to lightly blend out the edges - like having two shadow brushes to hand. I love this shadow, it's my go-to during the week when I want a wash of colour because it's just fool-proof and so, so easy to apply. Cool bronze shades are my favourite, I think they compliment green eyes really nicely, and I'm looking to add the Naked 2 palette to my collection to really get those cool taupey/bronze shades on my lids!

Next I went in and packed on L'Oreal's Color Infallible in Sahara Treasure. These creamy pressed pigments are simply stunning and I wish we had more of the US shades here in the UK (namely Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe) because they effect they give, with such easy application, is stunning. They blend like a gel, set like a powder and do not budge. Sahara Treasure leaves a simply stunning golden metallic finish that blurs so beautifully - all this come so easily. I used one of the brushes from my Crown kit to literally press the product onto my lids. I did a couple of layers to really make sure the pigment prominent.

The Rich Chocolate palette from Bobbi Brown was pulled out as a final shadow step - this baby is pretty much used every day in some form or another. All the shades bar one are matte making them perfect for creating smokey eyes, simple crease shades or barely-there shadow looks. The range of colours is so versatile and I'm still obsessed with it. Using a Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush, I took the shade second from left into the crease to define the colours a little more and just finish off the look. I'm not sure you can get this palette anymore, but any matte brown would work just as well.

And as a final touch, to smoke things up, I reached for my Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl. It doesn't have a shade name as it came in a Christmas kit but I think it's the Cocoa Bean from the normal range. It's waterproof which makes it perfect for putting in the waterline. I love how soft the pencil is, it makes it so easy to blend out and really smoke up an eye look. Can we just take a minute to appreciate the name too? Anyone else reminded of Smolderpants aka. Ian Somerhalder or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries? Just me? Ok... moving on. I applied it my lower waterline and smudged that out, then a fine line on my upper lashes, winging it out slightly, and then blending with my fingers.

Add lashings of mascara, I opted for Clarins Wonder Perfect - a seriously volumising mascara, and you're good to go. The rest of my makeup I kept quite simple but bronzed up my face with NARS Laguna (standard) and a slick of Soap & Glory's A Great Kisser balm in Juicy Peach.

Is this the type of look you'll be opting for this summer?

Ax