Yes, You Can Wear Blue Eyeshadow (Here's How!)

The words "blue eyeshadow" may conjure up images of 80s era fashion victims, but as CoverGirl makeup artist Veronica Chu proved during yesterday's Procter & Gamble media preview, blue eyeshadow can be fresh, pretty, and downright modern. In the look she created, the sheer wash of colour across the lids is intensified with liner and lush lashes, while the skin has a lit-from-within luminosity and the lips are muted. It's a nice summertime day-to-night look, for sure. Ready for the step-by-step?

Step 1. Prep skin by applying CoverGirl Olay Face Lift Effect Firming Foundation, followed by TruFix Concealer Stick wherever additional coverage is needed.

Step 2. Dip both sides of a shadow brush in the second darkest shade of Eye Enhancers 4-Kit in 'Crystal Waters', and apply colour from the lashline to the crease. (Pro tip: To minimize colour fallout and achieve a nicely blended finish, gently press the colour onto lids instead of using a side-to-side swiping motion.) Blend along the crease using a crease brush.

Step 3. Dip a brush in the lightest shade of Eye Enhancers 4-Kit in 'Crystal Waters' and apply it under brows as a highlight. Use a smaller liner brush to apply the same shade in the inner corners of the eyes, and along the inner half of the lower lashline.

Step 4. Line eyes with Ink It! By Perfect Point Plus in 'Aquamarine Ink', concentrating colour along the upper lashline and waterline, and the outer half of the lower lashline. Go over the liner with a small liner brush to smudge out the line.

By this time, you might have some blue eyeshadow fallout on your face, in which case you'll find Chu's pro tip useful: Dip a soft makeup brush in concealer or foundation—something with a tacky texture—and lightly whisk the brush over the face. The sticky makeup on the bristles will collect any stray pigment particles.

Step 5. Apply Clump Crusher by LashBlast Mascara in black. Chu likes to apply the first coat by holding the brush horizontally and wiggling it from base to tip, as shown above. Then, she holds the brush vertically and applies another coat by wiggling over lashes section by section with the tip of the brush, from base to tip. Applying the second coat like this lets you position where your lashes go; for example, you can fan them upward or wing them out at the corners of the eyes.

Step 6. Fill in sparse brows with Brow and Eyemakers Pencil using short, feathery, upward strokes. Brush stray hairs in place with clear Professional Natural Lash Mascara.

Step 7. Swipe a blush brush across all three shades of Clean Glow Blush and lightly apply to the apples of the cheeks using short, light, downward motions. "The brush should just fall off the face," Chu explains.

Step 8. To finish, apply a rosy lip colour like CoverGirl Lip Perfection in 'Darling'. Instead of applying straight from the bullet, dab lips lightly and then smudge with the fingers for a pretty stain effect.

Easy peasy, even for blue eyeshadow phobes like myself, right? Is this a look you would try?

Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.