Makeup Guru

Girls just wanna have fun with this season's '80s-inspired make-up looks.

We didn't think it would happen (more like we had high hopes it wouldn't) but fashion's nefarious nature has brought the '80s back. In a big way. From the return of the power suit (not bad) to super-sized shoulders (very bad), every major runway (Marc Jacobs, Gucci, and even Yves Saint Laurent) was demonstrating what this decadent era was all about. Beyond the clothes, beauty trends took a very bold turn as well: Think red lips, rainbow eyes and rose-hued cherub cheeks. We learn how to transform these catwalk colours with the help of Rimmel’s Executive Trainer Doug Atkinson. Read on…

Liquid liner

* Line the upper lid with a black eye pencil first and sweep out and up from the outer corner of the eye. Don’t be shy; this look is all about being bold and playing with dimension!

* Once you have set the “guidelines” with the pencil, you can refine the line using the liquid liner in the same shade.

* After the liquid has set, go back and lift up your upper lid and apply liner to the inside of the eye for greater definition.

* For the lower lid, use the pencil and line as usual from the outside to the inner corner. For extra oomph: use an angle brush and smudge a black shadow into the pencil line and into the lashes for dramatic affect.

Shades of shadows

* This look is much more sophisticated than Joan Cusack’s Working Girl makeup mélange. Although still bold, the trick is to create a blended, contoured look instead of brushing one mass of colour on the lid. Any woman can pull it off, providing you follow the updated rules:

* Don’t be afraid with your colour choices: Stay on trend by selecting cobalt blues, turquoise, brash purples or pinks; just be sure to start with a neutral base coat on the lid, like a beige or gold.

* Using a flat brush, sweep the neutral shade from lash to brow. Use a good coat of this shadow, as it will give a base for the darker shades to follow.

* Build the contour with your next shade blending in from the corner of your eye out to the end of your eyebrow.

* Lastly, take your darkest shadow, and with your crease brush, stroke a small amount working from the outer corner of the lid, slowly blend into the corner and contour. Blend until there is no line of demarcation. Voila!