Beauty Trend to Try - Purple Eye Shadow

Summer fashion is all about the unexpected, and the same rule applies for makeup trends. To get started, leave your neutral palettes behind and give your eyes a pop of color with this season's favorite eye-shadow hue: purple. From electric violet to soft lavenders, purple shadows make for a bold statement that complements every skin tone as well as every eye color. Purple is also one of the few shades that brings out the color in hazel, green, brown, and blue eyes. So highlight this season's pretty florals, neutral separates, and metallic ensembles with an eyeful of purple.

Romantic Purple Reigns Supreme 

at 

Peter Som

Take a cue from Peter Som's Spring 2012 show, and wake up your eyes with soft shimmering lilac lids. At the show, models showcased romantic looks which highlighted the flirty floral ensembles. At the center of it all was a soft lilac hue with hints of shimmery accents. Lilac is a great color for spring and is appropriate for both day and night. Make sure to find a lilac eyeshadow with accents of shimmer to light up your eyes even further.

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Lilac Sky

To mimic the pretty eye makeup seen at Peter Som, look for a palette with varying intensities of purple. Yves Saint Laurent's Harmony for Eyes in Lilac Sky features four luminous and alluring shades that will get you that wide-eyed look instantly. Begin by priming your lids and then cover your entire eye area with a shimmering lavender. Then softly blend in the golden violet on the crease of your eyes. Use the palette's deepest color, a glimmering eggplant to contour and define your eyes. Add three strokes of mascara and voila!

Yves Saint Lauren'ts Ombres 5 Lumieres 

in Lilac Sky $58

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Jill Stuart Goes Matte for Lavender

If you want to try on a light purple hue but would rather skip the shimmer tones, scope out the matte lavender lids seen at the Fall 2012 Jill Stuart show. While the show's collection centered around dark, moody colors including black, navy, and a wine shade, the makeup took the opposite turn. Models showed off pastel lids that contrasted heavily with the retro-rocker ensembles. However, because the shades used on the models were matte, the makeup complemented, rather than took away from, the edgier collection.

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Matte Lids for Summer

To get on the matte train, look for a light purple shade that is free of any sparkles or shine. Nars Matte Dusty Lilac is a great option to achieve this look. Begin by applying a neutral based primer around the whole area. Then, apply the eyeshadow from crease to brow-bone. If you want to take this look a step further, line your lower lash line with the same shade by using an angled eyeliner brush. Make sure that the rest of your face stays matte in order to avoid looking like a Barbie doll.

Nars Single Eye Shadow in Matte Dusty Lilac $24

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Purple Meets Pewter 

at 

Naeem Khan

For a sultry, more seductive eyeful, copy the silvery purple lids seen at the Naeem Khan Spring 2012 collection. Ideal for a night out or to complement an evening gown, a smokey purple hue inspires glamour and sex appeal. Because this look is achieved by mixing purple with a silver or charcoal pencil or eyeshadow, no expertise is needed when applying the colors. Just make sure to blend both hues to create a seamless finish.

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The Right Grey 

for your Purple

If you already own a purple-based shadow, all you need to create a similar look is a luminous velvety charcoal or silver based shadow. Edward Bess' eyeshadow in dusk is a mossy grey hue that blends very well with other shades. Apply this dark grey shade all over your eyelid and then proceed to blend in its purple counterpart. The great thing about mixing shadows is that you get to decide the intensity of the color by blending your own concoction and experimenting with different pigments.

Edward Bess Ultra Luminous Eye-shadow in Dusk $30

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Just Cavalli 

Flashes Electric Violet

For a more fun and playful look, experiment with electric violet tones like the ones seen at the Just Cavalli Spring 2012 collection. Never shying away from bold and eclectic, Just Cavalli featured prints, colors, and a ton of flash. In addition to the bold fun looks, the models showed off vibrant eye makeup that looked youthful and fresh. The bright purple liner that lined the models lower lashes further added to the fun 70s themed occasion.

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Jumbo Violet

An easy way to achieve this sexy and fun look is to use a chunky pencil that glides on smoothly and seamlessly. Sephora's jumbo liner in violet can be used as an eyeliner or as an eye-shadow and works perfectly on the lower lash line. This jumbo pencil creates a range of effects from bold lines to more defined thin lines. Resistant to water, this creamy and high pigment formula applies smoothly.

Sephora Collection Jumbo Liner in Violet $12

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