Aqua Eyes

Cool weather equals cool eye colors

Snow may still be on the ground, but some of us are dreaming of a beach retreat with sparkling blue aqua waters. Even if you can't dive into the Mediterranean Sea this weekend, you can exude an island paradise with your eye makeup. Aqua eye shadows and liners are on trend now. And what's not to love about this colorful and summery look? Nicole Richie rocked aquatic eyes at the Golden Globes, and Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani recently showed off pretty green and blue shadows worth swooning over, too. What's more, while many makeup trends can single out a specific type of girl, the aqua eye trend isn't one of them, says Marissa Machado, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist. Here, she shares her tips for wearing this universally flattering trend. Hint: It's all about using these peacock hues sparingly, not layering them from brow to lash line like in the '80s!

Choose Your Hue
"The main trick to making this trend work is choosing the right aqua for your skin tone," says Machado. Fair-skinned women should choose a lighter periwinkle shade of blue. Try CK One Gloss Eyecolor in Vivid. Medium skin tones work best with deeper blue shades. And for darker skin tones, choose a turquoise shade such as Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Tenacious Teal.

How to Get the Look with Liner
When working with bold shades like electric blue, turquoise and aqua, it's best to keep the look to a minimum, says Machado, who likes creating this trend strictly with eyeliner. No shadow needed. She suggests selecting long-lasting or waterproof eyeliner. We like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Electric. Not sure about forgoing shadow? Look to celebrities for eyeliner-only inspiration. Hilary Swank uses eyeliner to rim her top and bottom lashes with a bright peacock shade. Diane Kruger simply lines her top lashes. Feeling edgy? Machado suggests lining just the bottom lash line, a look Rachel Bilson has pulled off using aquatic colors. After you line your eyes in greens and blues, finish off with two coats of mascara and a neutral lip.

Experiment with Aquatic Shadows
If you want to try aquatic eye shadows, forgo the brightly colored liners. A palette of shadows, like the ULTA Complete Eye Palette in New Wave, will help you master the look. First, swipe a neutral or golden color across your entire lid. Then, choose a light aqua shade to sweep along the lash line, working some up into the crease and middle of your lid, making sure to blend. This is not the time to go for an electric blue or deep turquoise. For an evening look, add black eyeliner. Finish with a couple of coats of mascara.