Now that it’s scarf season, bright lip colors in punchy pinks, cherry reds, and Palm Beach corals have been stashed away as we embrace a new statement look with darker, vampier, oxblood tones. But with a look that’s so brazen, one favored by the likes of Cruella de Vil and nineties-era Shannen Doherty, it can be tough to match the rest of your makeup. At Barneys New York recently, makeup artists from five very different brands each concocted looks for the Cut based around this decidedly darker tone, and it quickly got a bit Goldilocks. At Giorgio Armani, a 45-minute application that included smoky eyes, faux lashes, plus a look-at-me pout proved to be too much va-va-voom. Meanwhile, a By Terry palette of muted, blended, purple-black shadows, sans eyeliner, suited an understated look better — like a bumped-up version of an everyday face. Click through to see those, and three more ways to try this look yourself.
Giorgio Armani
“Definitely super dramatic, especially with the false lashes. When creating a smoky eye, it’s important to define the brows, which frames the face.” - Rafael, makeup artist ———— Regenessence [3.r] Youth Generator, $140 Eyebrow Defining Pencil in #2 (brown), $29 Face & Eye Palette in Neo Black, $88 Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Lip Pencil #8 (brown), $26 Giorgio Armani Lip Shimmer #48 (dark brown), $27
Beauty Is Life
“The key here is clean skin, luminous cheeks, a soft eye with 50’s eyeliner, a nice brow, and a vampy lip, so it’s sepia-washed mixed with Fosse’s ‘All That Jazz’” - Jason Ascher, Barneys resident makeup artist ———— Satin Foundation Fluid Makeup, $50 Beauty is Life Wispy Brush, $70 Eye Contour Liner in Indigo, $18 Shiny Eye Shadow in Deep Ocean, $25 Lipstick in Aubergine, $28
By Terry
“I was inspired by Deborah Ann Woll’s character Jessica from True Blood, plus a little bit of Midnight in Paris. The skin is kept really dewy with a satin finish.” - Brian Bracero, makeup artist ———— Cover-Expert Perfecting Fluid Foundation, $65 Blush Terrybly Ultimate Radiance in Sexy Plum, $75 Ombre Blackstar Black Pearl, $43 Crayon Lèvres Terrybly Perfecting Lip Liner in Dolce Plum, $33 Rouge Terrybly in Carnal Attraction, $49 Gloss Terrybly Shine Hydra-Lift Lip Lacquer in Wine List, $44
Hourglass
“Aside from a nice, full, black lash line, the eye is otherwise simple. With a bold lip, keep everything else subtle, for something that goes from day to night.” - Lauren Sorenson, senior makeup artist ———— Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15, $52 Superficial Waterproof Bronzer in Mirage, $45 Script Precision Liquid Liner in Jett, $32 Film Noir Lash Lacquer, $28 Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon, $28
Sunday Riley
“I like using shadow instead of liner on eyes because it doesn’t make them too intense or dark; it’s more natural, but still specific for fall.” - Matthew Torres, makeup artist ———— Soft Focus Finishing Pressed Powder, $40 Blush in Intimate, $30 Prismasilk Eye Color in Camille, $26 Prismasilk Eye Color in Burnt Eggplant, $26 Modern Lip Color in Chameleon, $32 Crème Gloss Sheer Impact Lip Color in Pink Lemonade, $28