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The Charlotte Tilbury Approved Smokey Eye

Double Photo TestI’m notoriously fussy when it comes to makeovers. I struggle to count the amount of counter-side revamps on both hands that have resulted in some kind of baby-wipe clear-up situation post application, but a few weeks back I had a makeover experience that I could have quite happily slept in. It was actually a very sad moment when the eye makeup remover soaked cotton pad came towards me. Now it wasn’t a full-face paint-on, but a smokey eye look stamped on at the Charlotte Tilbury Makeup House of Rock ‘n’ Kohl by Tilbury’s right hand lady Ninni Nummela. Unfortunately all I had was my iPhone to hand and the above snap was taken after an extremely packed-out, sweat-inducing tube journey but you get the gist – much smokier than I’m used too, but not self consciously O.T.T and a look incorporating eyeliner that I really liked. It’s fair to say that everything she stroked, smudged and striped on has been added to my wishlist, which currently reads a little like this:

Dior Crayon Eyeliner Waterproof Long-Wear Pencil in Intense Brown – £18 – Feel Unique. Ninni used this first to create a feline flick on the upper and lower lashlines. A difficult technique to try and witness yourself, but I kept one eye open at all times – creepy? Not at all. Ninni kept it sharp and traced right from my inner corners, flicking out at the ends in the direction of the tail of my brows, keeping it about the width of the pencil all the way along. She actually applied this first, then blended out shadow over the top – a technique that could come in very handy to shoo-away any mess ups for a cack-handed gal like myself.

Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad in Cognac Sable – £62 – Selfridges. I think this takes the biscuit for the most darn expensive eyeshadow quad on the market, and here it finds itself on my wishlist *le sigh*. Ninni used the two darkest colours layered up over the liner to smoke it out and it just looked lovely. A warmed up bronze, with the right level of shimmer. Somebody keep me away from the TF counter… 

Laura Mercier Eye Crease Brush – £27 – Space NK. The only brush Ninni reached for. Smaller than my usual blender-outer MAC 224, but still soft enough to apply washes of colour or build up a little somethin’ somethin’ in the crease. With this in her grips she made it look easy – though I’m sure that had something to do with the years of Tilbury training under her brush belt – but still, that brush? Swoon.

And if Charlotte Tilbury ever sets up house at Selfridges again, I’ll race to the front of the makeover line…

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