Here’s what you don’t want to happen while you’re enjoying the last LaBoracay you’ll be getting in a while (if you’re in college): Have little beads of sweat bubble up to the surface of your skin underneath layers and layers of foundation, and having your mascara run down your face.
It’s summer! It’s so hot, not even your best primers can save you. So keep your base light and breathable, and your lipstick low-maintenance. “Anything involving color only looks modern when you take away the skin coverage,” makeup artist Terry Barber says.
After checking out MAC’s presentation of spring/summer 2015 trends, we zeroed in on the Free Party look inspired by “Girls at gigs,” says makeup artist Lucia Pica. Think Margherita Missoni at Burning Man, Penny Lane if she ever set foot at Coachella, Sophie Ellis Bextor at a rave. All looks have one thing in common: It’s all about the eyes.
Gold rush
For this look, MAC makeup artist Ria Aquino primed model Akiko Abad’s eyelids with a wash of MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque, followed by MAC Gorgeous Gold Eye Shadow. To create dimension, she used a copper liner on her crease, like MAC Fluidline in Rich Ground.
The finishing touch on the gilt trip are gold glitters on the corners of her eyes. For this, you can try a cosmetic grade loose glitter product like NYX Glitter Mania in Hot Gold, but if you can’t find it, you can use store-bought glitter. To apply, just spray your brush (Ria used a MAC 219 brush) with water, dip in the glitter, then lightly dot the corners of your eyes.
On Akiko’s lips, Ria used MAC Subculture Lip Liner topped with Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink. While she did use a hint of MAC Blush All Day Pro Longwear Blush, Ria advises that it’s more about contouring than blush.
Water (melon) colors
To achieve this kind of vibrant color pay-off, Ria used the lime green color from her Make Up Forever 12 Flash Color Case. For creamy eye shadows, she recommends a synthetic brush, like the Hakuhodo B162 brush. However, if greasy paints aren’t your thing, you can try a pressed powder like Shu Uemura Pearl Mint Green Pressed Eye Shadow. If you want more color, lightly spray your brush with water, then dip into the powder.
Ria then used an interesting choice for pink eyeliner: Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Santa Monica, which is totally on-trend. “Lip shades of the eyes is the summery interpretation of last season’s playing with the undertones in the skin,” notes makeup artist Lyne Desnoyers. To keep Akiko’s liner from smearing, Ria lightly set it with blush, then highlighted the inner corners of her eyes with MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study.
To finish off, Ria flushed Akiko’s cheeks with MAC Stay Pretty Pro Longwear Blush, lined her lips with MAC Lip Liner in Naked Liner (on the outer corners of her mouth) and MAC Lip Liner in Hip ‘N’ Happy (in the middle), then topped it with Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink and MAC Lip Glass in Cultured.
True blue
Out of all the looks we did, this is probably the easiest on to achieve. After prepping her skin and priming her eyes with MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, a caffeinated cream to de-puff and minimize dark circles, Ria did a light wash of MAC Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming over Akiko’s eyelids using MAC Brush 195. On the inner corners of her eyes, Ria used MAC Eye Kohl in Fascintaing, a fresh white.
On the outer corners, Ria used Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil, then used a light layer of mascara on her top and bottom lashes. So that lashes hold their curl, try a product like Benefit Roller Lash.
To keep the look understated, Ria kept Akiko’s lips matte and filled them in with MAC Boldly Bare Lip Liner.
Seeing red
If the previous look was the least fussy to create, this last one takes a little more patience and skill. This time, Ria used two lip products to achieve the look: Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Atlantic City and MAC Lip Pencil in Cherry. To apply, use an angled brush like the Hakuhodo 162 brush and to achieve precise lines, use tape on the corners of your eyes. Once again, set with blush.
To keep your eyes from competing with your lips, settle for a nude lip color with a hint of pink, like Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Lippie in Honeymoon Glow.
Photos by Jash Manuel
GIFs by Patrick Segovia
Modeled by Akiko Abad
Makeup by Ria Aquino for MAC Cosmetics
Hair by Eric Llave for Bench Fix
Styling by Ria Casco