A soft-focus, smoky eyelid in varying shades of brown, from tawny through to a golden-flecked bronze, is a secret beauty tool. No matter your eye color or skin tone, brown is a universally flattering shade. As my ballet teacher once told me, “all the prima ballerinas wear brown eye shadow, as it’s the only color that truly opens up the eyes”—something I have never forgotten.
One might say I have an obsession with brown eye shadow, and I have such a vast collection that I could probably mosaic myself an eyeshadow palette jacuzzi if I wanted to. After trying the sea foam green or icy blue eyeshadows that we’ve witnessed on the runway, I always seem to return to my trusty brown shades. They make for that barefaced chic look that channels the vibe of the Balmain or Chloé girl—just don’t ask me to pick a favorite.
With a view to making my makeup bag a little more streamlined, I have invested in just one more: the Urban Decay Naked3, the third edition in a series of best-selling eye shadow palettes. Both paraben and sulfate-free, this product has an ombré of 12 velvety shades, from rose-hued sands to rich lattes and a metallic dark chocolate. As an all-in-one compact complete with a double-ended applicator, it has cut my morning mirror time considerably.
The rich pigments come courtesy of the Urban Decay Pigment Infusion System™, which blend seamlessly and have true staying power. If you wish to make your chosen hue stronger, just wet the application brush before you apply. Play away.
