Dark, ’90s-esque lips, rebellious bold lashes, and moody-hued manicures can look fiercely feminine in a season of glitter and glitz. Nobody can be good-as-gold all the time, and if this kind of khôl turns up in your stocking, trust us, you’re going to like it. Here are the goodies to get you the look.
THE EYES
YSL’s Couture Kajal 3-in-1 Khôl eyeliner ($39), and Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombre eyeshadow ($41) in Rouge Noir (it’s truly one of the most striking shades), can look sultry and sophisticated. Keep the skin fresh and dewy to keep statement-making eyes looking modern.
THE NAILS
Deep, dark polish might have made a rebellious statement a decade or so ago, but today the look has become chic beyond our wildest dreams—it’s absolutely on par with the classic reds and nudes we’re used to. Smith & Cult’s vampy polish ($18US) in Dark Like Me has a throwback-worthy name, but on your hands, it’ll look polished and put-together. It’s also 5-free, so you can feel good about wearing it on your fingertips. Sally Hansen’s 18K Gold Hardener ($10) is more of a shimmer than a glitter once you’ve got it on your hands, and its strengthening treatment properties will keep the bold manicure on top of it as strong as it looks.
THE LIPS
This season, put away your fears of the bold bordeaux lip—it’s here to stay, and you can pull it off. For the utmost in luxury, try Christian Louboutin’s Silky Satin Lipcolour ($110US) in Sevillana; its beautiful packaging doubles as a pendant. (And that’s perfect for stealthy post-treat touch-ups.) If you love the hue, but want to go subtle, try it in the form of a gloss. Chanel Lèvres Scintillantes ($34) in Étincelle is the sheerest version we’ve found that still evokes the richness of the colour au courant.
THE MOOD
Pull the look together with the finishing touch that is fragrance. My Burberry Gold Glow Fragranced Luminising Powder ($75) smells divine and creates a beautiful sheen when applied to the cheekbones and collarbones. We also love Gucci Guilty ($118 for 75 ml) for its impressive balance between “rebel-woman” and sophisticate. It’s magical.
THE ICING ON THE CAKE
If you want to have even more fun with the look, take it up a notch with Anna Sui’s Nail Art Foil ($12). It looks incredible sprinkled over nude or clear glossy polish, and equally striking atop the bold burgundy shade shown above. Lise Watier’s Double Face Brush ($32) makes a cinch of applying Burberry’s shimmering powder to just the right spots. Prepare your eye area for lots of attention with a good eye treatment cream. For a luxurious treat, try Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond eye cream ($275).