We're used to seeing red lips for the fall and holiday seasons – everything from deep crimson to bright, borderline-orange is fair game – but this year it seems the fiery hue has gained significant traction as an eye shadow trend. Some makeup aficionados consider red eye shadow to be difficult to pull off, especially for pale pasty folks such as myself, as it can go from "cutting-edge runway" to "severe eye infection" very quickly. However, if anyone can get me to try this seemingly difficult shade, it's Mother (a.k.a. the legendary Pat McGrath.) I tested out the aptly named Blitz Flame shade from her Mothership V palette and found it was shockingly wearable. While I suspect it's the prettiest and best quality out of the palettes below, there is no shortage of reds to try this year as seemingly every fall and holiday palette contains a red shade. Honorable mentions include Charlotte Tilbury Palette of Pops, Viseart Libertine palette and Morphe Your True Selfie palette – I simply couldn't fit them all in one image!
- Bobbi Brown Infra-Red palette
- Pat McGrath Labs Mothership V Bronze Seduction palette
- NARS Provacateur palette
- Violet Voss Berry Burst mini palette
- Karity Picante palette
- Maybelline Soda Pop palette
- Huda Beauty Obsessions palette in Ruby
- Zoeva Spice of Life palette
- Natasha Denona Cranberry palette
- Ace Beaute Blossom Passion palette
I can't say I was seeing any red eye shadow on the fall 2018 runways, so I'm not sure what the reason is for the trend. Perhaps it's the influence of the larger cherry/burgundy beauty craze (see Urban Decay's Naked Cherry collection, Maybelline's Burgundy Bar, and my post on burgundy makeup from last fall), or maybe given the success of other reddish-toned colors released previously – again, with Urban Decay leading the way with their Naked Heat palette this summer – it's an expansion on colors that were once viewed as odd choices for eye shadows. It's similar to how nearly every brand now has non-traditional lip colors. (Speaking of which, who else wants to see a Black Satin lipstick from Chanel? I'm wearing the nail polish right now…)
Have you tried or will you be trying red shadow? It's still not my favorite shade for eyes, but I must say that Pat McGrath, once again, has made a look that I previously thought was off-limits for me totally doable.