What’s more fun than playing with makeup with one of South Florida’s (maybe even the U.S.) most talented stylists? Not much, in my book. Last week I had the chance to sample some of Revlon’s new products, among them their Colorstay eye shadow palette in “Inspired”, which, frankly didn’t inspire much other than fear for the sheer fact that I just don’t know what to do with blue eye shadow without looking like my mother circa 1982.

Enter Lutz. Lutz is one of those people I’m always in awe of having on my list of contacts. He’s the kind of artist who can literally pluck two hairs from your brows and suddenly make them look like they belong in a beauty editorial (I’m not exaggerating. I’ve lived through this.). If there were such a thing as the Esthetics Olympics, he’d be your Michael Phelps. So he’s the first (and only) one I called when I needed help figuring this out. What resulted is something I think we decided to call the tropical smokey because it felt like you shouldn’t be doing anything less than salsa dancing in some really amazing shoes while wearing blue glitter mascara on your lashes.

Below, I give you our step-by-step process, which should work just fine with other colors as long as you apply the basic principles of shading and highlighting. It was easier to achieve than I would have thought and all you really need are some basics. So get to it and let me know how it goes. By the way, am I the only one who feels this way about blue eye shadow?

The tools: A quad shadow palette (or four similar complementary tones), two trusty brushes for blending, applying, and highlighting (he really only used two!), a primer (we used Revlon’s), an angle brush for lining, a volumizing mascara, and a color/glitter mascara for that extra sparkle.

• Before you start: Prime! Be sure to apply primer evenly over your lid to ensure a good canvas that will make those colors stay – and pop. Also, if necessary, fill in those brows with a pencil closest to your natural hair color.
• Step 1: Apply the lightest cream shade all over you lid.
• Step 2: Apply light green on half the lid and into the crease. Also line your eye a bit with the green. Use a little in the inner corner of your eyes to highlight with some color.
• Step 3: Contour go around your eye with that darker blue (dry brush, no water yet).
• Step 4: Wet that angle brush and use the dark blue shade as a liner.
• Step 5: Lightly add some blue to the crease to play up the color.
• Step 6: Apply a coat of black to your top and bottom lashes (lightly on the bottom) and follow with color and/or glitter for the bottom for a fun, flirty look.

Some notes: These shadows had great, build-able pigment. Use a light touch for a subtle look and apply by layering for more pop. You can also dip your brush in a little water for a more dramatic effect (which works with an angle brush to turn the darker shade into liner). For color and/or glitter mascara, apply your basic mascara first and then just dab the glitter/color on top of that, rather thanswiping. That prevents the glitter from sliding off your lashes. We also used Makeup For Ever HD Powder around the eye for that halo highlighting effect.

Thanks so much to Lutz Karpf for lending his time and talent to my exploration in makeup.