Adriana Lima is a Brazilian supermodel and actress known for being a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 1999 to 2018. She is famous for her beautiful eyes and smoky eye makeup looks. Lima works with some of the top makeup artists in the fashion industry to create her signature eyeshadow styles. In this article, we will look at the specific eyeshadow products and application techniques Lima’s makeup pros use to get her glamorous eyes.
Lima’s Go-To Eyeshadow Brands
According to interviews with Lima’s makeup artists, she tends to use eyeshadow primarily from these high-end makeup lines:
- MAKE UP FOR EVER
- Charlotte Tilbury
- Tom Ford
- MAC Cosmetics
Lima is often photographed on red carpets and fashion runways wearing eyeshadow looks using these luxury brand eyeshadows applied by top celebrity makeup artists like Pat McGrath, Charlotte Tilbury herself, and Tom Pecheux.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Eyeshadows
| Eyeshadow | Type |
|---|---|
| Artist Color Shadow | Pressed powder eyeshadow |
| Artist Color Refillable Makeup Palettes | Refillable eyeshadow palettes |
| Artist Color Refillable Powder Blush | Refillable blush |
According to Pat McGrath, Lima loves using MAKE UP FOR EVER eyeshadows like the Artist Shadow formula. The supermodel relies on timeless, neutral brown and taupe eyeshadow shades from MAKEUP FOREVER to create her iconic smoky eyes on and off the runway.
Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadows
| Eyeshadow | Type |
|---|---|
| Luxury Palette | Pressed powder eyeshadow palette |
| Colour Chameleon | Cream eyeshadow pencil |
| Eyes to Mesmerise | Cream eyeshadow pot |
Charlotte Tilbury herself often works with Lima for fashion shows and red carpet events, so she relies on her own makeup line. Tilbury’s Luxury Palettes, Colour Chameleon pencils, and Eyes to Mesmerise cream eyeshadow pots are go-to’s for creating Lima’s smoldering smoky eye.
Tom Ford Eyeshadows
| Eyeshadow | Type |
|---|---|
| Eye Color Quad | Pressed powder eyeshadow palette |
| Cream and Powder Eye Color | Cream and powder eyeshadow duo |
| Eye Color Duo | Pressed powder eyeshadow duo |
Tom Ford’s luxe eyeshadows are also used frequently on Lima. His Eye Color Quad palettes, Cream and Powder duos, and Eye Color Duo compacts allow for multidimensional eye looks perfect for the red carpet.
MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadows
| Eyeshadow | Type |
|---|---|
| Eyeshadow | Pressed powder eyeshadow |
| Paint Pot | Cream eyeshadow pot |
For more affordable options, Lima relies on MAC’s highly-pigmented eyeshadow formulas. Their powder Eyeshadow pans and Paint Pot cream shadows are longtime staples.
Lima’s Signature Smokey Eye Techniques
So what exact eye makeup techniques do pro makeup artists use on Adriana Lima to get that sexy, smoldering smoky eye she’s known for? Let’s break it down:
1. Apply a shimmery nude eyeshadow on the lid.
The base shade for Lima’s eye looks is usually a shimmering nude, beige, or champagne eyeshadow swept across the entire eyelid. This provides a luminous base and helps the darker shades blend more easily.
2. Add a medium brown shade in the crease.
Next, a matte or satin medium brown shade is blended through the crease to add definition. This natural shadow mimics Lima’s actual eye contour.
3. Layer a deep brown shade on the outer lid and along the lashline.
This is when you start intensifying the smoky effect. Apply a deeper chocolate brown or charcoal eyeshadow, pressing it into the outer half/third of the lid and smoking it along the upper and lower lashline.
4. Add black eyeshadow to the outer V.
Amp up the smolder by pressing a matte black eyeshadow into the outer V of the eyelid. Also run it along the upper lashline for major impact.
5. Blend with a clean brush.
Soften any harsh lines by going over the edges with a clean blending brush.
6. Highlight under the brows.
Brush a shimmery nude or champagne shadow under the brows to lift and brighten.
7. Line the upper lashline.
Finish by lining the upper lashline with black pencil or liquid liner. This intensifies the look.
8. Apply mascara and false lashes.
Load up on volumizing black mascara and finish with full, dramatic false lashes to really make the eyes stand out.
Step-By-Step Tutorial
Let’s break down how to recreate Adriana Lima’s signature smoky eye step-by-step:
Prep
Start with clean, moisturized skin and primer. Apply concealer as needed under eyes and any other areas that need coverage.
Base Shadow
Choose a shimmery champagne, nude or beige eyeshadow close to your skin tone. Pat this all over the eyelid up to the brow bone using a eyeshadow brush or your finger. This provides a clean, bright base for blending.
Crease Color
With a fluffy crease brush, sweep a matte medium brown shadow like MAC Saddle through the crease in a windshield wiper motion. Go back and forth to diffuse and blend the edges.
Outer Lid & Lower Lashline
Switch to a smaller eyeshadow brush to press a deeper warm brown like MAC Embark onto the outer third of the lid. Smoke it along the upper and lower lashlines as well, concentrating the deepest color on the outer corners.
Intensify the Outer V
Dab a matte black shadow like MAC Carbon onto the outer V area on the lid and lashline to amp up the drama.
Blend
Take a clean fluffy brush and use windshield wiper motions to blend the edges of the crease, lid, and lower lashline to get a seamless gradient.
Brow Highlight
Brush a shimmery nude under the arches of your brows to highlight and lift.
Liner & Lashes
Line your upper lashline with liquid or pencil liner, extending slightly beyond the outer corner. Curl your lashes and apply mascara, finishing with dramatic false lashes.
Additional Tips
– Use an eyeshadow primer to increase wear time and pigmentation.
– Keep look wearable for day with a lighter hand. Build up depth for evening.
– Avoid any harsh lines by always blending.
– Balance eye and lip color intensity so one doesn’t overpower.
Eyeshadow Products Lima Uses
If you want to recreate Adriana Lima’s signature smoldering smoky eyes using the exact same products as the supermodel, here are some of the eyeshadows to look for:
MAKE UP FOR EVER
- Artist Shadow in D552 Crystalline Taupe (base lid shade)
- Artist Shadow in ME612 Silver Brown (crease)
- Artist Shadow in ME614 Graphite Brown (outer lid)
- Artist Shadow in ME616 Black Gold (outer v)
Charlotte Tilbury
- Luxury Palette in The Rebel (base and crease shades)
- Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet (lid)
- Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette (lid)
Tom Ford
- Eye Color Quad in Nude Dip (base, crease, and lid shades)
- Cream and Powder Eye Color in Spice (lid)
- Eye Defining Pen in Deeper (liner)
MAC Cosmetics
- Paint Pot in Painterly (base)
- Eyeshadow in Saddle (crease)
- Eyeshadow in Embark (lid)
- Eyeshadow in Carbon (outer v)
Conclusion
Adriana Lima’s seductive, smoky eyes are created using strategic placement of neutral and brown shadows to mimic a natural shadow effect. By layering shimmers, satins, and matte shadows from her favorite high-end makeup lines, her pros sculpt and define her eyes for a signature sultry look. With the right products and blending techniques, you can recreate Lima’s go-to glam gaze for any occasion from day to night. Just remember to blend, blend, blend for a seamless smoky eye!
