Hi, everyone! I feel like I haven't done any makeup tutorials on my blog for ages! However, a few days ago, I came up with a very interesting and special series on my blog. Each new month, I plan to post a brand new makeup step-by-step makeup tutorial, inspired by 12 monthly birthstones. Starting off with an eye look inspired by the Garnet gem.
Garnet is January's birthstone, and it is available in many colors, ranging from very light brown and beige shades to all shades of deep burgundy and almost black. Interesting fact — Garnet is the state stone for New York. As a reference for my makeup tutorial, I took a picture of a very beautiful raw garnet stone, and it inspired me to create a very simple, yet incredibly stunning garnet makeup look with a nice smokey eye effect.
January Birthstone: Garnet Eye Look Step-by-Step Tutorial
Rich reds, deep mahoganies, and a touch of sparkle come together to create a mesmerizing effect. Grab your essential makeup brushes, and let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- Eyeshadow primer
- Eyebrow pencil or powder
- Eyeshadows: Shimmery coral-red, mahogany shimmer, matte black, matte rose, and pure white
- Black matte kohl eyeliner
- Mascara & eyelash curler
- False lashes (optional, but highly recommended!)
- A fluffy blending brush and a flat packing brush
- 1. Prep and Prime for Perfection
First and foremost, we need to make sure our masterpiece lasts all day long without any pesky fallout or color fading. Prepare the delicate eyelid skin by applying an even layer of your favorite eyeshadow primer. Gently tap it in with your ring finger and give it a minute or two to fully set on the skin before applying any powder. This creates the perfect, tacky canvas.
- 2. Frame the Face and Lay the Base
Begin by filling in your eyebrows using a natural-looking eyebrow pencil or shadow—this frames the face and balances the heavy eye makeup to come. Next, take a flat brush and apply a beautiful coral-red eyeshadow onto the outer half of your mobile eyelid. While you can absolutely use a matte formula, I highly recommend using a shimmer shadow here. It catches the light beautifully and adds that extra touch of drama to the look!
- 3. Build Depth and Dimension
To get that true gemstone depth, apply a mahogany shimmer eyeshadow directly to the outer corner of your eyelid, blending it slightly into the coral-red. Intensify the color and create a sultry shadow by adding just a tiny tap of matte black eyeshadow to the very outer "V" of the eye. Next, take a fluffy blending brush with a matte rose eyeshadow and sweep it back and forth through your crease to blend everything out seamlessly.
- 4. Highlight and Soften
Contrast is everything! The next step is to pop a pure white eyeshadow into the inner corner of the eye and right beneath the arch of the brow bone. This technique instantly makes the eyes look big, awake, and fresh. Once your highlight is placed, take a clean, soft blending brush to lightly buff the transitions between all your colors, ensuring there are absolutely no harsh lines.
- 5. Define and Volumize
It’s time to bring it all together. Tightline your eyes by applying a rich, black matte eye kohl to both your top and bottom waterlines to make your lash line look incredibly thick. Carefully curl your natural lashes and apply a few generous coats of your favorite volumizing mascara. For the grand finale, apply a pair of fluttery false lashes.
And just like that, your mesmerizing, Garnet-inspired makeup look is complete!
Final Thoughts...
Happy birthday to everyone who was born in the month of January, and I hope you liked my Garnet Makeup. Please let me know if you like my idea of a birthstone makeup series, and don’t forget to follow my blog for more looks. Hugs and kisses!
