Hi everyone, July is the seventh month of the year and a time for a new step-by-step makeup tutorial, inspired by Ruby, the birthstone of July. Ruby stones are considered the king of gems and represent love, health, and wisdom. The rich ruby color looks especially beautiful on dark brown, black, and green eyes.
Inspired by raw ruby gemstones, I've created a mysterious, sultry, and wearable Ruby makeup tutorial, and you can recreate this beautiful makeup look without any difficulties by following these very simple and beginner-friendly steps.
July Birthstone: Ruby Eye Look Step-by-Step Tutorial
If you are looking to make a bold statement, nothing commands attention quite like a rich, ruby-red smoky eye. Red tones can be intimidating, but when blended correctly, they beautifully enhance any eye color and create a sultry, captivating look.
What You Will Need:
- Base: Eyeshadow primer
- Brows: Matte eyeshadow or brow pencil
- Shadows: Matte red eyeshadow, dusty pink matte eyeshadow, and a ruby shimmer or pressed glitter
- The "Secret Weapon": Coral red lipstick (or a cream red eyeshadow base)
- Liner & Lashes: Black liquid or gel eyeliner, black kohl pencil, white or nude eye pencil, mascara, and false lashes
- Makeup brushes: Dense packing brush, fluffy blending brush, and a precision brush
- 1. Prep the Canvas and Frame the Face
Start your ruby eye makeup look by prepping the area with a high-quality eyeshadow primer. Evenly apply a small amount all over your eyelid, blending it out gently with your ring finger.
An eyeshadow primer is essential because it locks your makeup in place, prevents creasing, and helps those red pigments look incredibly vibrant. Once your primer is set, frame your eyes by filling in your eyebrows using a matte eyeshadow or your favorite brow pencil.
- 2. Lay Down a Cream Base
To give your red eyeshadow an even deeper, richer undertone, we are going to use a fun makeup hack: coral red lipstick.
Apply a small amount of the lipstick directly onto the mobile lid (the part of your eyelid that moves when you blink). Using your finger or a synthetic brush, gently blend the edges so there are no harsh lines. The creaminess of the lipstick acts as an anchor for the powder shadow we will apply next.
Note: You can easily skip this step if you are already using a highly pigmented red cream shadow, or if you are confident in the intensity of your powder eyeshadow.
- 3. Pack on the Ruby Red
Now it is time to lock in that color. Using a dense, natural-bristle eyeshadow brush, pick up your matte red eyeshadow and firmly dab the color directly on top of the lipstick base. Pressing the shadow—rather than swiping it—ensures maximum color payoff.
To make this look even more sultry and multidimensional, apply an intense ruby shimmer or pressed glitter directly to the center of the lid. This catches the light beautifully every time you blink.
- 4. Blend the Crease and Highlight
Harsh edges can ruin a smoky eye, so seamless blending is key! Take a fluffy blending brush and a matte dusty pink eyeshadow to act as your transition shade. Sweep this pink shade through your crease using windshield-wiper motions. This bridges the gap between the intense red on your lid and your natural skin tone.
Next, take a luminous highlighter and apply it right on your brow bone and directly into the inner corners of your eyes. Make sure to softly blend the transition between the highlighter and the dusty pink crease color for a flawless gradient.
- 5. Line, Define, and Add Lashes
Time for the finishing touches! Grab your favorite black liquid or gel eyeliner and draw a sharp, beautiful wing. To give the eyes a sultry, feline shape, add a small, precise triangle pointing inwards at the inner corner of your eyes.
