This week's American Idol makeup trend was all metallic. A lot of the contestants were done up with different hues of metallic shadows and paired with gorgeous pink glossy lip shades. I've always been a fan of metallic colors but they can be a bit dramatic when you aren't singing live on stage.

Kimberley Locke on this week's American Idol is a good example of how to do a proper metallic eye design. As light reflects heavily off of this type of eyeshadow, you need to match up not only your lips, but your foundation and blush to coordinate this style. Dewy foundations with a silicone base will highlight your cheeks and overall skin to give off a healthy glow.

Blush can consist of a shimmery bronzer or natural shimmer color. Make sure not to over powder your cheeks as you want the top of the cheekbones to maintain that dewy complexion. I like to powder the t zone and under eye area only to achieve this glow.

Kimberley Locke makeup

The lips can be natural in mauves and muted pink shades. Finish the lips with a clear or sugar coated lip gloss, focusing the shine on the middle areas of the top and lower lips.

As some metallic eye shadows tend to be very pigmented, start out by blending the color onto the eyelids, lightly until you have enough coverage. Depending on if you want a contoured or overall wash look, apply a medium to dark brown matte shadow onto the outer area of the eye. Run a bit under the eye to create harmony with the lower eye area. I like to use metallic champagne colors as the highlight to really make the eyes pop, sometimes dabbing it on the middle eye area and inner eye corners.

Some of my favorite metallic colors are bronze, silver, pinks, champagne and smoky grays. Play around mixing warm and cool colors as the they go well together with the texture of these shadows.

Vincent Ford
Los Angeles makeup artist