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Watercolor Makeup Is the Next Huge Beauty Trend -- Here's How to Get The Look

Toss your contouring stick, and pull out your paint makeup brushes. This dreamy, sheer makeup is the look to wear now
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Watercolor Makeup: Step 3
Next, you want to highlight the key features of the face. Apply highlighter on the bridge of the nose, the Cupid's bow and the inner corners of the eyes. Fun fact: You don't have to use a traditional highlighter. Actually, a rose gold eye shadow works even better for this look. (Barnes used the E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow, $4, in Rose Gold, but if you want something even more reflective, try Milk Makeup Holographic Stick, $28, in Supernova.)

Barnes says watercolor makeup is all about the mood (much like an Impressionist painting). So, the goal is to make the cheeks look a little more theatrical and "magical." In order to increase the dimensional quality of the cheekbone structure, he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, applying the blush higher on the cheekbone near the hairline, and brushing a bit of bronzer across the jawline, cheeks and hairline.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 4
"When it comes to the eye makeup part of this look, get creative," Barnes says. And he doesn't just mean with colors. As a base to your eye look, sweep a violet-pink blush across the lid and crease of your eyes (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Violet), being sure to blend your crease up and out. The vibrant pigment of the blush will actually look very sheer, due to the lack of a neutral eye shadow base -- which is exactly the look you're going for. Then, take an even lighter shade of blush (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Peach) and apply it to the crease, blending up and out.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 5
In true watercolor fashion, this look isn't about staying in the lines. Fighting against all your natural instincts, apply the lighter blush slightly above the brows (scary, we know), and be sure to blend out any harsh lines.

"The great thing about this look is there are no rules," Barnes says. "When you try something this unique, you want to let people know you're doing it on purpose and are breaking the traditional rules. And honestly, that makes it so much more fun for you and the onlookers."

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 6
Now it's time to channel your inner Monet, because we're blending some serious colors. Start by adding a coral-orange blush to the top and bottom of the outer corner of your eye (Barnes used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Peach). Be sure to paint on the blush with a light and airy application. To illuminate the colorful "shadow", use your finger and lightly dab on some slightly shimmery liquid eye shadow in a rose gold hue. (He used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow, $4.) This will create a natural highlight on the eye, and make your eyes pop.

Then, mix a small amount of setting spray (we have your handy guide here) with a blue eye shadow (he used the E.L.F. Prism Eyeshadow Palette, $10, in Smoke), so it's a little more watery. Using an angled precision brush, paint the blue shadow into a straight line through the crease of your eye (do not follow the natural arch). Take your favorite (soft) green shadow, and paint the outer two-thirds of the bottom lash line -- being sure to blend, spreading it across the length of your eye. You should have zero harsh lines -- like shades of water.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 7
To clean up the look, dab concealer under your eyes and be sure to blend. Then, apply a smidge of liquid liner to the upper, outer corner of your eyes, and sweep on blue and purple mascara for extra "oomph and fun" (as Barnes puts it). And voilà! You are officially a walking piece of art (and a makeup trendsetter).

BY JESSICA AMARIS | AUG 24, 2016 | SHARES
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