Not-So-'80s Blue Eyeshadow

Blue Eye Makeup
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NARS Eyeshadow in Kamchatka & Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in 159
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NARS Eyeshadow in Kamchatka & Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in 159

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sapphire & Eye Basic in Eyebright
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Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sapphire & Eye Basic in Eyebright

Lancôme x Alber Elbaz compact in Midnight Rush and YSL compact in Riviera
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Lancôme compact in Midnight Rush and YSL compact in Riviera

Make Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Cool Aqua & Kevyn Aucoin in Defining Navy
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Make Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Cool Aqua & Kevyn Aucoin in Defining Navy

MAC Eyeshadow in Heroine & Maybelline Color Tattoo in Brash Blue
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MAC Eyeshadow in Heroine & Maybelline Color Tattoo in Brash Blue

Bette Frank by KT Auleta in Vogue Turkey July 2013
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Bette Frank by KT Auleta in Vogue Turkey July 2013

Blue Eye Makeup
NARS Eyeshadow in Kamchatka & Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in 159

NARS Eyeshadow in Kamchatka & Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in 159

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sapphire & Eye Basic in Eyebright

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sapphire & Eye Basic in Eyebright

Lancôme x Alber Elbaz compact in Midnight Rush and YSL compact in Riviera

Lancôme compact in Midnight Rush and YSL compact in Riviera

Make Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Cool Aqua & Kevyn Aucoin in Defining Navy

Make Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Cool Aqua & Kevyn Aucoin in Defining Navy

MAC Eyeshadow in Heroine & Maybelline Color Tattoo in Brash Blue

MAC Eyeshadow in Heroine & Maybelline Color Tattoo in Brash Blue

Bette Frank by KT Auleta in Vogue Turkey July 2013

Bette Frank by KT Auleta in Vogue Turkey July 2013

Blue Eye Makeup
NARS Eyeshadow in Kamchatka & Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in 159
Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Sapphire & Eye Basic in Eyebright
Lancôme x Alber Elbaz compact in Midnight Rush and YSL compact in Riviera
Make Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Cool Aqua & Kevyn Aucoin in Defining Navy
MAC Eyeshadow in Heroine & Maybelline Color Tattoo in Brash Blue
Bette Frank by KT Auleta in Vogue Turkey July 2013

We’ve had blue eyeshadow on the brain (if not our lids) for a while now, but its appearance in July’s Vogue Turkey, on the lids of Dutch beauty Bette Franke [7], got us thinking about it once again. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo’s subtle use of baby blue shadow to offset Franke's monochrome Vuitton, Dior, and Stella McCartney outfits is so effective, so dreamy, it sort of steals the show.

Which is to say nothing of all of the blue shadows that have been streaming into the office: nearly grisaille shades from Nars; plus indigos both opaque (Maybelline’s Color Tattoo in Brash Blue) and sparkly (Lancôme Show All-In-One Shadow & Liner Palette in Midnight Rush), periwinkles (MAC Satin Eyeshadow in Heroine), pastels (YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres in Riviera), and midnights (Kevyn Aucoin eye pencil in Defining Navy). Whether you're wearing blue as a liner, a full lid, a cat eye, or a graphic quadrilateral, the key to keeping things from veering into Boogie Nights territory is to leave the rest of your face—like Franke’s—fresh and lightly glowing. It's a balance that's easier said than done we realize, but play with it. That's what your Bi-Facil is for, anyway.

Photos [1-6] by Elizabeth Brockway; [7] Bette Frank photographed by KT Auleta for Vogue Turkey July 2013— subscribe to see the full story.