Calgary: Stila talks you down from smoky eye stress

Stila Smoky Eye Talking Palette in "The Greys." Photography by James Lourenço, styling by Briana Mirabelli

More often than not, my futile attempts at the “smoky eye” leave me resembling a repellent raccoon instead of a smoldering siren. And, once I manage to rid my eyes of the dark hues, all the scrubbing and prodding leaves me raw, swollen, but mostly discouraged.  Fear not, fellow raccoons! Stila has come to the rescue with the new  Smoky Eye Talking Palettes ($56, sephora.com).

I know, sounds too good to be true, right?  Press the button on the palette and a makeup artist will walk you though the entire application process, from crease color to completion.  In less than a minute you can master the smoky eye technique and learn which brushes work best.

The four-colour palette is available exclusively at Sephora and includes base, lid, contour and liner shades. Whether applied over-the-top and heavy or light and subtle, smoky eye makeup makes eyes pop; dark eyes sparkle and light eyes appear super intense.

So, next time your inner vamp is screaming to be released, pick up your very own pocket beautician. With a little guidance, you can strut your stuff looking like Eva Mendes instead of Marilyn Manson’s missing twin.

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