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The time has come for you to try the vamp makeup look

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Darker, vamp-inspired make-up is not just reserved for characters from The Craft or for your Halloween face.

No-no, this beauty trend is worn effortlessly by stars like Rihanna, Lily Collins, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian.

Although this look has been adopted by many celebrities in recent years, it dates back to the Golden Age of Hollywood as Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Lamour even flaunted their vampy side.

The vamp-glam look was redefined and showcased at this year’s Emmy Awards (see Laura Prepon below).

It truly works for all skin types and you can wear it day or night...if you dare.

Now, let's look at the difference between gothic and vampy makeup. Yes, there is a difference:

Gif: Rebloggy.com

The difference is quite distinctive, as going with the gothic look requires more dark makeup on both your eyes and lips (see above).

When doing the vampy look, however, you need to either choose a bold lip or eye, you cannot do both.

Focus on the lips:

Gif: w24.co.za


1.  Opt for minimum eye makeup, as you need to use only a little amount of eyeliner and eye shadow. Despite the lipstick being the main focus, your eyes should not look bland, you need to apply mascara as it will bring out your eyes and complement your striking lips.

Try: GOSH No limit lash mascara, R135.

"This mascara promises volume, definition and length, and it delivers. The unique shape of the brush and the curvature of the bristles ensure that you coat every single lash. It also gives you that side-swept Sophia Loren look which really opens your eyes and makes them pop. The bristles are quite sharp, so this mascara should be applied with care – so definitely not one for quickly dolling up while you’re sitting in traffic. The thing I like most about it is the fact that it comes off easily with minimum wiping of the soft, tender eye area. Just a few splashes of cleanser and water and voila!" - Lili Radloff


Image: supplied


2.  Choose a dark hue lipstick, such as deep cherry, dark violet, oxblood, maroon or burgundy and apply them with more than one coat on your lips.

Try: Wet n Wild Lipstick in Cherry Bomb – R43.95 (used in Gif above)

Just look at the smooth application and instant colour pop!


Image: supplied

Or try L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipsticks Preliminaire 462, R154.95. This statement lipstick really lasts ages and is a go-to for those wanting statement lips.


Image: supplied

3.  Apply lip liner in the same shade to intensify the look. This will also keep the look in place as some lipsticks tend to smudge or wear off quickly.

4.  Add a touch of gloss to enhance the look. Make sure that the gloss is darker or that it doesn't change the vampy lipstick colour.

Focus on the eyes:

1. Try to keep the smoky eye to a minimum when pairing it with a vampy lipstick. According to Total Beauty, this will make you look more gothic, so rather add a light, more subtle lipstick.

2. To achieve the smouldering eye, the cat eye look is one way to go. To get the perfect cat eye, line as close as you can to the rim of your eyelid, leaving no exposed skin.

Try: the fab Catrice Cosmetics Liquid Liner in black, R61, 95, available at Clicks.

"I recently started using this liner, and unlike many other liquid liners, this one stays on for the entire day without smudging. Really all you need from a liquid liner." - Marisa Crous.

Image: supplied

The nails:

1. Wear dark nail polish, such as dark metallic colours or dark purples, which are great as it gives a glossier tone to your nails.

2.   The great thing about this look is that you need not have long manicured nails. The rounder and shorter, the better, which gives a punkish feel to your nails.

Try: Essence the gel nail polish, Wonderfuel, R24.95

"Looking for the perfect nail polish for that dark, sensual and vampy look? Look no further. The gel polish, which is a deep, dark and shimmery purple lasts for more than 3 days before chipping starts to occur.

My advice would be to apply at least two coats to get the effect that you want, as the gel-like texture of the polish can make the first coat appear very light. But, otherwise, you really can’t go wrong with this sexy and metallic little number to show off your darker side." - Tammy February

Or try Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in Disturbia, R56.95

"I was very excited to try this nail polish out as I love dark, vampy colours and this looked rather interesting because there was a slight purple shimmer to it. While the colour still looks great once it’s on (although the purple shimmer isn’t really all that noticeable), it took a few coats to get it to look just right. But, I’ve put the polish through its paces (I work with water quite often) and, four days later, it’s still intact and looks good. So, it takes a bit of effort to put on, but it will last quite a while and the end product looks great." - Carmen Williams




The brows:

1. Darken and straighten your brows to give a more clean and sophisticated look. This will bring out and complement your smoky eye.

Still confused? Here are various ways to style the vampy look.

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