Beauty Police: Jessica Alba Goes Dark and Stormy for A.C.O.D. Premiere

Tips and tricks from our beauty expert on how to get this same great look on the A.C.O.D. star

By Janna Mandell Sep 27, 2013 11:32 PMTags
Jessica AlbaJason Merritt/Getty Images

Perhaps Jessica Alba was mourning the loss of all the hair she lopped off this past week when she decided to wear a black dress and matching black eye makeup to her new movie premiere.  Don't get us wrong—we LOVE the sexy new haircut and the charcoal eyes (and while we're at it—the bold brows and perfect dusty rose lip).

What we adored most about the dark eye makeup is that she didn't overdo it.   It seems like starlets usually can't help but to go full on smoky eye when they use black eye shadow, which can land them quickly in scary Avril Levigne or Taylor Momsen territory.

Not our Jessica. She gave her eyelids almost a wash of black and then added a more concentrated dose of shadow on the outer corners.  She avoided the prizefighter look by refraining from painting her lower lash line in black, instead just opting to line her water line.

Get the Look:  Start by priming eye area with concealer or an eye primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer to ensure your eye shadow goes on evenly and lasts.  You're going to want to use a versatile cream eye shadow that can be used as a wash, a strongly pigmented eye shadow, and a liner. Our favorite is NARS Eye Paint, which rises to any eye makeup occasion and comes in several color choices.

To recreate Jessica's stormy eyes, use a large domed eye brush with NARS Eye Paint Black Valley all over the eyelid. You're using a softer bristle so it will give a softer wash look. Start by applying the eye paint with short strokes, but then use a circular motion to "buff" the makeup into the lid, going over the socket to ensure there are no pronounced edges.

Then use an eye contour brush dipped in the eye paint and swipe a line along the outer corner lash line and brush back and forth up towards the crease line.  Use a circular motion to buff any hard edges and to ensure you've created a gradient effect.

Next, if your eyes aren't sensitive use a black kohl eyeliner pencil to line your eyes' water line. Complete the eye makeup by applying 2-3 layers of your favorite volume-building mascara.

To get Jessica's bold brows, you're going to have to start by hiding your tweezers from yourself.  Thin brows are aging and they are only in style in the porn community. There, we said it. 

Use a brow powder or brow pencil that matches your hair color and use small upward strokes (in the same direction your brow hair grows) that mimic your brow hair shape. Next, spray hairspray on a disposable mascara wand and brush brows upward to blend and ensure hold.

Finish Jessica's look by exfoliating lips with your toothbrush or a sugar lip scrub.  Then line entire lip area with a nude / neutral lip liner and follow with a beige/dusty rose lipstick like Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Dreamy.

If you follow all our instructions we can't make any promises that you'll end up looking exactly like Jessica Alba, but at least we can assure you that you won't end up looking like a Goth after sleeping in her eye makeup (yeah we're talking to you Avril and Taylor).

If you're a beauty addict, Janna will be your enabler. Just an occasional user? She'll be your bad influence. Visit her blog at mybeautybinge.com and indulge!