Hi friends!
I’m back today with the second makeup look in my Beauty Inspiration Challenge for the month of August. Make sure you check out my intro post that explains the concept behind this series, and the first look that I did last week; both are linked down below!
This week I’m inspired by bright colors of…food? Yes I know that sounds super weird, but we had these gorgeously bright dried apricots in the house that recently caught my eye. They have this cool ombre effect where the color fades from a light peachy-yellow to a bright true orange.
I wanted to replicate that effect on my eyes, and I knew just the palette for the job: the Huda Beauty Topaz Obsessions Palette! I’ve long been a fan of these mini palettes from Huda – awesome quality and a variety of finishes for a fairly affordable price. The Topaz version has a lot of beautiful peachy-orange mattes. So let me take you through what I did to recreate this apricot look.
Catch up on this series!
August = beauty inspiration challenge!
Inspired by hydrangea | Beauty Inspo Look #1
STEP ONE – EYES
I laid my base down across my eyes using the MAC Paint Pot in the shade Camel (discontinued – use any eye primer if you like). I pat it anywhere I intend to use powder eyeshadow.
Using the Topaz Obsessions Palette, I wanted to create a gradient of orange color from darkest to lightest, the darkest being at the lash line.
I started by buffing the lightest matte peach shade (dead center) all over my eyes and above my crease. I then mixed the matte mac-n-cheese-like shade (upper left corner) with the bright matte orange (upper right corner), and applied that from my lash line up to the middle of my mobile lid. I used a small, dense buffer brush to really blend that darker shade into the lighter peach shade. Then I applied the darkest matte tomato shade (bottom row, middle) just along the lash line with a pencil brush to complete the gradient. Everything got buffed and blended together at the end with a big fluffy brush.
On the lower lash line, I took the same mixture of the mac-n-cheese shade with the bright orange and smudged it all the way across.
Lastly I coated my upper lashes with the Maybelline Snapscara, and my bottom lashes using the Pixi Lower Lash Mascara.
Read this: Pixi Lower Lash Mascara – snatch it or skip it?
STEP TWO – FACE
I wanted my skin to be juicy and dewy to contrast with the all-matte eye I had going on. For this I had to use my beloved, but nearly discontinued Bobbi Brown SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizing Balm. I dabbed this all over my face and blended it out with my hands. Juicy skin in a tub, done!
I then went in to conceal using the Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer, which has really great coverage. As always I apply under my eyes, around my nose and anywhere I need extra help. I go very slowly with this concealer as it can be quite full coverage when built up.
Read this: Review: Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer

Gradient effect from darkest (lash line) to lightest (upper lid and crease) using the Huda Beauty Topaz Obsession Palette.
STEP THREE – CHEEKS
To keep all the focus on the eyes, I just did a light sweeping of the Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in the shade Bronzer across my cheeks and temples with a large powder brush. This is a cool-to-neutral toned bronzer so I found it a perfect match to these more colorful eyes. It also has a very buildable pigment so you can really customize the amount of color you lay down.
Read this: Fenty Beauty vs. Physician’s Formula: Bronzer showdown
STEP FOUR – BROWS
I really love brushing up my brows when I do a colorful eye look, so the best product I have for that job by far is the Ardell Brow Confidential Brow Duo. I used the clear gel side only; it acts like glue to keep my hairs in place all day. So I just brushed them all the way up, slightly shaped them and moved on. No extra color or filling in for me.
Read this: My routine for thick luscious brows

Up close look at the Topaz Obsessions Palette. I used all four matte shades in this look.
STEP FIVE – LIPS
I applied one of my favorite bougee lipsticks from my collection, the Tom Ford Matte Lipstick in the shade Universal Appeal. It’s a gorgeous beige nude that’s creamy to apply but has impressive staying power on the lips. It’s a real ‘treat yourself’ kinda product! (Mine was actually a Christmas gift from two years ago.) However, I wanted the lip color to be ever so slightly terracotta to play off the orange eyes. I mixed a small amount of the light peach shade with the bright orange from the upper right corner of the Topaz Obsessions Palette, and gently patted the powders over the creamy lipstick. It just slightly changed the tone and I loved it!
What do you think of my apricot-inspired makeup look? Are you inspired by bright colors too? I’d love to know! Make sure you check back every Wednesday this month for a new look in this series!
xo, Erica
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At first I thought, “now how is she going to pull off the dried apricot colors?” But you did and it looks so good! I’m scared to go good with bright colors, but this looks really good on you!
Oh thank you Michelle! I actually really like how it turned out. I’m a bit scared of oranges because they can clash with my skin tone, but using the super bright shades just on the lash line seems to help me! I’m planning something *really* out of my comfort zone for the next look 😉.
I love this! It makes your eyes pop in a good way. It also is such a beautiful look to transition into Fall with. Stunning!
Thanks girl! True, I never thought of it as a transitional look but you’re right!
I love the orange shade on your eyes you pull it off so well! And so nicely blended too! Love it.
Thanks so much! ❤️
So pretty ! Not everyone can pull off those colors but with your skin tone and hair color , the look is so pretty on you 😘
Thank you so much! ❤️
Beautifully done and so brave. Like how you mixed a bright shade with earthy tones. Love the inspiration picture too! -Dominique
Oh, thank you again! I normally don’t wear bright oranges but this was so fun to create!
I absolutely agree! We have to step out of our comfort zone sometime and give it a try.
😉
That Topaz palette is so pretty. Do you experience a lot of fallout when you do use the shimmer shades though? I was so messy when I played with my Mauve Obsessions palette.
I love this orange look, it totally reminds me of the apricots that inspired you. 🙂
Thanks so much! Honestly, I find the fallout with all Huda shadows to be pretty substantial. But I always do my eyes first when I do my makeup, so the cleanup is super easy. It doesn’t bother me too much!