How To Pull Off The “Italian Siren” Makeup Look
We’ve had many trending makeup looks so far this year - latte makeup, Barbie core makeup, strawberry makeup, etc. And now one is cropping back up in popularity…the Italian Siren look! And I am here for this one!
Enough with always the safe, neutral, barely there makeup at my age of 46. Sure, it’s got its place and time when I’m in a mega hurry to get somewhere or I’m just headed to my kids school for a volleyball meeting. But I’m all about switching things up to keep life interesting - and this usually comes in the form of my makeup looks because it's usually a small investment in products and isn’t permanent!
I hear too many women, clients, friends of mine, all over 40, that say, “Oh, I can’t wear a smokey eye.” Excuse me, you can’t, you won’t, or you’re too scared to try?? Here’s the thing - I don’t care WHAT age you are, you CAN pull anything off, if you WANT to.
You’ve just got to tweak it in your own personal way. Famously inspired by the alluring and iconic Italian actresses like Monica Bellucci (now 58) and Sophia Loren (now 89), the Italian Siren look is defined by these easy-to-implement components:
- a smoldering smokey eye,
- effortless satin skin,
- sunkissed cheekbones,
- and a juicy nude lip.
I’d say it’s a perfect vibe to play around with for the upcoming fall season because it’s a nice switcharoo from the minimalist summer beauty trends and bright colors. Pair this confident glam look with a simple, fitted black dress and diamond studs, and let your face do the talking. This look is a reflection of a woman who knows her worth and exudes confidence!
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about how to channel your inner Italian Siren. It’s actually rather simple. And I’ll be sharing a few brand spankin’ *new* makeup launches of products I’ve been trying out that would be beautiful additions to your fall makeup collection.
This look will definitely get you excited to get dressed up and go show off your sultry side…
TL;DR
Jennifer shares How To Pull Off The “Italian Siren” Makeup Look
Jennifer's product recommendations are shoppable via text links and image widgets
How To Pull Off The “Italian Siren” Makeup Look
EFFORTLESS SATIN SKIN
The skin should give a blurred satin finish, and not be super full coverage - we are looking for effortless. No overly shiny oily skin either.
Products used to achieve this skin…
Prep: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, $40. This moisturizer feels like a soft cloud! It’s a whipped gel cream that hydrates and visibly balances unpredictable skin and once it’s rubbed in you can literally feel your skin plump like a soft cushion! It’s truly a luxurious feeling without a super high price tag.
Foundation: The newest foundation from Urban Decay is the perfect product to achieve this siren skin! Their *new* Face Bond Self Setting Waterproof Foundation, $40, is a lightweight waterproof foundation with the skincare benefits of a serum and self-setting powder for blurring effect in a medium-coverage, matte finish. It’s really great for sensitive and normal to oily skin, and is non-comedogenic. Since I have dry skin, it definitely works best when my skin is super hydrated, which I achieve with the Glow Recipe first! I’m wearing the shade 15 light medium warm.
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SMOKEY SMOLDERING EYES
The siren eyes should be a creation of an elongated but lifted, eye shape using a smudged winged liner with darker-rimmed eyes. A little bit messy is ideal. Think 51-year-old Monica Belluci when she starred as the oldest Bond Girl in the James Bond movie “Spectre.” She smashed the idea that only young women can seduce Bond and she did it all with her signature soft smokey eye!
Products used to achieve this eye…
Eye Crayons: Magnetic Eye Color by Nudestix, $27. I only used two shades of these chubby eye pencil crayons - a shimmery bronze shade and a matte black. That’s it. These eye crayons stay PUT too once they’re on! Just start with any lighter brown or bronze shade and color in the lid from the lash line to a bit above your natural eye crease.
Then smudge it pretty heavily along the outside of the lower lash line. Now grab your black crayon, and simply run it inside the lower waterline and then along the upper lash line.
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I do like to further blur these crayons into the eyelid to make sure they’re nice and smudged. A synthetic bristle concealer brush works best for the upper lid bronze shade and a much smaller tipped brush works for the black to keep it in a more confined space.
Brown Mascara: I think this is the key to pulling off a smokey eye without it seeming way too bold and dramatic - apply a TRUE BROWN mascara! I didn’t think I’d love this shade as much as I do. It keeps the smokey eye idea a tad more subtle and easier to pull off. This *new* CoverGirl Eye Enhancer mascara, $8, in “Berry Brown,” is just gorgeous and I love the dynamic of the brown lashes popping against the black eyeliner. If you like a tubing mascara, this tarte tartelette one, $27, in “brown,” is fantastic!!
SUNKISSED CHEEKS
Nothing makes you appear more rested, relaxed, and rich, than the look of a sun kissed face! No need to overdo it with pinks or bright peaches. These warm bronzed cheekbones make it look like you’ve been laying out on your yacht off the coast of Sardinia to get that glow!
Products used to achieve these cheeks…
Sun Blush: It Cosmetics just came out with the most innovative product *new* - Glow With Confidence Sun Blush, $34, which is a smart hybrid of bronzer + cream blush, and it is PERFECTION for this Italian Siren look! It gives that creamy warmth to the skin that’s more “where did she get that glow from?” than with a traditional blush of pink or peach.
You can use your fingers for applying, but of course I always prefer a brush because of the mess. You get lots of product in this glass jar and I’m wearing the shade “Sun Warmth” here. I applied it super high on my cheekbones and tapped a little into the center bridge of my nose for that sunkissed vibe. And the inexpensive e.l.f. cosmetics Putty Cream brush, $5, is one of my all time faves for blending any type of cream bush out!
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Juicy Nude Lip
Nothing too fussy here - just a rich gloss that goes barely darker than your natural lip color, but make it super shiny which gives the illusion of those full Italian lips!
Products used to achieve this lip…
Derma Lip Roller: If your lips are starting to lose their fullness and drying up with age, just plump them back up with the *new* Mesolyft Lips Gentle Derma roller + serum, $79, that I recently partnered with. Watch how to use this roller on my TikTok video here, then check out my before and after photos on my Instagram post to see for yourself. For anyone that struggles with hydration and also wants immediately plumper and healthier looking lips should give this a try. I have been amazed with the results right after I used it!
Liner + Gloss: e.l.f. cosmetics does it again with their incredibly affordable $8 knockoff version of the tarte Maracuja Juicy lip plump glosses that run $24 each. Their *new* Pout Clout Lip Plumping pen, $8, clicks up the product just like the tarte, and delivers a mega hydrating and shiny sheer lip color very similar to the tarte that has a slight tingle to it. I just wish e.l.f. offered more shade options but maybe it’s coming since it’s so new! I used shade “Toasted” here which is a very neutral warm beige.
I also faked a bit more shape and fullness to my lips by using my $5 NYX Cosmetics “Mauve” Slim lip pencil (a staple shade in my makeup artistry kit). I do this by overlining just the cupid's bow of my upper lip and very middle of my lower lip with this pencil before adding the gloss.
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Last minute details after makeup…If you don’t own a black fitted midi dress yet, here are some great options. It’s a wardrobe staple and you’ll always look classy no matter what! Get one before fall because it’s a great transition piece that can also look good with a denim or leather jacket thrown on top. >> Revolve Tank Midi Dress, $250 // Nordstrom Body Con Midi Dress, $70 // White House Black Market Ribbed Midi, $120.
I also faked my all over body color with my go-to Jergens Instant Glow Natural Sun mousse, $13, that I rely on when I want to get rid of that pale feeling! And the loose waves in my hair are thanks to this curling iron I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale.
I gotta know who is going to step out of their comfort zone and try out this alluring look next time they’re on a date, girls night out, or holiday party??
In Case You Missed It
Yesterday, Beth and Kelly shared a great Panzanella salad and refreshing Mexican cocktail on Fridays with Oscar. Click the title or image below to read the article.
Thank you for this entire post on Italian Siren make up. From start to finish I could not wait to read and explore each step. Perfect photos of the process along with recommended products to help achieve the look. I feel energized to try something new with my normal routine after enjoying this article. Thank you,I look forward to the next post.
Enjoy your moments in time,
Annmarie
Hey Annmarie! I am SO glad to hear you liked the play-by-play pics of the makeup process from start to finish. And feeling inspired to try a new makeup look makes me feel so happy for you! makeup is fun so enjoy exploring new ideas/ways of decorating your face – thanks for being here 🙂
Beautiful on you! I just bought some brown/black mascara yesterday. Gonna try this…even though my eyes are blue/green. The Italian Siren look seems to lend itself to brown eyes…and yours look gorgeous!
Hey Nancy! Oh you’re blue green eyes will look fab in the brown mascara – it will give a more natural vibe than black but still very complimentary and just not as dramatic. Thanks for reading my post!
Love the look on you! Very classy and not overdone. Very pretty🥰
I appreciate you saying this Pam! Thanks for taking time to read the post 🙂
Thanks for this lovely post!
I’m really excited to try this out.
I was looking for the eye shadow pencils from Nudestix and I noticed there are several listed as “bronze”. Which one did you use?
It’s perfect!
Thanks so much.