Get the look - Keeley Hawes

How to steal the style of the Ashes To Ashes starlet and latest beauty 'It' girl...

By Beauty Editor Jessica Hopper


  Keeley as Alex Drake in Ashes To AshesWith bold splashes of colour and hot neons making a beauty comeback, not the mention the emergence of a new beauty icon - Keeley Hawes in Ashes To Ashes - handbag.com is going ga-ga for all things '80s this month. Forget ‘the decade that style forgot', we like to think of it as the decade that beauty remembered, and with sales of electric blue mascara, home perm kits and crimpers going through the roof, we know we're not alone.

So what better way to celebrate all things '80s this month then to share with you our secrets to getting the Keeley Hawes look step-by-step, from the cutesy curls to the frosted pink lips - DCI Alex Drake, we salute you...

From show-stopping splashes of colour to subtle neon flicks, '80s eyes are all about colour. There were an array of hot hues in heavy use throughout the '80s, but the colour most associated with the decade is electric blue.

Keeley's peepers bring this look bang up to date by shunning Toyah-esque spray-paint stripes of colour and adopting a more wearable approach with softer blue smudges and a flash of mascara.

Step 1 - The eyes have it

Start by covering the lids in a muted, nude shadow that's similar to your skin tone to create a flawless canvas on which to work, then simply sweep a dusky peacock blue shadow from the upper lash line outwards into a subtle flick and blend. Handbag loves MAC Eyeshadow in Plumage (£10, maccosmetics.co.uk) - the perfect deep but show-stopping, matte blue hue. Next, smudge a little shadow along the lower lash line as well to define the eye shape, then draw a strong, precision line across your upper lashes with a sharp kohl, preferably in a strong electric blue, like Barry M's latest offering, Kingfisher Blue (£2.95, barrym.co.uk). Eyeliner was worn in abundance throughout the '80s and, in particular, worn on the inside rim of the lower lid, so pencil colour in there too for the final flourish.

 
From show-stopping splashes of colour to subtle neon flicks, '80s eyes are all about colour...Step 2 - Lashing of lashes

Next, liberally apply lashings of bright blue mascara, et voilà, '80s-tastic eyes in seconds. There's myriad electric blue mascaras on the market for fashion-forward females, but we can't get enough of the Disco-tastic Volume Clubbing from Bourjois (£7.95, Boots). For the piece de resistance, think brow power and pencil your eyebrows in a strong block shape.

 
Step 3 - Get lippy

As with everything else, lip colour was hot, hot, hot in the '80s, with colours ranging from coral to cool blues. Keeley's choice of lipstick is one of the most popular shades of the decade and, luckily, the most flattering! Paul & Joe's new Spring Sparkles collection features a fab and frosted pink/coral shade that's both wearable and wow-inducing without being too dated or of-the-decade, and looks oh-so sweet with your '80s-tastic eyes.

 
Step 4 - Ooh, cheeky!

One of the most defining make-up elements of the decade was blush, and plenty of it! The heavier, the pinker, the better. Thankfully, Keeley Hawes' look is a much, more subtle approach to being cheeky, so take her lead and simply sweep a strong line of baby pink blush along your cheekbone and blend, blend, blend. The '80s look is more powder power, so ditch cream blushers and reach for a soft powdery blush.

 
Step 5 - Curls allowed

Believe it or not, the perm is bouncing back in to fashion and, worryingly, sales of home perm kits have doubled since Keeley Hawes hit our screens. Is it possible for non-curly girlies to still pull of this look without going permanent? According to hair guru Charles Worthington, there are many tricks we can try to pull off '80s chic without hitting the home kit. Click here for Charles' step-by-step secrets to looking more Keeley, less Kevin Keegan...

 

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