At its most basic, makeup is comprised of pigments. But blended properly, makeup is an art of illusion working with dimensions of color.

Erika Billings, third-year Design | Media Arts student and lead makeup artist for Susie Chhuor Professional Hair and Makeup Team, created four makeup looks inspired by the natural elements.

From cool turquoise blues to earthy brown greens and fiery orange hues, Billings provided tips to evoke the dramatic spectrum of earth, air, water and fire.

Earth

Lips: Chanel chocolate red lipstick and gloss topcoat

Cheeks: copper contour
1) apply copper-toned blush along apples of the cheeks.
2) define cheekbone by applying matte brown contour powder or blush following the line formed from top of ear to corner of lips.
shadows: neutral tones, bronze, brown, beige

Eyes: earthy shadows
1) for base shadow, cover the lid with a neutral shadow close to your skin tone.
2) lightly add a second layer of bronze shadow across the lid for tint.
3) blend darker brown shadow at outside corners and crease line to create smokey effect.
4) apply lighter beige shadow to inner eyelid corners and brow bone for highlight
5) use a fine-point brush with smudge pot eyeliner or a fine-point wand eyeliner in order to achieve a precise line.
6) curve line at outside corners to create a winged-eye effect.

Fire

Lips: Revlon classic red lipstick and gloss topcoat

Cheeks: orange contour
1) apply orange blush along apples of the cheeks.
2) define cheekbone by applying matte neutral contour powder or blush following the line formed from top of ear to corner of lips.
shadows: yellow, orange, red, white

Eyes: bold flames
1) begin with a neutral base shadow and apply evenly over eyelid.
2) apply a yellow shade vigorously over the lid to create a colorful pop.
3) blend orange from the center of the lid to the outside corner.
4) apply white shadow to inner eyelid corners and brow bone for highlight.
5) use a fine-point brush with smudge pot eyeliner or a fine-point wand eyeliner in order to achieve a precise line.
6) curve line at outside corners to create a winged-eye effect.
7) to achieve a bolder effect, draw a symmetrical triangle at the outside lid corner, filling the shape.

Air

Lips: Makeup For Ever rouge artist 22 nude lipstick and gloss topcoat

Cheeks: lightly apply peach blush to apples of the cheeks.

Shadows: white, silver, dark gray, black

Eyes: creating a glow effect
1) blend white shadow over lid as a base shadow.
2) apply silver shade on top of the base color, blending over entire lid.
3) add definition to outside corners and crease line with black or dark gray shadow.
4) apply white shadow at inner corners and brow bone for more dramatic outer glow.
5) use a fine-point brush with smudge pot eyeliner or a fine-point wand eyeliner in order to achieve a precise line.

Water

Lips: MAC amplified violetta lipstick and gloss topcoat

Cheeks: apply pink blush to apples of the cheeks

Shadows: teal, royal blue, white

Eyes: sea shades
1) begin with a neutral base shadow and apply evenly over eyelid.
2) apply white shadow to inner eyelid corners and blend onto lid.
3) apply teal shadow from outer corners across the lid, blending into white.
4) apply royal blue for added definition at outside corners.
5) use a fine point brush with smudge pot eyeliner or a fine-point wand eyeliner in order to achieve a precise line.