Eye Shadow Application Made Easy

This page is about basic eye shadow application. For various looks you can achieve, such as punk, gothic, dramatic, etc, see our EYE MAKEUP PAGE.

-It makes us feel pretty!

-Gives us a boost of confidence.

-Allows us to express our creativity.

-Allows us to change our looks from BLAH to BAM!

You will need a good quality eye shadow brush . For detail work, also have on hand an eyeliner brush .

As a last resort, you can use a q-tip or your finger. Brushes are best, though, so invest in a good quality brush as soon as time and budget allow.

Eye makeup comes in various forms... pressed, loose powder, cream, gel, crayon, you name it.

I prefer loose or pressed. These can be applied either wet or dry. Wetting your brush first will give a darker, more intense look. Keeping your brush dry will create a slightly softer, more subtle look.

You can also get them in either matte, semi-matte, shimmer or sparkle.

Matte works on everybody.

Those with mature skin should stick mostly to matte, but feel free to experiment with soft shimmer on occasion. You don't have to shirk it completely.

Younger skin can get away with any type, including high sparkle. I recommend keeping the really sparkly/glittery colors for clubbing, nighttime or parties.

The basic application includes:

1. Prime your entire eye area (lower and upper eye lid, and all the way up to your eye brow) with your mineral foundation or other foundation. This will give a smooth base and something for the eye shadow to adhere to.

2. Apply your lighter colors first, the medium shades next, and lastly, your darkest shades. You can use the same brush for all colors this way. If you use a separate eye shadow brush for each color, then you can apply the colors in any order.

3. Blend, blend blend. Unless you are specifically going for a harsh, strong look (very rare!), then blend all edges well. You don't want to be able to see the line where one color ends and one begins. So again... blend well.

Which colors you should use depend upon your coloring, not just your eye color.

Find Your Best Mineral Makeup Colors if you haven't already.

Remember that EVERYBODY can wear cream and brown eye shadows. These look lovely on all skin tones.

Brown will be worn in the crease (fold) of your eye and cream will be worn on your brow bone (right under your eye brow) and possibly the eye lid, depending upon the shape of your eyes...

Look into a mirror and determine the extent of eye lid that shows when your eyes are fully open.

If your lid isn't visible enough, use cream on the eye lid (or other light color that you choose).

If your lid shows too much, use brown on the eye lid (or other dark color that you choose).

If you have the perfect amount of eye lid showing, you can make the decision whether you apply a dark shade or a light shade to your eye lid.

Keep in mind that darker colors will recede, while lighter colors will become more prominent.

Also, depending upon your preference, you can apply your eye makeup either in a rounded shape (following the contour of your eye and brow bone), or in a winged shape (flaring out in a triangle shape).

Try both and see which you prefer. Some eye shapes will look best with the rounded style, while others shine with the winged shape. Some people can use either and look great.

To correct wide set eyes, apply more shadow on the inside area of your eye (next to the nose, and up toward your brow).

To correct close-set eyes, apply most of your eye makeup on the outer corner of your eye.

Many eye shadow looks can be created. Some of the more popular ones include:

Natural

Use subtle colors, like creams, pearl, peach, pink, brown, etc...

Apply the lighter color in a sweep across your brow bone. If applying to the lid as well (based on eye shape), then do so now. Then pick up some of your darker color and sweep into the crease of your eye. Choose either the rounded method or the winged method. Blend well.

Smoky

Apply your highlighter color to your brow bone. Take a darker shade, like black, dark gray, navy, deep plum, or chocolate brown. Apply to lid and crease and line your eyes with the shadow, both top and bottom. Smudge, blend, smudge, blend!

Remember to not apply the makeup all the way around your eyes, or you'll look like a raccoon. Keep it natural and blended and you'll stun the crowd!

Dramatic

When going out at night to clubs or parties, you can experiment more with wild and fun eye makeup! Use various colors, different patterns, sparkle, glitter, fake eye lashes, and have fun!!

Apply your eye makeup a little more heavily than usual for an intense, dramatic look.

To create a Gothic eye shadow look, you will need black eye shadow for starters. You can use slightly softer colors for day, but in general, black is a must.

Line your eyes heavily with the shadow, smudging out slightly, but keeping a stronger line than usual.

Apply black or dark gray eye shadow to your lid and crease, blending up well. The winged eye shadow look looks great for Gothic eye shadow, but you can use the rounded method successfully as well.

Make sure to apply a lot of thick, black mascara, and define your eye brows with a strong color to create a sharp, defined look.

Punk makeup is so much fun. Make sure your entire looks coordinates, from hair to clothes to makeup.

The options here are endless...

Feel free to use bright, bold colors and lots of shimmer.

Line your eyes with traditional colors like black and brown or go crazy and use hot pink eyeliner or other wild others.

Apply mascara freely and in any color you like!

For that special day, I suggest going with a softer look. Especially for weddings, don't apply TOO much eye shadow, or you'll look less than innocent.

Keep it simple and elegant for weddings. Don't be afraid of some soft shimmer.

For prom night, experiment a little. You can go a little heavier if you like, and shimmer is a great choice for this.

Pageant makeup should be very well applied, and strong enough for the judging panel to see. Don't apply too much and look slutty, but apply enough so that people in the audience can see how pretty you are! You don't want those spot lights washing you out!

Use shimmery, soft, icy colors to create fairy wing or butterfly effects... Layer the colors on in various layers for stunning, yet soft shimmer!

Use bolder colors to be the queen of all the land!

Use false eyelashes or colored contacts for unusual looks.

Try using your eyeliner in various designs to create different mysterious eye shapes!

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