Have you ever wondered how people get their eyeshadow to look so perfect? Whether they’re rocking a full glam eye look, or a much more neutral one, there are some basic eyeshadow tips that everyone follows for a truly flawless end result.
Eyeshadow is the thing that can change your entire makeup look! Whether you’re going for glam or neutral, your eyeshadow plays a huge role in the finished result of your makeup look. But if you’re totally new to eyeshadow, you may need a little help! Here are 9 need to know eyeshadow tips perfect for beginners!
Eyeshadow Tips For Beginners
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Know Your Eye Shape
Half of creating an eyeshadow look that looks truly flawless is knowing how to compliment your eye shape. That’s why knowing your eye shape is one of the most important eyeshadow tips for beginners.
Some different eye shapes include almond, round, downturned, upturned, deep set, and hooded. Knowing which type you have can make applying eyeshadow, and liner, so much easier for you. That’s because different application techniques work for different eye shapes.
For example, if you have hooded eyes you want to apply your crease shade above your actual eyelid crease. If you have round eyes you might want to blend your shadow upwards and out, to give your eyes a more sultry look. Downturned eyes can achieve a more uplifted appearance if you use a light, shimmery eyeshadow shade to highlight the brow bone.
Once you know your eye shape, you can look up tips and tutorials on the right way to apply your eyeshadow for the most flattering look. And that will make doing your eye makeup super simple!
Different Eyeshadow Formulas
There are a number of different eyeshadow formulas, and knowing how each works is one of the best eyeshadow tips for beginners.
There’s powder eyeshadow formulas, which are the most known and popular. Powder eyeshadow is also the easiest formula to blend, which makes it a really great option for beginners. Usually you’ll find powder shadows compressed into a pan or palette, or as a loose powder. You can use your fingers to apply, but you’re best bet is using good quality eyeshadow brushes to get the most effortless blend.
These are some of the best powder eyeshadow products: Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette, Colourpop Nude Mood Eyeshadow Palette, and L’Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Shadow.
Cream eyeshadows are another really great formula option for beginners. Some people even say that cream shadows are easier to apply and blend than powder formulas! Cream eyeshadows are also a good choice for those with oily eyelids, since they can often stay on, and stay put, longer than powder shadows. They’re also really easy to blend and the color payoff is always vibrant and pigmented!
The cream eyeshadows you need to try: Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick, e.l.f. Smudge Pot, and Milk Makeup Eye Pigment.
Liquid eyeshadow is the third most common eyeshadow formula. These shadows usually come in a tube with a brush applicator. Liquid eyeshadows might look a little intimidating, but they’re actually pretty easy to use. They tend to be pigmented, so make sure you’re applying a little at a time and then building up to get your desired look. You also want to make sure it dries completely, to avoid creasing.
Here are three amazing liquid eyeshadow products: Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow, Maybelline Color Tattoo Liquid Eyeshadow, and Wet N Wild Liquid Catsuit Eyeshadow.
Use The Right Brushes
You may or may not have noticed, but there are so many different eyeshadow brushes. And that can get a little confusing, especially if you’re new to doing eyeshadow.
But there is a reason for all of those different eyeshadow brushes. They each serve a different function and when you use the correct brush, your eyeshadow will come out so much better!
A medium sized eyeshadow brush is best used to apply all over color to your lid. These are best to use if you’re going for a single-shadow look, or to apply your base shade. You can also use a medium sized eyeshadow brush to blend out your shadows. Two great options include the Hourglass All Over Shadow Brush, and the NYX All Over Shadow Brush.
A dense or “packed” brush is the best for adding color to your lid. These brushes, with their short and denser bristles, make applying a pigmented lid color really easy. The Morphe Oval Shadow Brush and the Wet N Wild Small Eyeshadow Brush are two awesome choices.
A crease brush is for applying color to your crease. These brushes are usually soft and tapered. This makes blending out your crease color easy and helps give your eyeshadow a more natural look. Try the Sigma Crease Brush or the Wet N Wild Crease Brush!
There are a few other eyeshadow brushes, but these three are the basics and the most popular choices. You can actually create an entire simple eye look with just these three types of brushes!
Do Your Eye Makeup Before Your Face
This is one of my favorite eyeshadow tips for beginners, and one of my all time favorite makeup hacks in general. I’m a firm believer in applying your eyeshadow before your face makeup, and here’s why.
Even with the most careful hands, messing up your eyeshadow or dealing with eyeshadow fallout still happens. And what could actually be worse than having to take off all of your makeup just because you messed up on your eye makeup?
So instead of having to deal with that headache, just do your eye makeup first. That way if you do mess it up, it’s a way easier fix!
And if you’re worried about messing up your eye makeup when you go to apply your foundation there’s a solution to that! Just apply your foundation like you normally would, then use a smaller brush to apply it around your eye makeup. Then blend, and there you go! Flawless makeup, and way less mess!
Primer
If you want your eyeshadow to stay on all day, not crease, and never move, then you need to be using an eyeshadow primer!
An eyeshadow primer, like the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, can do wonders for your eye makeup look. And the reasons to use one every time you wear eyeshadow are almost endless.
A primer can be used as a neutral base for your eyeshadow, and can make your eyeshadow color appear more vibrant or pigmented. It can also help keep eyeshadow on longer, especially if you have oily eyelids. And you’ll never have to worry about your eyeshadow creasing or moving around, an eyeshadow primer will lock it in place!
Tap Off Any Excess
Ever notice your favorite beauty guru tapping their eyeshadow brush before putting their eyeshadow on? They’re not doing that for no reason!
This is referred to as “tapping off any excess color”, and it can really help keep your eyeshadow looking more natural, and help prevent a massive mess of fallout.
After you pick up some powder eyeshadow with your brush, just tap the handle of the brush a couple of times on either your eyeshadow palette or your arm. Then you just apply your shadow as normal, and you’re good to go!
Also, super important! When you put eyeshadow on your brush, make sure you’re only using a little bit. After applying that small amount of eyeshadow, with a light hand of course, then you can go in and build it up if you want to. It’s always easier to build up color than it is to try and mute it, and using only a little bit of eyeshadow at a time allows for an easier blend.
Always Use A Transition Shade
If you’re trying to achieve a super flawless and natural eye makeup look, don’t skip out on a transition shade.
A transition shade is a light and neutral eyeshadow color that is used after your base shade, but before the rest of your eyeshadow colors. (So before your lid and crease color). Using a transition shade allows you to easily blend your other eyeshadow shades together for a natural gradient effect. Transition shades also help give your eyeshadow more depth.
Many eyeshadow palettes come with a transition shade, but if you’re on the hunt for one the Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Naked is perfect! You can also use a bronzer as a transition shade.
Blend
One of the absolute most important eyeshadow tips, blend!
Blending your eyeshadow is the one thing that completes your entire eye makeup look. When eyeshadow is blended it looks more natural and it pulls the whole look together. And if you don’t blend your eyeshadow, it could end up too patchy or harsh.
After you apply each eyeshadow color, (transition, crease, lid), make sure you’re blending until each shade flows naturally into the next. When you blend your shadow, make sure you’re going up, instead of down, to help lift your eyes. (Blending down might make your eyes, and the rest of your face, look droopy).
Invest in a good blending brush, like this one, and blend blend blend!
Get Experimental!
Eye shadow is the best way to show your creative side with your makeup, so don’t be afraid to get experimental!
Tips should be used as a guide, but don’t forget to have fun with it. Create colorful looks! (If you’re looking for a vibrant eyeshadow palette, check out my review of the BH Cosmetics Take Me Back To Brazil Palette). Do a cut crease, use one color all over your lid, the artistic possibilities are endless!
Read More:
Blush Tips For Beginners | How To Wear Blush
Makeup Tips For Beginners | 9 Must-Know Makeup Tips
Mascara Tips For Beginners
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