How to Apply Eye Shadow

Folded eyes see brighter colors than the open ever do. – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

When it comes to makeup the important thing to remember is getting the right amount of makeup and right colors of makeup that suit your skin tone and of course your face structure. Eye make up is an essential element of make-up, which is highly under-rated. Perfectly done eyes can actually accentuate the effect of your entire face and transform you from drab to diva. Eye make up includes the three essential: the mascara, the eye liner and of course the quintessential eye shadow. Here I’ll tell you how to apply eye shadow and get the perfect look for your eyes…

Eye shadow tips - Picking out the right eye shadow

Firstly you should know that there are three basic types or varieties of eye shadow. The pressed powder or matte powder type is the basic one, which can be applied either with a normal brush or a sponge brush. The cream eye shadow is shiny and creamy which can bee easily applies and blended using your fingers alone. However the cream shadow can be easily smudged and hence should be topped with the powdered hue or shimmer. The loose powder eye shadow is usually the best pick for eye glitters and shimmers and has to be merely dusted as the final touch for the eye make-up. There also exists an option of eye pencils which are convenient to use but can be a bit harsh on the skin. Thus you need to pick an eye shadow according to your preference for skin type, longevity and effect. As for the colors, you can pick two or more than two colors and accentuate the beauty of your eyes by subtly blending these colors around the eyelid and highlighting the brow bone are.

How to apply eye shadow

Now comes the actual question. How do you go about applying the eye shadow? Eye make up looks perfect when it is perfectly done using the right technique and the right colors. Getting your eye make up right can be really easy if you follow some simple steps.

Essentials of eye makeup - Creating the base

Getting the right base is the first step to good eye-makeup. Creating a clean base on the eyelid and the under-eye area is extremely important. Before you apply the eye shadow you need to apply the basic foundation-concealer to your eyelids and under-eye regions. First you need to apply the foundation on your eyelids using a shade that matches your skin tone. You need to hide the dark circles under your eyes using a concealer. After this you need to dust some translucent powder over the eyelid as well as the under-eye area. The base is ready, now you can bring on your colors…

Applying the eye shadow

Remember while applying the eye shadow you need to focus on four major areas. The region just above the upper eyelashes, the region between the lashes and the brow bone, the region just below the eyebrow and the region below the lower eye lash. You can use a color that you want to match with you eye color or your outfit on the eyelid. The region above and below the lashes can be marked with eyeliner or eye pencil, but the subtle use of a dark colored eye shadow like gray, black, maroon or dark green can help you get a dramatic effect for your eyes. Make sure to apply the eye shadow with a light hand, or else you might end up ruining the whole thing. Now, gently blend in the color of your choice on the eyelid starting from the corner of your eye. Try and subtly blend this color with the previous one, however do not blend too much. You can use darker shades like brown and gray for the smoky eyes effect or else go for the subtle shades that match your skin tone, or accentuate your eye color. Having done that, it is time to use a highlighter near the eyebrow area. Very light colors like cream or white are perfect to the highlight the area just below the eyebrow. The highlighter creates a distinction between the eyebrow and the eyelid and thus makes the eyebrows look prominent and more beautiful.

Eye shadow make up tips

The most important rule is to use the foundation and concealer before starting your eye makeup. Whenever you use more than two shades of eye shadow, make sure that you blend the colors really well so that the different layers of colors are not visible. The eye make up should all blend in flawlessly. Always use separate brushes for separate colors since it helps to get the desired look and creates the perfect blend without any particular color overpowering the others. While applying eye shadow, always tap the brush to remove excess quantities and avoid a thick layer of eye shadow. Always try and use colors from the same family for example if you are using a light pink eye shadow on the lid, then you can use maroon near the lashes and highlight with a cream or white color and dust on some pink shimmer for the final effect.