Before I got in the business of selling makeup and skincare I had the same process for applying eyeshadow since I started wearing makeup at the age of 10. It became a habit and other than changing the colors here and there, the application process stayed the same. Fast forward 26 years I had a reason to try new colors, try different application processes and boy did I learn a lot! Not only did I learn that certain colors are not for everyone, but I also learned that I was not using the right colors or the correct technique to really enhance my eyes and make them a focal point on my face.
Do you feel like your eyeshadow colors and application are outdated? Let me tell you how you can up your eye makeup game!
It didn’t take long to learn that dark colors were the exact colors I needed to be wearing for my complexion and more importantly, my personality! Believe it or not, it also made my eyes appear bigger and it made them POP! A lot of women have the perception that darker eyeshadow and even wearing eyeliner can make your eyes appear smaller, but it’s quite the opposite.
I think it’s important to note that not only is eyeshadow color an important factor, but how you apply those colors is even more important. Whether you have hooded eyes (like myself) or not the application process is pretty universal amongst all women. A lot of women usually use only one, maybe two colors on their eyes, but I have learned over the years that three is the sweet spot.
So let’s talk about the application process. First you want to pick out the three colors you want to use. One as your base color (the lightest color), your crease color (the darkest color) and your inner eye color (a shade between the other two colors). You want to apply the lightest color over your entire lid.
Next, you want to apply the darkest color on the crease (from the outer portion of your eye to the inner portion – about two-thirds of the way. You can go all the way to the inner portion of your eye, but it will eventually be covered by the third color you have chosen, which again is the shade between the lightest and the darkest.
Lastly, you want to take that third color and apply it to your inner eye, but only a small section, not to run too much into that darkest shade. Lastly, you want to take a blending eye brush and blend the second and third shades together so you don’t have harsh lines between the two shades and to create a uniform, blended look.
I forgot to mention above that it’s very important to have good makeup brushes, specifically eyeshadow brushes in this case. You want to use brushes that are soft, don’t shed and ones that are going to last you YEARS! I know some of you are saying to yourself that spending a lot of money on brushes isn’t as important as the colors you choose or the way those shades are applied, but I’m here to tell you it is!
Now I’m not saying you have to go out and spend a fortune or that you need to get all four brushes to start off, but I highly recommend over time to grab yourself the following four brushes to create a flawless, beautiful eye look!
- Deluxe Brush – a brush used to apply your lightest shade all over the lid
- Crease Brush – a brush used to apply your darkest shade in the crease of your lid
- A smaller version of the deluxe brush – a brush used to apply the second to lightest shade in the inner part of your eye
- Blending Brush – a brush used to blend the two colors (the second and third colors as mentioned above)
The blending brush will be the largest of all the eye brushes, the deluxe brush will be the next biggest followed by the smaller deluxe brush and the crease brush.
Below are two pictures of myself, one from 2010 and one from 2023. As you can see there is a vast difference in how my eyes look! This process isn’t something I expect you to master overnight, but with some practice you will be on your way to find the perfect eyeshadow colors and application technique to make your eyes POP. Creating a beautiful eye look can make all the difference in your overall look.
