HOW TO APPLY PERFECT EYE SHADOW

EYE SHADOW

Your eyes are the doorway to your heart. They reflect your emotions and your inner being. A lot can be concluded from the expression of your eyes. Thus, it is no wonder that eyes have been the source of inspiration to poets, authors, and artists since time immemorial.

There are many different ways to make your eyes look beautiful, and the makeup items a woman uses can vary from several dozen to a few basics – a foundation, lipstick, and something like an eyebrow pencil. To a moderate makeup user, an elaborate pallet of Eye Shadow colours with assorted brushes and tips may seem too perplexing to use with finesse.

Learning the basics is actually quite simple. With a little practice, anyone can master the secrets of a beautiful eye shadow makeup. Here are a few tips on how to naturally enhance the look of your eyes.

1. IT ALL STARTS WITH THE BRUSH

Make the investment. You’ll be happy that you did. Having good brushes is the key to apply Eye Shadow and creating eye makeup trends and styles that will look professional. Step away from that spongy shadow applicator! Choosing them can be overwhelming since there are so many types and some do almost the exact same thing, but starting with the basics will definitely get you on the right track to creating your glamorous eyes.

Most makeup palettes come with a small plastic device that features a foam triangle on either end, but honestly, they're not good when it comes to blending out a killer smoke. If you want a professional finish avoid the free sponge blender, and instead, invest in some decent Eye Shadow Brushes. There are plenty of affordable and amazing brush kits available in the market. Use EYE MAKE-UP Professional Blending Brush; they're wallet-friendly and high-quality.

A. All Over Shader Brush: For applying colour to the entire eye area for a wash of colour, to the brow bone to highlight your eyes and accentuate your brows, and for blending or softening the colour that is too dark. The wide brush head allows you to apply colour to the entire lid in just a few simple strokes.

B. Pro Crease Blender Brush: This brush is mostly known as the “dome” shaped brush because of its shape. Girls this brush is a must for anyone wishing to do a smokey eye look. It adds contour in the crease, acts as a blending tool, and can even be used underneath the eyes to smoke your liner. Every makeup artist will concur that this is an essential brush for any makeup kit.

C. Flat or Dome Shaped Eyeliner Brush: Both of these brushes can be used for lining the eyes and for blending creams and gels when used as liner. Having an eyeliner brush that is synthetic (taklon), and one that is not (sable) is also a must to apply Eye Shadow like a pro.

2. PRIME, PRIME, PRIME

A makeup base and foundation usually go on before the colour cosmetics. Yet many women tend to skip this step when it comes to eye shadow. This is a mistake. Prepare your eyelids for eye shadow with an eyelid base (also referred to as “eye shadow base” or “eyelid primer”) formulated specially for the skin around the eyes. Use Lakmé Absolute Blur Perfect Primer Eyelid base to enhance the moisturizing effect of eye shadows and prepare the lids for smoother, crease-free, longer lasting eye shadows.The primer acts as a magnet for shadow pigments, holding onto the colour and keeping it from smudging, fading or creasing.There are plenty of eye primers out there to choose from, but I will recommend BBLITE – ALL IN ONE PREMIUM SKIN CREAM.

The tinted formula doubles up as a concealer, correcting discolouration and hiding any veins on the lids. Priming your eyes before you put on Eye Shadow allows the colour to stay looking fresh on your eyelid, even when it becomes oily, and it shows its true pigment, it also allows for a smooth application. You want your Eye Shadow to stand out. Apply your primer to your eyelid. You only need the tiniest amount, because a little goes a long way. You can also use a concealer as a base before adding colour but if your lids tend to be shiny a primer will be better. Once you’ve finished this step you’re ready for some Eye Shadow!

3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT EYE SHADOW

Choosing the right Eye Shadow for yourself that will compliment your natural skin tone can definitely be a bit daunting since there are so many colours, finishes, and products to choose from. Pressed and loose, shimmer and metallic and of course the mattes are all good options. Worn together they can help you to do a dramatic Smokey eye or even a trending eyeliner look. The best way to tackle this is to start with a few basic colours that work for you and also your eye colour or perhaps an Eye Shadow palette which will give you a combination of neutral, dark, and shimmer/iridescent colours. Eye shadow can be purchased in a multi colour set or as a single colour. Find the right undertone for you. No matter how many colours you find in an eye shadow set, the colours are usually divided into three types –• LIGHT• INTERMEDIATE• DARK.

These can be applied by following the basic procedure outlined below.

A. LIGHT COLOURS: First, brighten up the eyes by applying the light colour over the whole eyelid. A thick tip or brush will work best for good colouration all round the eye.

B. INTERMEDIATE COLOURS: Next, blend in the intermediate colour working from the outer corners of the eyes inwards. The outer corners of the eyes tend to droop as we get older. For a youthful look, apply more colour at the outermost corner the eye, carefully blending in the colour to obscure the borders. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to eye shadow undertones, after all, makeup is for experimenting with. That being said, it is worth working out the most flattering shades for your skin tone. It may sounds obvious but if your skin has yellow or gold undertones, chances are, a warmer colour palette will look amazing with your complexion. If you have pink undertones experiment with cool-toned shadows as they'll between the shades. Meanwhile, the inner corners of the eyes need only a light dab of colour. This is important to remember, as colour applied too heavily at the inner corner will look gaudy.

C. DARK COLOURS: Finally, apply dark color along the upper and lower lash lines, again applying more color at the outer corners and more lightly inward. If your upper eyelid tends to droop down over the eye shadow, try applying dark and intermediate colors over a wide area. The eyes will look larger and well balanced with dark color applied over the outer one third of your eye lid. Look in the mirror to make sure that the eye shadow is visible on the outer sides of the eyes with your eyes open. Fresh colors such as green and pink usually look best on a balmy day, while darker shades such as Bordeaux red or khaki work better in cooler, calmer weather. When in doubt, your safest bet is a color variation with neutral shades such as beiges and browns. If any of the eye shadow color on the upper eyelid leaks onto the lower eyelid, conceal this by applying the intermediate color on the outer side of the lower eyelid, as well.

COOL-TONED EYESHADOW PALETTE: Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette – Royal Persia

WARM-TONED EYESHADOW PALETTE: Lakmé Absolute Illuminating Eye Shadow Palette – Gold

• BLUE EYES:Earthy tones such as greys and browns work well with blue eyes, as do orange, pink, purple, and coral.

• GREEN EYES: Shades of brown or earth tones draw attention to green eyes and help them look natural at the same time. Shades with red undertones like burgundy, maroon, apricot, peach, or plum bring out green eyes nicely.

• HAZEL EYES: Hazel eye colour is a blend of sundry hues which pairs with many shades of eye shadow. Neutral colours such as browns bestow a gorgeous, fail-proof look. Bluish colours also work well.

• BROWN EYES: Count yourself lucky if your eyes are brown. Brown eyes go with just about any colour of eye shadow. Match the colour with your outfit, the season, or the occasion. Even brown shades of eye shadow will enhance the beauty of your eyes. Greens and pinks also work charmingly, as they play your eyes up. Shades like olive, khaki, and gold also work well with brown eyes.

• ASIAN EYES: Asian women, with their brown eyes, should go for colour. Those with flatter facial features look gorgeous with several layers of eye shadow colours which build up just the right amount of depth.

4. FIND YOUR DESIRED LOOK

Before you even begin your makeup, think about the look you would like to do. If you have a video bookmarked, or a picture you are re-creating, pull the products and brushes so you have everything you need ready. This will also save time too and leave less room for mistakes. If you’re going for a daytime look that is more casual a neutral liner and a soft colour shadow on the lids may be perfect. For a more dramatic night time look pulling out the black liquid liner, gunmetal shimmer shadow and

black mascara will not disappoint you.

5. COLOURS AND COLOUR COMBOS

Colours play an important part in this look, of course. If you’re going for a bold, Smokey eye, then you’ll want to use Eye Shadows that are a darker hue like an onyx, eggplant, charcoal or dark brown in the crease and softer colours for the lids and brow bone to compliment them.

Depending on your look, pick up the Eye Shadow that looks like it has the most pigment. The easiest way to see how much pigment you have to work with before applying to your eyes is to use your index or middle finger and swirl around the centre of pot to pick up colour. Next tap colour onto the outside of your hand to see whether it’s sheer or more opaque. The two basic eye shadows are:

• Matte: A flat Eye Shadow free of any shimmer or metallic that is great for blending and highlighting the face and eyes.

• Shimmer/Metallic: Both finishes will accentuate the eyes regardless of the colour you choose. Shimmers are also great for blending and taking colour down that is too dark. Combining a shimmer or metallic with a matte shadow is also a beautiful contrast when learning how to apply Eye Shadow, especially when doing a Smokey eye look.

Along with your colour combinations, make sure to have the right colour for accentuating your eyes underneath your brow bone as well as in the corner of eyes. This technique is most popular with Smokey eyes as it gives them a more “open” and sultry look. Many of the pre-set Eye Shadow palettes will come with a colour for highlighting under the brows.

APPLICATION

Now that we have the basics out of the way, you are definitely ready for how to apply Eye Shadow like a pro. You have your eyes primed, your brushes out, and your colour combinations selected, so let’s do it!

Step 1: Begin by applying a neutral shade in a softer hue to the eyelid using your All Over Eye Shader or a medium size Eye Shadow brush. Make sure to press the colour into the lid as you move across the eye to ensure an even application. Create intensity even when using a lighter shade by adding more layers of the same colour.

Step 2: Choose a lighter, shimmery shade and with your flat eyeliner brush add a thin line right along your lid using a patting motion to apply from corner to corner. You can repeat this step to add more shimmer or leave as is for a softer line.   

Step 3: This step is optional if you want to create a gradual fading look on your lids. To do, add a colour on top of the previous colour used in Step 1 that is a slightly darker than the lid colour. Gently pat this on your lid starting at the outer corner and gradually fading the colour towards the middle of eye making sure to blend so it’s seamless with the colour underneath. Use your blending brush to smooth any hard lines.

Step 4: Using your Blender Brush, add a darker colour to the outer corner for contouring your crease. Start by adding a little colour first and adding more if needed. It’s easier to build the colour than to take it down if you’ve applied too much. Remember, patience is the key when you’re just learning how to apply Eye Shadow. Keep blending into your crease using the “windshield wiper” effect so there are no harsh lines. To create a continuous look you can sweep the same crease colour along the lower lash line.

Step 5: Now it’s time for your highlighter, with your flat brush choose the highlighter you wish to use and apply this directly underneath the brow bone in a patting motion again until you have the desired effect. This step is optional, but you can also add a sliver of the same highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes creating a sideways “v” shape.

With all of these steps under your beauty belt you’ve officially learned the basics for how to apply Eye Shadow like a pro. You can finish with a coat of your favourite black or dark brown mascara and some eyeliner along the top lids. There are numerous ways for how to apply Eye Shadow and now that you have the know-how for achieving them, the looks you can create are endless. You can wet your brush and pack on a little shimmer, use bold colours in the summer and put on a fun summer outfit, or add glitter to your lids with a little lash glue. It’s all about having fun and finding out what works for you. And remember, take your time and don’t rub your eyes.

THE FINAL STEP

All you pretty women out there, remember that though your eyes are the mirror of your soul; your self-esteem won't come from body parts. You need to step away from the mirror every once in a while, and look for another reflection, like the one in the eyes of the people who love you and admire you. So go on, and dazzle the world with those soulful eyes!