Makeup 101: Eyeshadow Basics
Are you unsure of eyeshadow? You are not alone! There’s a lot more to eyeshadow than swiping colors onto your eyelids. Achieving the perfect look consists of using the right tools, knowing your eye shape, exploring techniques and lots of practice, so to help you up your eyeshadow knowledge, I have listed everything you need to know about eyeshadow basics down below:
Know Your Eye Shape
When it comes to eyes, no two seem to be the same. This is the first step to knowing how eyeshadow is going to sit on your lids. Monolids are eyelids that don’t have prominent creases and are flush with the brow bone. Deep-set eyes tend to have more prominent creases and brow bones. Hooded eyes have a layer of skin that covers the crease that makes the eyelid appear smaller. Upturned eyes and downturned eyes are exactly how they sound.
Learn The Lingo
To make your eyeshadow application easier in the long run, you should know your eye lingo. Knowing where to apply different eyeshadow starts with identifying where your upper lash line, lid, crease, outer V, waterline, lower lash line, inner corner, and brow bone are. If you are a fan of makeup tutorials, most beauty gurus will use these terms when showing you how to apply your eyeshadow.
Brushes Matter
Makeup brush knowledge is important to know when applying eyeshadow. There are many brush sizes and variations but for starters you can practice with these five:
Crease Brush – Crease brushes are used for placing your transition eyeshadow color on and above your crease using windshield wiper motions. These brushes are tapered and will help apply color to your crease with ease.
Flat Eyeshadow Brush – Flat eyeshadow brushes are used to apply color to your eyelids. These brushes are shaped to precisely add a shimmer, satin, or matte eyeshadow to the lids easily.
Pencil Brush – Pencil brushes are typically used for concentrating dark shadows into your crease and outer V, highlighting your inner corners, or smudging eyeliner. Think of it as a great tool for creating the perfect smoky eye.
Blending Brushes – Blending brushes are going to be your best friend when it comes to eyeshadow. Blending is one of the most important tricks to master, especially because you want your eyeshadow to be seamless without harsh lines. These brushes tend to be round and fluffy and are very user friendly.
Angled Brush – Angled brushes are great for applying cream or darker powder eyeshadows as eyeliner. These brushes will help you create a lined eye with precision.
With these five brushes, you will be well on your way to mastering the art of eyeshadow and remember to keep them clean so they will last for years to come.
Time To Prime
Makeup can go through some serious wear and tear throughout the day, especially if it’s hot and/or humid outside. Finding a good eye shadow primer is essential to keeping your eyeshadow intact and without creases all day long. Primer also hides any discolorations so that your eyes appear lighter and brighter.
Finishes And Textures
Choosing eyeshadow can be both fun and overwhelming. Knowing your eyeshadow textures can help you narrow down your desired look. Loose eyeshadow has a powdery consistency and tends to have a shimmery or glittery pigment. These shadows are best applied with a brush. Pressed shadows are what you see in your favorite eyeshadow palettes and compacts. These shadows come in a wide variety of finishes including matte, shimmer and satin. To apply pressed eyeshadow, you can use a flat eyeshadow brush or clean fingertips. Lastly, cream shadows come in different forms including jars, pencils and tubes. Cream eyeshadow offers a dewy finish and can be applied with either a flat eyeshadow brush or your fingertips. Eyeshadow palettes are great investments and have a variety of colors, texture and finishes to choose from.
Color Play
Eye color and skin tone can play a part in choosing eyeshadow colors, but don’t limit yourself! Find an image that inspires you and try to recreate it. Makeup tutorials are a goldmine when it comes to practicing eyeshadow tips and techniques and remember, don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Just keep practicing!
I hope you found this week’s installment of Makeup 101: Eyeshadow Basics helpful and informative. Next week’s installment of Makeup 101 will be on eyebrows (which will be in two parts) and until Wednesday, be happy, healthy, and beautiful!