Beauty Beginners: Eyeshadow Basics

My team and I have been getting so many amazing question submissions for our Beauty Beginners series! There are endless topics of discussion when it comes to beauty, and we’re tackling them one at a time. If you missed our last segment, we covered how to master the perfect winged eyeliner. I hope you’ve been putting your skills to the test because I’m about to add a few more makeup tips to your collection. Today we’re covering eyeshadow 101.

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, and exploring techniques. Oh, and practice, practice, practice…

Know Your Shapes

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 more flush with the brow bone. Deep-set eyes, on the other hand, 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. Do you know what shape your eyes are?

Learn The Language

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 you upper lashline, lid, crease, outer v, waterline, lower lashline, inner corner, and brow bone are. If you’re 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 four… Standard eyeshadow brushes are used for packing on eyeshadow for optimum pigment. They tend to be round and fluffy and are very user friendly. 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 and sans harsh lines. Pencil brushes are typically used for concentrating dark shadows into your crease, highlighting your inner corners, or smudging eyeliner. Think of it as a great tool for creating the perfect smoky eye. Lastly you’ll want to get your hands on an angled brush. Angled brushes are great for applying cream eyeshadow as eyeliner. With these four brushes, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the art of eyeshadow. Always remember to keep them clean so they’ll last for years to come.

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Time To Prime

Makeup can go through some serious wear and tear throughout the day, especially if it’s hot outside. Finding a good primer is essential to keeping your eyeshadow intact and without creases all day long. Primer also hides any discoloration so that your eyes appear lighter and brighter. I’d say it’s a win/win situation.

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 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 brush or your fingertips. Eyeshadow palettes are great investments and have a variety of colors, texture and finishes to choose from.

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Color Play

Eye color and skin tone can play a part in choosing eyeshadow colors, but don’t limit yourself! I suggest finding an image that inspires you and trying to recreate it. Makeup tutorials are a goldmine when it comes to practicing eyeshadow tip and techniques. Reminder: Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Just keep practicing!

What topic would you like to see covered for our next Beauty Beginners post?

I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

XO Lauren

LaurenConrad.com