Here's the thing about eyeshadow (and makeup in general). It is not as if there are magical steps that will always work to produce flawless eye looks. Now, that being said, there are some really basic and useful concepts to get you started. I'd like to share a couple of those with you. My own story with eyeshadow is that I started with really basic looks and colors; I created formulas and I would choose one each day to paint on my lids. Eventually I got more and more confident, so I started trying different products, colors, and techniques for getting my eyes to look the way I wanted.
My opinion is, after some general tips, you kinda just have to do what you want and what you like. Once you get comfortable working with products, you can have a lot of fun trying new things, or just finding that perfect everyday look for you. Oh, and here's the other thing: you don't have to do it alone. I certainly didn't. I've been watching makeup tutorials, looking at magazines, and reading blogs for several years now. At this point, I've spent enough time doing my own experimenting that I'm ready to create my own place for people to go for help with their makeup. So, without further ado, let's talk eye makeup.
Here are some ideas that I have found to be really helpful when working with eye makeup.
Just a quick note about the links; please-oh-please look for these products in stores first. You can save a lot of money by not buying drugstore products directly from the brand. And save on shipping. So yeah, check the stores.
1. Start with a base/primer.
This means different things for different people. For those with very oily eyelids, a base might be a swipe of a light beige eyeshadow. For those with dry eyelids, it is important to use moisturizer under a base or primer. For the average person, a product actually labelled as an eyeshadow primer is a safe bet, and there are lots of options for lots of different price ranges. It's mostly about finding a product that gives you the results you want. Ideally, we want a primer to keep our shadow from creasing or fading throughout the day. Some can even help shadow look brighter or richer. My preference is to use a light moisturizer over my lids and then follow that with a thin layer of whatever primer I'm using at the time. I like primers that, once spread, still have a slightly tacky feeling. That tackiness really helps your lids grab the eyeshadow off your brush. Bonus: primers can make less expensive eyeshadows look and work like more expensive ones. Although many not so expensive eyeshadows are the bomb regardless of their price point.
Products to try: e.l.f.'s Essential Eyelid Primer; Wet 'n' Wild's Take On the Day Eyeshadow Primer from the Fergie Collection; NYX's HD Eyeshadow Base
2. WEAR MASCARA.
Even if you have dark brown or black lashes that are long, thick, and luxurious beyond the norm, it is still a good idea to swipe on a coat or two of mascara. As you start to work with darker colors, if that's what you choose to do, you will probably find that eyes just don't look done without mascara; it finishes a look and smokes out everything behind the lashes. Even for lighter looks, I just think mascara adds that finishing touch. As far as color is concerned, I always go for black, and usually the darkest black that a mascara I like can be. Even with blue eyes, fair skin, and light hair, I still believe black mascara is the way to go.
If you don't have lashes with which you are happy, even with mascara, then false eyelashes might be something to consider, but that's a topic for another time.
Products to try: L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara (and the Voluminous Full Definition and Voluminous Carbon Black); L'Oreal Telescopic Mascaras; mostly just anything from L'Oreal
3. Don't leave your eyes hanging.
You know how it feels when you raise your hand for a high-five or a fistbump, or when you smile across the party at a friend and they just have no idea you're looking for some acknowledgement? I do, at least. That's how your eyes feel when you're rocking some great liner and mascara and maybe even a little smokey eye, but you have nothing on your face. Unless you have a just dazzling complexion, a little concealer, powder, and blush (at the minimum, the face has just as many fun options as the eyes) can go a long way toward helping you have a finished look. And even though it may seem scary or frustrating to think that to get eye makeup figured out you've got to get some face makeup figured out too, I think that working with both will ultimately give you looks about which you are a lot happier.
And don't worry, I'm going to have many more posts about how I actually do all these things I'm talking about :)
4. Blend blend blend. Then blend some more.
If you are already working with glittery greens, deep blues, bright oranges, and whatever else you feel like, but still aren't happy with how your eyes are turning out, check your blending. I usually keep a nice fluffy round eyeshadow brush clean of product and use it just to blend edges on my lid. Although aquamarine will probably never be considered a "natural" color, there are ways to help it work into the rest of your face. At the top of that list of ways is BLENDING. And even if you are working with only light browns, if you aren't blending, you're probably ending up with looks that aren't as flattering as they could be.
If you haven't yet delved into the world of eyeshadow but want to, keep blending in the front of your mind as a very important part of eye makeup.
There are four tips to get you started. I've got so much more I want to share with you about eyeshadow, but I wasn't sure how to condense a lot of it, so stick around for some more detailed posts about specific eye looks and makeup. The next Eyeshadow 101 topic will be...BRUSHES. Thanks for visiting.
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