Eyeshadow from A to Z

One of the most interesting and adaptable components of makeup is eyeshadow. Eyeshadow gives you the freedom to showcase your individuality and sense of style, whether you’re going for a natural look or something dramatic and bold.

Knowing the fundamentals of eyeshadow application can improve your makeup game from selecting the perfect shades to perfecting application methods. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the necessary information, making it simple for both novices and experts to improve their abilities.

Let’s take a look into the world of eyeshadow, discussing everything from the different finishes to how to blend and style gorgeous looks for every kind of occasion.

With so many options for defining and enhancing the eyes, eyeshadow is an essential component of makeup. This post will walk you through all you need to know about eyeshadow, from knowing the various varieties to perfecting application methods, enabling you to create gorgeous looks that work for any setting.

Types of eyeshadow

In terms of makeup, eyeshadow is the most crucial component. You can enlarge and enhance the expressiveness of your eyes by adjusting their shape with their assistance. This calls for the appropriate application methods and a rudimentary understanding of the different product types and textures. Let’s examine the differences between various eyeshadows.

Compact eyeshadow

The most prevalent kind of shadows are compact shadows. Pigments are combined with binders and compressed together during the manufacturing process. There is a vast array of compact shadows available in the beauty market today, with varying colors, textures, and durability. Big palettes are in right now; they’re easy to travel with and use for makeup experiments (check out our guide on selecting the perfect palette).

Pencil eyeshadow

For those who are just beginning to learn how to apply this type of makeup, pencil eyeshadow is a godsend. Using a stick, apply them directly and paint the eyelids thickly. Since pencil eyeshadow tends to be less pigmented than other forms, you can apply it widely without worrying that you’ll apply too much of one shade. Using your finger to directly shade the color is convenient. Those who are unable to achieve the smoky eye look can still achieve a smoky effect in two minutes by running a pencil along the upper and lower edges of their lashes. You’re done!

Cream eyeshadow

Cream eyeshadow blends in as much as possible with the skin’s texture, which is why fans of natural makeup love it so much. Sadly, these kinds of soft products usually don’t last very long and roll easily into the creases on the eyelid. Invest in a good primer in this situation as it will help you wear your makeup into the evening.

Makeup.ru © Maybelline Color Tattoo 24H

There are, of course, waterproof and ultra-thin cream shadows. Naturally, you are not required to apply a base underneath them. Using your fingers or brushes with synthetic bristles—whichever is more convenient for you—you can apply cream shadows. We demonstrate several methods for applying cream shadows in our video.

Baked eyeshadows

A mixture of mineral pigments is used to create baked shadows, which are then baked using a specific technique. Thus, all of the minerals, pigments, and shimmering particles are left behind after the moisture evaporates. The look of baked shadows is very similar to that of traditional powder shadows. When applied, the entire difference is apparent. They can be used wet or dry. They have a slight sheen in the first instance, and a foil effect on the eyelids in the second.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Caramelized © urbandecay.ru

Mineral eyeshadows

The process for creating mineral shadows involves micronizing or crushing minerals into extremely small particles, such as iron oxides, talc, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. During the height of naturalness’s fashion in the 1970s in America, mineral eyeshadow became increasingly popular.

The market for mineral-based cosmetics is still growing today. What sets it apart is the absence of several ingredients that are present in traditional formulas, such as fragrances, preservatives, and emollient oils and waxes.

Mineral eyeshadows are never made in anything other than loose form. The brand and manufacturer may have an impact on their intensity.

Loose eyeshadow

With the exception of the pigments not being combined with any binding agents, loose eyeshadows are comparable to traditional pressed ones. Their loose, powdery consistency is a result. The smallest jars are used to sell loose eyeshadows. Pro makeup artists are particularly fond of these products. After all, you can achieve any color intensity with their assistance. It is advised to use a brush to apply them.

Liquid eyeshadow

Recently, liquid shadows have entered the beauty industry. Although this formula is relatively new, a lot of people already adore it. They have a similar tube packaging and application applicator to lip gloss in terms of appearance. Glitter-infused microparticles are frequently added to them, giving the eyelids a lovely shimmering effect. Liquid shadows are among the simplest to apply since they are simple to shade and do not crumble.

Makeup.ru © Giorgio Armani Eye Tint

Pearl or shimmering shadows

Many people today mistakenly believe that pearlescent shadows are out of style because they were popularized in the 1990s. Modern formulas, on the other hand, are a whole other story; they no longer shine like foil, and the range of shades is much greater.

Because they are simple to shade and blend with a variety of other textures, pearlescent shadows are an excellent choice for novice makeup artists.

Sparkles of various sizes distinguish shimmering shadows. Their base itself can have any texture or sheen. Because of their sheen, both kinds of shadows appear more fitting in the evening under artificial lighting.

Matte eyeshadow

When applying nude shades, matte eyeshadows appear the most natural of all the types because they don’t have any shimmery particles and instead resemble powder on the eyelids. However, because their dry formula resists shading, they are also the most difficult to apply.

Which matte eyeshadows are best to choose?

• When choosing matte eyeshadow, be sure to apply them to your fingertips and blend them on the back of your hand. The best ones are those whose texture most closely matches the description “silky”: such eyeshadows will blend well and look natural.
• Overly dry eyeshadows, reminiscent of chalk, better put it aside.
• Today, every beauty brand produces matte eyeshadow palettes that include four or more shades. Color combinations for them are selected by professional makeup artists, and this means that each shade can be worn both separately and mixed with each other.

Makeup with matte shadows

For daytime makeup, matte shadows in pastels or muted earth tones look natural and understated. Dark or rich colors work particularly well with the smoky ice effect when creating evening makeup.

Moreover, matte shadows are great for creating arrows because you can simply wet the brush with water to transform the matte texture into a highly pigmented one that is ideal for creating lines. See our video tutorial for further instructions on how to pull off this trick again:

Eyeshadow with glitter

Unquestionably, glitter has been a trend in recent seasons. Eyeshadow with sparkles is a safer alternative for people who don’t want to take the chance of applying glitter to their eyelids right away, as podium makeup artists did at shows.

Importantly, the glitter should be medium in size—not too big, lest it resemble a mother-of-pearl effect, but also not too tiny.

Both in the day and at night, shimmering shadows can be useful. One requirement is that glitter should be the only facial accent used during the day. Consider the models as an example: their flawless, almost unpainted faces and glittery eyelids convey a sense of freshness and understatement.

How to apply shadows correctly: step-by-step photo tutorials

There is no one right way to apply shadows in makeup; there are many different ways to apply shadows depending on your personal preferences, the occasion, the shape of your eyes, and the texture of the shadows, among many other considerations. However, a few of the most widely used methods are also the most well-liked ones. See our photo instructions and videos to learn more about them.

Smoky eyes makeup

The traditional evening makeup look is "smoky" eyelids. Mix and match various shades of eyeshadow to create unique makeup looks.

On both the upper and lower eyelids, apply the eyeshadow base. Next, highlight a third of the lower eyelid with a deep bronze shade using a small flat natural brush, then carry the line over to the lovely upper eyelid.

To emphasize the orbital line and blend the border of the dark shadows, use a light brown matte shade. A fluffy natural brush can be used to create a "smoky" look.

Fill the entire lower eyelid line by blending the same shade along the lower border with a smaller brush.

Apply a shimmery eyeshadow shade to the inner corner of the eye using a small brush, and apply a softer, satin shade beneath the brow.

You can replicate the smoky eye makeup technique with the aid of these video instructions.

• How to use an eye pencil? 5 options
• 7 most popular types of eyeliner
• How to beautifully paint your eyes with shadows?

Makeup using the "loop" technique

Performing one of the most well-known and traditional makeup techniques is not too difficult.

Apply a gentle line along the lashes and create a "loop" that extends to the upper eyelid crease using a black or brown soft eye pencil. Draw attention to the space beneath the lower lashes.

Once the pencil is "pulled" into shading with a small flat brush, fix it over the entire surface with dark shadows, leaving the edge "smoky."

To add even more neat and intense color contrast, use black eyeliner to both line the lash line and draw it into a "loop".

Cutcrease makeup

Though it originated on social media, makeup with a distinct crease is now frequently seen on the catwalk.

Light beige eyeshadow should be widely blended along the upper eyelid crease using a fluffy natural bristle brush.

Apply concealer to the entire movable eyelid using a flat artificial brush, being sure to evenly and carefully outline the crease line. To break up the blending and create a more open look, point the brush towards the temple at the outer corner of the eye.

Apply light beige eyeshadow to concealer, and use shimmer eyeshadow to draw attention to the inner corner of the eye and the area beneath the eyebrow.

Apply a tidy arrow with a short tail and apply mascara to your eyelashes.

Do you want your makeup to have more color? Consider duplicating the picture with intense shadows!

How to replace the base under the shadow?

The most crucial phase of eye makeup is the base beneath the shadows. It also functions like soil, concealing wrinkles and keeping shadows from hiding in a fold of the century. It greatly improves the shade of shadows and ensures their resistance. Furthermore, the product flawlessly evens out the skin on the eyelids and prevents shadows from sliding during the day or night. Use the crumbly powder instead of a specific base if one isn’t available; spread it out over centuries and add shadows on top. in order for them to endure longer.

The technique of shading of shadows

There is a fundamental rule of shadow shading that helps to enhance the expression of the eyes.

Find out where your upper eyelid fold is first. Apply the lightest shade from the upper ciliary edge to the fold. Apply a tone or two darker to the line line; this will accentuate the fold and increase volume.

Use a medium shade of eyeshadow a few millimeters above the crease if your upper eyelid droops excessively and the crease is too low. By doing this, you can make your eyes appear larger by artificially lifting the movable eyelid.

Using the same medium tone, slightly darken the outer corners of the upper eyelids by shady from the outer to the inner corner, bringing the brush to the center of the lid. When applying makeup for the evening, make sure to use a darker shade for the outer corner of the eyes and the crease.

• Important point: makeup beginners often press too hard on the brush, pressing it to the skin. This should not be done: all professional makeup artists use light, barely touching movements with the brush. Take your time, do everything step by step: correct shading takes a few minutes more time, but the result will impress you.

• A beautiful touch: light shadows with sparkles can be used to put a small accent in the middle of the upper movable eyelid and in the inner corner of the eyes – such a highlight will instantly make the look younger. The shades you use may vary, but the shading principle remains the same.
• Monochrome eyelid makeup has recently become fashionable. It will not be able to correct the shape and size of the eyes, but it looks original and fresh. For this look, you can even apply shadows with your fingers: distribute one shade of shadows over the upper eyelid – matte or shimmery. Slightly shade the edges of the color. If desired, do the same with the lower eyelid. Done!

Watch our in-depth video tutorial on shading shadows to solidify your newfound knowledge.

What brushes are needed for eye makeup? 5 types

Almost every brand has brushes in their arsenal these days for shading shadows. For novices, a medium flat brush and a slightly fluffy brush for shading will be sufficient at first. While the first one lets you adjust the color, the second one, naturally, softens the edges and gradually blends the tones together. Depending on the type of shadows you like, choose the bristles on your brushes: powder shadows require natural bristles, while cream shadows require synthetic bristles.

Basic eyeshadow brush

Giorgio Armani Maestro Brush © armanibeauty.com.ru Flat brush

The best brush for applying and distributing eyeshadow is one with rounded tips and soft bristles. Its tip ought to be less in diameter than your eyelid. When working on the moving eyelid, be sure the brush does not graze the skin and that the shadow is applied uniformly.

Blend brush

NYX Cosmetics © NYX Professional Makeup Pro Brush Blending

Compared to the standard eyeshadow brush, it is longer, rounded, and fluffy, but not overly dense or "loose." Use it to mix different shades, apply a "smoky" effect to the eyelids, and blend eyeshadow or eyeliner properly.

Dome brush

NYX Cosmetics Professional Makeup Pro Brush Crease 17 ©

With these brushes, you can apply more pigment. intended to soften the shadows around the lash line and beneath the eyebrow. This works well for shading cream and gel textures, such as cream shadows, pencil along the lashes, and concealer under the eyebrow, to make the lines between two shades more distinct.

Eyelid crease brush

Tapered Blending Brush by Urban Decay © urbandecay.ru

For applying and blending eyeshadow in the crease of the eyelid, a small, dense brush with a slightly pointed tip works well. It is simple to create darker, sharper, and brighter accents in the eyelid crease or to shade eyeliner along the eyelid.

Angled eyeshadow brush

Giorgio Armani Maestro Brush © armanibeauty.com.ru, an angled brush

In terms of brushes with natural bristles, they are useful for highlighting the lash line with shadows and for blending shadows under the eyebrows. When applying eyebrow makeup, you can use a brush with synthetic bristles to fill in any missing hairs.

Watch our video to learn more about using makeup brushes.

Universal eyeshadow palettes for beginners

Palettes are very popular these days, as we have already mentioned. Naturally, anyone’s eyes will begin to wander in such a variety. Thus, make a decision right away about the type of makeup you like.

• If you are a supporter of natural and earthy shades, and it seems to you that there are never too many of them, then a palette of 8-10 colors can close this issue for you for a long time. It will have all the necessary shades – from light milky to black. With such a set, you can reproduce both daytime and evening looks. As a rule, manufacturers also include different textures of shadows in these palettes – matte, satin and pearlescent. Which makes the palettes a must have.
• If you are not very good with shadows and are just about to learn the secrets of makeup mastery, then a small palette of four colors will be enough.
• There is another category of makeup fans who experiment with face paints every day. If this is about you, then you will probably be more interested in products from seasonal collections – the most unusual color combinations are selected for them.

Which eye shadows suit which shades?

The answer to one of the most important makeup queries is extremely obvious. Let’s examine our options for various eye shade options!

Shadows for green eyes

• Owners of green eyes should pay attention to the purple shade of shadows. These two colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, so contrasting violet shadows are the best way to emphasize the emerald shade of the eyes.
• Warm tones will also help to enhance the natural green tone of the iris. Gold and copper shadows will look great.
• A nice bonus: fashionable red eye makeup is just what the doctor ordered for owners of green eyes. So feel free to apply red shadows. Don"t forget to paint your eyelashes with mascara!

Shadows for brown eyes

• Since brown does not have an opposite or complementary color on the color wheel, women with brown eyes are lucky – almost all shades suit them.
• If your eyes are dark brown, plum, deep green or charcoal gray colors suit you, as well as bronze and gold shades.
• Owners of medium to light brown eyes can try any color of eyeshadow. Violet and green shades will look good in daytime makeup.
• If you have light brown eyes, avoid black eyeliner, use dark brown or burgundy-violet colors. Try champagne shades with bronze or brown liner to highlight the shape of the eyes. Read more about makeup for brown eyes here.

Eyeshadows for blue eyes

• Brown, pink, terracotta eyeshadows are suitable for blue-eyed girls. In general, all natural "earthy" shades.
• Choose purple colors – they will enhance your natural color.
• Want your blue eyes to really stand out? Buy eyeshadows with warm yellow-orange tones, reminiscent of the color of champagne. Gold, bronze, peach, rose gold and almond-coffee shades.
• If you have fair skin and blue eyes, try mixing milk chocolate, red, purple or powder shades on your eyelids. They enhance the blue color of the iris and do not make the face pale.

Shadows for gray eyes

• The shade of gray eyes is considered quite rare. It is a mix of several colors: gray, blue, green and a drop of yellow along the contour of the pupils.
• You can make gray eyes more blue with the help of eyeshadows with an orange undertone: neutral brown, copper, peach, salmon, melon or even bright orange.
• Red-brown, pink, wine, burgundy, plum or purple tones will help to “pull out” the green color.
• Silver and gray colors can easily lighten gray eyes.

Term	Definition
Base	A neutral color applied to the eyelid to create a smooth canvas for other eyeshadows.
Crease	The area where the eyelid folds; often highlighted with darker colors to add depth.
Blend	The technique of merging different eyeshadow colors seamlessly to avoid harsh lines.
Matte	Eyeshadow with no shine or shimmer; provides a flat, smooth finish.
Shimmer	Eyeshadow with a shiny, reflective quality that adds sparkle to the eyes.
Highlight	A light color applied to the brow bone or inner corner of the eye to brighten and open the eyes.
Transition Shade	A medium color used to blend the base and crease colors for a smooth gradient.
Pigment	The strength of color in eyeshadow; highly pigmented shadows offer intense color payoff.

Making the right eyeshadow choice can improve your entire appearance and make it easy for you to express your individuality and sense of style. Eyeshadow options range from soft and natural tones to bold and vibrant colors, so there’s something for every occasion.

Understanding the various varieties, coatings, and application methods will help you attain a faultless appearance that accentuates your best qualities. Trying out different hues and textures can also lead to fresh ideas for enhancing your beauty regimen.

Keep in mind that flawless eyeshadow is the result of careful blending and the use of high-quality, skin-type-appropriate products. With a little effort and imagination, you can become an expert at applying eyeshadow and incorporate it into your daily beauty regimen.

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