BY: KIZZY COURTNEY
If you are just stepping into the makeup world there are many ways to enjoy the fun of makeup and eyeshadows and should be a significant part of your everyday routine. They are very versatile and can take you from a fun neutral day look to a sultry smokey night time look. Blending eyeshadow is without a doubt one of the most important things to learn to do properly in makeup application. Applying eyeshadow can take your makeup look to a whole new level, with all the many different colors, textures and finishes the creative possibilities are endless.
Here’s a step by step guide on how to rock any eyeshadow look. First and foremost, you want to choose your shades, for a basic eyeshadow look you will need three to four shades. You will want to choose a light shimmery shade for a highlight a medium shade and a dark shade. If you are a beginner it is best to keep your shades in the same family. I recommend sticking to the browns, and earth tone shades when first starting out as these shades are easiest to work with and are universally pleasing on any skin tone.
Next, you need the right tools, you may think you need tons of brushes to complete an eyeshadow look but really you don’t. For basic eyeshadow looks you will need a flat, dense eyeshadow brush, this is used to pack the shadows on the lid and a blending brush, preferably dome shaped. You may also use a pencil brush to bring your shadows to your lower lids as well. So, you’ve got your shadows and you’ve got your tools now comes application. When beginning any eyeshadow look, it is best to start by applying an eye base or eye primer. Eyeshadow primers are an important step because it preps your lids for smoother, crease-free, longer lasting eyeshadows. Firstly, using the light shimmery shade apply it to the brow bone and the inner tear duct, this will help to brighten and open the eye. Next, take the medium shade with your flat eyeshadow brush and place the shadow all over the mobile lid for a wash of color. (When using four shadows take a shade that is one to two shades darker than your skin tone and place it in your crease as a transition color.) This will help in the blending process by allowing your shadows to integrate more easily. Lastly, take the darkest shade and place it on the outer corner (or outer ‘V’) doing this will define the natural eye shape, and will also help to create extra dimension to the look.
The most important step of any eye look is to blend, blend, blend. The idea is to have all three (or four) shadows transition into one anther seamlessly creating a gradient effect. Lightly holding your blending brush at the very end use ‘windshield wiper’ motions to thoroughly blend out any harsh lines from your shadows. You should never blend across colors; only blend the edges. If you blend all over, your eyeshadow will become muddy looking and over blended. Once finished blending, of course, no eyeshadow look is ever complete without a bit of liner and some mascara on your lashes. Using these simple steps, you’ll have yourself a perfect eye look every time.
Learning the basics is quite simple, when it comes to any eyeshadow look It doesn’t really matter what shades, or color combinations you use. If you have light, medium and dark shades I say let your imagination run wild and have fun creating. Remember makeup is art so let your creative side shine and with a little practice, anyone can master the secrets of beautiful eyeshadow makeup.
