Many claim that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Our eyes are one of the first attributes most people notice about us, so it’s no surprise that we spend so much time seeking to enhance them. If you are a complete novice when it comes to applying eye makeup, start with lighter, less dramatic colors until you refine your technique. Then as you gain confidence, you can begin to incorporate bolder, more dramatic looks.
Regardless of what colors you choose or whether you prefer a more natural versus a bolder style, there are some basic techniques in common for all great eye makeup looks.
Prepare to Apply Your Eye Makeup
Start with a primer. Create a smooth, even base for your makeup application, extend wear and prevent creasing by starting with an eye makeup primer applied over your entire eyelid.
Sculpt and style your brows. Brow sculpting is a whole subject all its own. Check out our tutorial on shaping the ideal brow.
Choose your colors. If you are unsure about choosing complementary colors that will blend well together, there are many pre-packaged eye makeup palettes that include every shade needed to create a complete look. We love bareMinerals’ MINERALIST eyeshadow palettes.
Get professional eyeshadow brushes. The little sponge-tipped brushes included with most eyeshadow palettes will not allow you to achieve a flawless, blended look. Investing in a few professional makeup brushes is well worth it. You will want a soft, tapered brush for all-over application, and a dense, angled brush for applying details along the lashline and the eyelid crease. We like this Expert Shadow & Liner Brush from bareMinerals, because it is a 2-in-1 tool and includes both brush heads you need!
Creating a Flawless Eye
Apply base color. Using the fluffy eyeshadow brush, apply an all-over base color, your lightest color, over your entire lid and crease.
Apply lid color. Brush on the next darkest shade over your entire lid and up to the crease.
Apply darker accent color. With the angled brush, choose a shade a bit darker to apply along your lash line and in the crease of your eyelid. Blend outward, thickening the line at the outer corner of the eye.
Create some extra pop. Applying a little bit of the lightest highlighter color to the inner corner of the eyes can make your eyes open up and appear brighter.
Add eyeliner. For an even more dramatic look, blend some eyeliner along the upper lash line, thicker towards the outer corner. Unless you are going for a REALLY dramatic look, it’s best to keep dark eyeliner on the top lid only. If you want to line the lower lashes, use one of your darker eyeshadow shades and blend to soften.
Finish with mascara. No eye makeup is complete without a final sweep of mascara to enhance lashes and frame the eyes.
Be sure to check out the full lines of eye makeup available on our website. We guarantee that all beauty lines offered are 100% authentic, never from a third-party, and are items that our beauty team uses on our own hair and skin. Plus, Pandora Beauty offers some of the best prices available on all your favorite salon-quality products at our online discount beauty supply store.
