These eyeshadow tips for beginners will seriously help you up your makeup game. Don’t be intimidated by glam eyeshadow. Instead, remember that you have to start somewhere, even if it’s just one color eyeshadow looks. Then, keep improving your game by learning and using these tips.
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What’s The Easiest Eyeshadow To Apply
If you’re brand new to eyeshadow, start small. The easiest eyeshadow to apply is a shadow stick. You can instantly create a fantastic one-color eyeshadow look. Most colors are a cream formula, so they glide on effortlessly. You don’t even have to use a brush. Simply color in your eyelids.
Powder eyeshadow is the second easiest eyeshadow product to work with. This is particularly true if you want a more complicated look, like a smoky eye. Powder eyeshadows are more buildable and blendable than other formulas.
Our Recommendations
Finding a high-quality eyeshadow stick isn’t as easy as you would think. Some are known for smearing away a couple of hours after application. Thankfully, we’ve created this list of the best shadow sticks to get you started!
E.l.f. Cosmetics No Budge Shadow Stick
This eyeshadow stick from e.l.f. Cosmetics is one of the holy grail shadow sticks. It’s available in various finishes, including matte, and in every color imaginable for only $5. The formula glides smoothly across your lids instead of tugging on them and dries quickly. Once the product is dry, it stays put until you’re ready to remove it.
NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil
This eye pencil from NYX Cosmetics is available in over ten shades to help you find exactly what you want. The chunky pencil is easy to hold, making makeup application much more accessible for beginners. It’s more than just an eye pencil, though! Use it as an eyeliner, eyeshadow crayon, or eye primer to make your pressed pigments appear more vibrant! Did we mention it’s cruelty-free?
Julep Creme To Powder Shadow Stick
This top-rated shadow stick glides on as smoothly as your favorite cream eyeshadows. Then, it dries down to a powder finish for a lasting look. It’s buildable and blendable. Not to mention that the formula is waterproof! This formula is guaranteed to impress you when it comes to staying power!
Don’t Use The Same Brush For Everything
If you plan on using more than one color of eyeshadow, you need more than one brush. You’ll need a few brushes with short synthetic hair for the eyeshadow. You don’t want to use the same brush for light and dark colors. A fluffy eyeshadow brush for blending is also a must-have.
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Professional Brush Kit
When you’re just starting in makeup, buying a little of everything is tempting, but you don’t need to do that. Brush kits like this offer the essential brushes you’ll need to achieve your desired look. You can pick up more brushes as you play with more makeup products and learn more. It’s available in champagne gold and comes with a convenient carrying case!
Other Brush Kits
Are you not a fan of shopping on Amazon or want something from a different brand? Not a problem! Almost every makeup store has a brush kit, and some of your favorite cruelty-free brands sell affordable makeup brushes. Here are some other great options:
Eyeshadow brushes are a vital component of your makeup arsenal. However, don’t forget that you’re just starting. Start with the basics and work your way up as you gain more experience with makeup.
Tap Your Brushes After You Pick Up Eyeshadow
After swirling your brush in the eyeshadow, give it a quick tap. You can keep something, like a glass, nearby to tap it on. This removes excess product so that you have less eyeshadow fallout.
Pat Eyeshadow Onto The Lid Instead Of Brushing It
It makes sense that you’re using a brush, so you should brush the color across your eyelid. This can create an uneven distribution of color. Instead, use a patting motion for even color. This is also a great technique to help shimmer eyeshadows stay in place and prevent fallout.
Do Your Eyeshadow First
When you do your foundation first, you can’t wipe away eyeshadow fallout with a makeup wipe or you’ll wipe off your foundation as well. However, if you apply eyeshadow first, you can easily clean up fallout without having to re-do your entire look.
Don’t Forget The Primer
Using a good eye primer will help your eyeshadow last longer. Prepping your eyelids before applying makeup is always essential. Use a tiny dab of primer on your eyelid and blend it in. Remember, a little goes a long way. This creates a smooth canvas for your eyeshadow.
Our Recommendations
Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Urban Decay has set the standards in the makeup industry for a few products, and their eyeshadow primer is one of them! The doe foot applicator helps it slide smoothly across your lid. It has a quick drying time. It will help prevent creasing, fading, and smudging, instantly making your eyeshadow color appear more vibrant!
Wet ‘N Wild PhotoFocus Eye Primer
This brightening formula dries to a smooth, matte finish to instantly make your lids brighter and lock in your look. The transparent color makes it ideal for any skin tone! If you love dramatic eye makeup looks, it’s a must-have! If you’re still a beginner, the no-mess application and high quality are just what you need. Here’s what one reviewer said:
“I find I have to apply less eyeshadow with this primer, and it also allows me to blend colors very well with minimal effort. This is a major plus for me as somebody who’s into alternative makeup looks. I tried Thank Me Later eyeshadow primer for a few months, and the result was a faded patchy mess, so I’ve come back to this, and it’s still my absolute favorite.”
Apply Lighter Colors First
If you use more than one eyeshadow color, apply your lighter color first. Most people put the lighter color over the entire lid and then add the dark color in critical spots.
Learn Your Eye Shape
Attention to your eye shape will tell you what you should and shouldn’t do regarding eye makeup. For example, darker eyeshadows will make your eyes appear smaller if you have small eyes. Because of that, you shouldn’t apply them over the entire lid.
Try A Single Color Cream Eyeshadow
If you don’t want to blend or learn about eye shapes, don’t. Instead, you can pick up a cream eyeshadow and blend it over your entire eyelid with your finger.
Invest In A Good Eyeshadow Palette
When you wind up with eyeshadow that is of poor quality, you’ll find that it’s hard to work with. It might not blend easily or be buildable. Most of the time, the colors aren’t as pigmented. Start with one eyeshadow palette and slowly build up your makeup collection.
Use A Little At A Time
Start with a small amount of eyeshadow at a time and build up the color. This is especially important if you have very pigmented eyeshadow palettes. Too much eyeshadow at once can make it flake off on the rest of your face or make it challenging to blend.
This also applies to eye primer. Always use a tiny dot of eye primer. You don’t need a lot to cover your lid.
Set Your Makeup
Always set your makeup, including eyeshadow. Eyeshadow, including powder shadows, can smear as the day progresses, leaving you with a black eye. Close your eyes and apply setting spray over the entire face. The setting spray will naturally get on your lids, locking your look.
Clench Your Toes
Clenching your toes while applying eyeshadow, or any eye product, can give you a steadier hand, making application easier. This easy tip is also great if you have difficulty applying eyeliner in a straight line across your lids.
Start With The Top
Many people try to apply eyeshadow around the entire eye like influencers. This can look easy on camera, but smudge and look bad in real life. Instead, start by mastering the application of unique looks to your top lid first.
Devoted Practice
Always take the time to practice putting on your makeup at home before wearing it somewhere. Wearing makeup around the house for a day ensures it doesn’t smudge throughout the day and make you look bad. Practicing is always a great way to ensure flawless makeup when you leave the house. Practice one look or technique at a time to slowly build up your makeup skills.
Light Colors First
Always apply light colors first, especially for multi-colored eyeshadow looks. Apply a little of one color, blend, repeat. If you use a darker color first, blending can be a nightmare. The darker color will always overshadow the lighter shades, and you won’t get the put-together look you’re after.
Define With Concealer
Some people use makeup tape to get flawless, sharp edges. Many people also use a touch of concealer to clean up the look, creating the ideal edge. Concealer can help you create the ideal brow shape, too.
Don’t Be Scared Of Wasting Eyeshadow
Many people get a gorgeous eyeshadow palette, but want to learn eyeshadow tips for beginners before they start using it, because they don’t want to waste it. It can take months of using eyeshadows to use up all the eyeshadow in a single pan.
Instead, use the eyeshadow palette to practice. You’ll learn the best looks for the palette, about the formula, and what looks will work with your eye shape.
Eyeshadow Tips For Beginners
An entire generation canceled eyeshadow and declared it dead. However, eyeshadow isn’t dead. Most people didn’t know how to use it and stopped wearing it. Influencers began posting glam looks that don’t work for everyday makeup looks. That doesn’t mean you can’t make eyeshadow work for you. It’s far from dead, and neutrals are always a safe bet. Check out the rest of the site for more tips and tricks.
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