Eyeshadow can be intimidating to apply, especially if you are just starting out. But it doesn’t have to be! With a few simple tips and tricks, anyone can master the art of eyeshadow application. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to balance your eye shape with eyeshadow so you can create beautiful makeup looks that will help you feel confident and fabulous every day. So let’s get started – how to apply eyeshadow for beginners!
Table of Contents
Eyeshadow Application Can Be intimidating for beginners
Eyeshadow application can seem daunting because there are so many different colors, textures, and techniques to choose from. However, when wondering how to apply eyeshadow – the key to getting it right is understanding your eye shape and how to work with it.
Knowing how to balance your eye shape with eyeshadow will help you create a look that brings out the beauty of your eyes, while also helping you feel more confident in your makeup skills.
The reason we apply eyeshadow is to draw attention to the eyes and we do this by using a contour (adding depth / pushing back) and highlighting (adding light / bringing forward) technique.
This allows us to give the illusion of a more balanced, open eye. In order to know where you should highlight and where you should contour, we need to, first, take a look at your eye shape.
The different eye shapes and how to identify yours
Continuing the discussion about eye shapes, there are six basic eye shapes: wide set, close-set, down-turned, upturned, hooded, and prominent.
Identifying your eye shape is simple: just look in the mirror and identify what your eyes look like.
- To determine a Wide-Set eye shape, check to see if you have more than an eye-width distance between your eyes.
- For a Close-Set eye shape, you will have less than an eye-width distance between your eyes.
- Also referred to as puppy eyes – the inner corners of Down-Turned eyes are higher than the outer corners of your eyes
- Upturned eyes have outer corners that are higher than the inner corners of the eyes
- Hooded eyes have extra skin on the eyelid that droops over to cover the crease.
- Round – Prominent eyes have a lid that seems to be swollen with a rounded shape in both length and width.
BEFORE we get started, I just want to point out that your eye shape is beautiful and unique to you as an individual. You can definitely intensify your eye shape just as beautifully. With that said, This post is going to be showing you how to balance an eye shape.
How to apply Eyeshadow: HOODED EYES
(Defined by the excess skin that folds from the brow bone over to our upper lash line, some people are born with this but also happens with age.)
For hooded eyes, we’re going to focus on creating depth and dimension to open up the eye.
Contouring hooded eyes:
- Look straight into the mirror
- Apply a matte shade slightly darker than your skin tone in the crease and blend up and out (towards the arch of your brow) so that the shadow fades halfway to your brow.
- To further add depth, you can then add a deeper matte/neutral shade and keep it focused right into the crease and just above it. The key is to create the illusion of a more defined eye socket/crease.
Highlighting hooded eyes:
- Apply a light (can be shimmery or matte) shade to the inner corner and any visible lid space you have when your eye is open. the lid to brighten and open up the eyes.
- To further open the eyes, adding lashes is a great way to draw the eyes up and out.
A few of my hooded eye beauties.
How to apply Eyeshadow: PROMINENT EYES
This eye shape is a little more round. The lid seems to be a little more swollen and often times the bottom portion of the eye also comes forward a bit hence the eye looking a little more round, but not always. These eyes are perfect for smokey looks.
The goal of this application technique on a prominent eye shape is to bring balance by slightly pulling back the lid of the eyes that are extending forward.
Contouring prominent eyes:
- Apply a matte/neutral medium to deep shade of eyeshadow starting at the lash line and fading up and out towards the crease.
- Then apply a matte neutral shadow that is just slightly darker than your skin tone into the crease and blend up and out towards the arch of the brow.
Highlighting prominent eyes:
- Apply a light matte or shimmer to the inner corners and just under the arch of the brow.
- To create more of an almond shape to the eye, you can add eyeliner and extend the tail of the liner out towards the end of your brow.
- You can also add lashes that are longer at the outer corners and taper in towards the inner corner.
A few of my prominent eye beauties.
How to apply Eyeshadow: CLOSE-SET EYES
This eye shape is referred to as those having less than an eye-width distance between your eyes. This just means the space in between them is narrow so they appear a lot close together.
The goal of this technique for close-set eyes is to give the illusion that there is more space between the eyes.
Contouring close-set eyes:
- Using a medium to deep matte eyeshadow shade, apply only to the outer part of your eye from the lash line to the crease and blending it up and out towards the arch of your brow. This will recede any extra light space on the outer corners making your eyes appear farther out.
Highlighting close-set eyes:
- To create the look of more space between the eyes, apply a light shimmer or matte shadow from the inner corners to about ⅔ of the lid and blend into the medium/deep shade.
- To further intensify the look, apply mascara or lashes that extend out towards the arch of the brow and away from the inner corner.
A few of my close-set beauties.
How to apply Eyeshadow: WIDE-SET EYES
This eye shape is referred to as those having more than an eye-width distance between your eyes. This just means the space in between them is wider so they appear further apart.
When applying eyeshadow for wide-set eyes, we will be focusing on bringing the eyes closer together.
Contouring wide-set eyes:
- Apply a matte neutral shadow that is 1-2 shades darker than your skin tone to your inner crease and blend over until it fades out about halfway.
Highlighting wide-set eyes:
- Apply A light matte or shimmer shade to the remaining outer half of the eye and blend up and out towards the arch of the brow.
- To further intensify the look, apply liner, mascara, or lashes that extend toward the inner corners of the eye.
My wide-eyed beauty.
How to apply Eyeshadow: DOWN-TURNED EYES
Also referred to as “puppy eyes”. You have this eye shape when the inner corners of your eyes are higher than the outer corners of your eyes.
The goal of this application is to give the downturned eye a more lifted appearance.
Contouring downturned eyes:
- Start by applying a slightly darker shade on the outer corners.
- Then, use a darker shade to create a V-shape on the outer corner of the eye and blend it towards the center. This will create a more lifted and defined look.
Highlighting downturned eyes:
- Apply a light matte or shimmery shade to your inner corner and just under the arch of the brow.
- To further intensify this look, apply eyeliner or lashes that extend upwards towards the end of your brow.
My downturned beauties:
How to apply Eyeshadow: UP-TURNED EYES
(Upturned eyes have outer corners that are higher than the inner corners of the eyes.)
Since you are naturally already lifted, you can intensify the lift.
Contouring upturned eyes:
- Apply a medium shade in the crease of the eyelid and blend it up and out towards the arch of your brow.
- Next, apply a darker shade on the outer corner of the eyelid and blend it towards the crease. This will help enhance the up-turned shape of your eyes.
Highlighting upturned eyes:
- If your upturned eyes are not also wide set, apply a light matte or shimmery shade to the inner corner of the eyes.
- You can also apply to the brow bone under the arch of the brow.
- To further intensify the look you can extend eyeliner and lashes up towards the end of your brow.
My upturned beauty:
Mastering the art of applying eyeshadow with a few simple tricks!
How to apply eyeshadow correctly can be a daunting task, but with the right tips and tricks it’s easy to master. By understanding your eye shape and how to use color combinations that will compliment it, you are well on your way to creating stunning looks! From prominent to wide-set eyes there is something for everyone. So don’t let eyeshadow intimidate you; instead, embrace the challenge of mastering this art form as soon as possible! With these guidelines in mind anyone can know how to apply eyeshadow like a pro!
Enjoy reading these other articles about Natural-Looking Makeup!
