How to Apply Eyeshadow like a Pro | Expert Tips

Hey beauties, do you ever feel like the eyeshadow looks stunning on the pinterest boards but when you try to recreate it, they look like a shadowy mess? Well, we get you, eyeshadow makeup can feel overwhelming. 

Good news? It doesn't have to be and LoveChild is here to show you just how some techniques and correct product picks can make your life easy.  

From full glam for a night out look to adding a pop of colour to your everyday routine, we’ll take you through a detailed guide on how to apply eye shadow, by the end of this- you’ll become quite the eyeshadow pro yourself!

Step 1: Understand Your Eye Shape

Yes, eye shape matters. And if you’ve tried tutorials before, you must have come across a dozen different videos on how to apply eyeshadow that mention 1-2 eyeshapes, in actuality there are more. 

Type of Eye Shapes 

1. Almond Eyes

Almond Eyes are symmetrical, slightly pointed at the corners. 

Most eyeshadow styles work beautifully here. You can play with bold creases, soft gradients, or full glam smoky looks with ease. 

2. Hooded Eyes

Hooded eyes have a fold that sits over the crease, which can make the lid space disappear when your eyes are open.
The trick is to place the shadow slightly above the crease so it shows up when your eyes are open. Blending upward creates a beautiful contour, adding a pop of colour to your eye look. 

3. Round Eyes

These are larger and more prominent, with the white of the eye showing around the iris.

To bring back the focus on the eyes without overpowering the shape, it is important to blend darker shades on the outer corner and have a bright centre. 

4. Monolids

Monolids don’t have a visible crease, which makes them perfect for graphic looks and high-impact shimmer. 

5. Deep Set Eyes

Deep-set eyes sit further back in the eye socket, which naturally creates depth and shadow. They often have a strong brow bone and a slightly sunken appearance.

Stick to lighter or shades closer to your skin tone to open up the eyes. Soft champagne, rose gold, or warm neutrals can really light up the eyes.

How to Identify Your Eye Shape at Home

Stand in front of a mirror in natural light and relax your face. Keep your eyes open and look straight ahead.

Ask yourself a few simple questions:

• Can you see a visible crease when your eyes are open? 

• Are your eyes wider or round? 

• Do the outer corners go up or down, or are they neutral? 

• Is the lid space completely gone when the eyes are open? 

You may not even fit in ‘one’ category, and that's okay. Eye shapes are not limiting. They're meant to be a structure for you to follow. Once you identify your shape, applying eyeshadow becomes easier, faster, and a lot more fun! 

Step 2: Know Your Eye Color

One of the basic things to know about how to do eye makeup for beginners is your eye colour. The right eyeshadow shades can enhance and compliment your natural eye colour. 

Brown eyes:

The versatility of a brown eye can allow for a variety of looks when paired with a soft neutral colour or bold colours such as bronze, plum, copper, or rich brown.

Blue eyes:

A bright blue eye is best paired with contrasting warm colours like copper or peach to enhance and highlight the blue and not make it look dull. Cooler, silver-based colours will wash out a blue eye, so when in doubt, a warm shade is always a safe choice. 

Green and Hazel eyes:

The most striking looks for green and hazel eyes come from warm, rich colours that will enhance the natural flecks of green and hazel within the eye.

For example, colours such as plum, mauve, gold, and bronze allow your eye makeup to shine while maintaining your eye’s natural glimmer. 

Grey eyes:

Another soft eye colour- with it silver, taupe, soft browns, lavender, plum, and bronze colours look beautiful. 

Best Eyeshadow Colors According to Skin Tone

Choosing an eyeshadow based on your skin tone enhances your natural warmth, balances your undertones, and makes your eyeshadow blend like a dream.

Don’t know your skin tone? Know more in detail here: How To Select My Serum Skin Tint Shade Online? 

Fair skin:

For a fair skin tone, opt for soft, delicate pastels for a flushed and natural finish.

Soft blush tones, light taupe and champagne, pear shimmer for a glam night out. Lavender or pastel green shades add a vibrant pop of colour.

- Avoid overly dark shades all over the lid. Instead, use them sparingly for definition.

Medium Skin:

People with medium skin tones can experiment with different types of makeup, especially warm and neutral eyeshadows.

Adding a bronze, gold, or rose-gold eyeshadow creates a very soft glow on the lid. Hues of peach, coral, terracotta, and olive green create a dreamy-looking eye shadow look for any special occasion. 

Deep Skin:

Vibrant shades with bold pigments bring out the natural glow of deeper skin tones.

Jewel-toned eye shadows such as emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red look luxurious, whereas gold, bronze, and copper metallics add a lovely boldness to the look.

For a playful colour palette, bright pastels, burnt orange or pinks create a striking and expressive eye look for the days that demand a little extra glam. 

Step 3: Determine Your Brow Shape

Brows play a big role in achieving the perfect eye makeup. The type of eye brow you naturally have and how you fill it in is what ties the look together. A strong arch can give instant lift, while straighter brows create a softer eye look.

How to Determine Your Natural Brow Shape

Stand in front of a mirror with a relaxed face. Don’t raise or furrow your brows.

Look for these key points:

• Arch: Is it high and defined, soft and subtle, or barely there?
  
  

• Length: Do your brows extend past the outer corner of your eye or stop short?
  
  

• Thickness: Are they naturally full, thin, or somewhere in between?
  
  

• Direction: Do the tail ends lift upward, sit straight, or angle downward?
  
  

Your natural brow shape is the best guide. Enhancing it always looks better than trying to force a completely different style.

Matching Eyeshadow Styles to Brow Structure

Brows With A High Arch

Brows with a high arch create a natural lift, so it’s best to apply your eye shadows with a soft effect, which is blended properly. Concentrate the colour on the lid and outer corner and avoid going too high.

Straight Brows

Straight eyebrows work well with gradient finishes. Rather than applying shades directly upward, it’s best to blend the shades out from the centre of the lid to ensure balance.

Thin Brows

Do not apply dark eye shadow too close to the brow, as this will bring down the natural softness and cause the eye to appear smaller, creating a more dramatic effect. Use soft transitions for thin eyebrows.

Full Brows

Full brows allow a bolder approach when it comes to eye shadow application. Smokey eyes, dramatic outer corners, and richer colour tones can be enhanced with the use of full brows, since they provide a structure and balance to the face.

Step 4: Match Your Eyeshadow to the Occasion

Match your makeup look to the occasion you need it for.

On a daily basis, a simple soft matte eyeshadow looks sophisticated and adds a natural definition, here use blush tones for a glowy and flirty look. 

Stepping out for a party or festive celebration? This is where you dial up on the glam. Go bold with metallic golds, bronzes, and rose golds. Try a smoky eye makeup or add in colours with jewel tones and a shimmery lid for a luxe look. 

Bring out your inner child and play with makeup. Experiment with unexpected colour combinations, pick Colored Gel Eyeliner in blue, brown, green colours to standout. 

Step 5: Define Your Personal Style

Making your own personal look can be challenging, especially if you are new to the game. 

But remember, makeup is all about trial and error. 

This can help you understand what type of eyelooks you prefer:

Minimal style - Gravitate towards soft neutrals, light definition, and clean blending. They are single-shadow looks, gentle contouring, and eyes that look naturally enhanced.

Glam enthusiasts - Enjoy layered shades, deeper outer corners, and statement finishes. Smokey eyes, bold colours, and high-impact shimmer feel exciting rather than intimidating.

As a beginner, you can always start with minimal and build up as you go. 

Choosing Between Matte, Shimmer & Metallic Finishes

Each finish serves a different purpose, and knowing when to use what makes your eyeshadow game look strong.

Mattes are great for defining the creases and adding dimension, which makes them ideal for everyday looks or formal occasions. Shimmers give you a soft, bright look and are perfect for the lids or inner corners when you need a subtle hint of sparkle. For a statement eye look, metallics are the perfect choice. They make sure your eyes can dazzle at any party. 

Gather the Right Tools Before You Start

Even the best eyeshadow can fall flat if you don’t have the right tools. The right brush works like a magic wand, when you know how to use it right. 

A Flat Shader Brush is for patting down pigment on your lids. It performs best with shimmer, metallic, and high-pigmented eyeshadow formulations. 

Fluffy Blending Brushes are the ultimate solution for achieving seamless blending between multiple eyeshadows. They create shadows and add dimension in the crease, lifting your look while getting rid of the harsh lines around the edges. 

For when you want to be more precise and controlled with your application, a tapered crease brush is your best bet.

An eyeliner brush is your makeup kit’s multipurpose essential. It smudges shadow onto your lower lash line, highlights your inner corner, and can be used to create the eyeliner wing shape of your choice.  

How to Load Product on Your Brush Correctly

• After dipping your brush into the eyeshadow, gently tap off any excess product from the bristles of the brush before applying it to your eyelid to minimise excess fallout.

• When applying colour to your eyelid, build gradually. Adding more pigment to a dry base is much easier than correcting a base that has had too many pigments added to it.

• Another easy way to get your shimmery or metallic eyeshadows packed on the lid is by using a damp flat brush before applying the colour. 

How to Apply Eyeshadow Step by Step for Beginners 

Step 1: Prep with Eyeshadow Primer

A primer is a non-negotiable if you want eye makeup to stay put. Eyeshadow primer creates a clean, even base for colour. It grips pigment so your shadows look richer and last longer without creasing or fading.

Start with clean, dry lids and take a tiny, pea-sized amount of  Hydrating Primer on your finger. Dab it across the lid using your ring finger or a flat brush. Let it sit for a few seconds before applying a concealer or eyeshadow. 

Step 2: Contour & Define the Eyes

Contouring the eyes adds depth, dimension, and structure, making your makeup look intentional and polished. The soft mattes from the Cosmo Glitz palette create natural-looking shadows that sculpt the eye.

How to Choose the Right Neutral Base Shade

Pick a shade close to your skin tone or one shade deeper:

Step 3: Apply the Lid Color

How to Use a Flat Shader Brush to Pack Colour-

- Dip the flat side of the brush in your shadow, choose a vibrant hue from the Star Rush palette. 

- Instead of sweeping, press the colour onto your lid

- Start from the middle of your lid and work outwards

- Add layers slowly to create a more intense colour payoff

- Pressing on the product helps the pigments stay put and look more vibrant and rich.

Step 4: Working on the Lower Lash Line

The lower lash line is a small detail that can completely change your eye look. A light handed swipe adds balance and polish. Use a small brush and focus on the outer corners to open up the eyes. 

LC Pro Tip: Avoid taking dark shades all the way across unless you’re intentionally going for a dramatic look.

How Eyeliner Enhances Eyeshadow

Eyeliner defines the shape of the eye, enhances the application of eyeshadow and creates a 3-dimensional effect without being too overpowering.

Pencil Eyeliner

Works best as a soft, everyday eyeliner. Easy to control and results in a soft blur finish; great for blending into your eyeshadow for a seamless effect.

Gel Eyeliner

Ideal for intensity with flexibility. Gel liners give rich colour and can be blended before they set. They work beautifully for smokey eyes, bold looks, and soft wings.

Liquid Eyeliner

It is great for creating a dramatic, defined line. Liquid eyeliners like the Nazar Na Lage Liner give a steady hand to easily achieve the perfect wing.

Eyeshadow Techniques That Make a Difference

Here are a few tips for you to learn how to apply eyeshadow for beginners and makeup enthusiasts alike-

Layering vs Blending

Layering is about building colour intensity by pressing eyeshadow onto the lid in thin, controlled layers until you reach the desired payoff.

Blending focuses on softening the edges without disturbing the colour. Always remember to layer first and then blend; this ensures that you don’t lose any pigment and avoid any patches or harsh lines. 

Step 5: Finish with Mascara

Mascara is the final touch that pulls your entire eyelook together. One good coat of the Amplif-EYE Black Mascara can instantly make your eyes look bigger, sharper, and more awake.

Tips for Upper & Lower Lashes

A few smart techniques make all the difference. Curl your lashes before applying mascara for a lift. Apply one coat for everyday looks, two for glam.

For the lower lashes, use the tip of the wand or a smaller brush. Focus on separating rather than thickening.

Step 6: Perfect Your Eyebrows

For the perfect brow, fill in with Chai-latte- Brow Pencil by drawing light strokes. Pick a brow shade that is very close to your hair's natural colour. Keep the fronts of the brows soft and blended. After you fill in your brows, set the shape with some Brow Gel. 

FAQs

Q1. What If I Have Shaky Hands While Applying Eyeshadow?

If your hands tend to shake while applying eyeshadow, the key is to add support. Resting your elbow on a table or vanity instantly steadies your hand. Use short, gentle motions instead of long sweeps, and lean into fluffy blending brushes. They soften mistakes as you go and don’t require perfect precision

Q2. How Do I Apply Eyeshadow If I Wear Glasses?

Start by mapping out your eyeshadow placement while wearing your glasses. Make small dots of nude lipstick - where the crease, lid colour, and depth should sit. Once the placement is clear, use a magnifying table mirror in a well-lit room for a clear view while applying the eye makeup perfectly.

Q3. What Should I Do If I Apply Too Much Eyeshadow?

If you’ve applied too much eyeshadow, try this before reaching for makeup remover. A clean blending brush softens harsh edges instantly. Adding a matte neutral, skin-toned shadow tones down the intensity, and a small amount of concealer cleans up the edges. 

And there we have it, the complete rundown on how to apply eyeshadow like a pro! With some simple techniques, a few professional tips and a little practice, you can create a stunning eye look without breaking a sweat. 

So go ahead, and be bold with your eye-expression! Tag us on @lovechildbymasaba