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Welcome to the world of eyeshadow!
Here, you will find the answer to these questions:
What are eyeshadows?
Eyeshadows are colored cosmetic products that are applied to the eyelid and surrounding area.
They are typically in a pressed powder form, though there are variations to this formula.
You can find eyeshadows that are pressed powders, loose powders, baked, creams, liquids, and more.
What are the different eyeshadow finishes?
There are many formulations and types of eyeshadow. Here are some of the most produced and used eyeshadow types:
Matte Eyeshadow
Has no shimmer or shine in the formula. Matte shadows are a flat color. Pigmentation of matte shadows ranges from sheer to heavily pigmented. Matte shadows are used to blend out other colors, create seamless gradients, and all over the eye for a matte, flat, and “dull” effect.
Shimmer Eyeshadow
A blendable color with fine glitter within the formula that creates a shimmery look on the eye. Much softer and easier to work with than a glitter, but can create similar looks. Often applied with a damp brush or finger for maximum color payoff.
Satin Eyeshadow
Between a shimmer and a matte, a satin formula is a blendable color that has a slight sheen to it.
Glitter Eyeshadow
There are a few types of glitter eyeshadow.
One is glitter mixed with a wet or creamy base, creating an almost gel-like consistency to put on the eyes.
Another type is pressed glitter, which is glitter packed into an eyeshadow pan, as opposed to glitter loose from a jar.
Loose glitter, which is eye-safe glitter pieces from a jar. Requires a glitter primer or glue to adhere to the eye. Is pretty messy, but has the most glittery effect. It is different from craft glitter – do NOT use craft glitter on your eyelid, it can cause micro tears in your skin and much worse damage if it gets into your eye!
Metallic Eyeshadow
Similar to a shimmery eyeshadow in performance, but looks shiny and metallic instead of sparkly.
Which are better: eyeshadow palettes or single eyeshadows?
This isn’t a question that has an absolute answer. Both eyeshadow palettes and single eyeshadows have their benefits.
Pros of eyeshadow palettes:
Several (4-30+) colors that work well together in a thought-out color scheme
Often has a good mix of eyeshadow finishes (mattes, shimmers, a glitter, etc)
Convenient to travel with
So many that there is likely a palette to fit your perfect color scheme and eyeshadow finish preference
Can get nice quality palettes for as low as $10-15
Cons of eyeshadow palettes:
Can be pricey, especially for high-end brands
You may not like or use every color
So many that it can be overwhelming to choose between 10+ similar palettes
Pros of single eyeshadows:
You get to choose which shades you buy so no eyeshadow is wasted
Can often find the same color in multiple finishes, so you can choose if you want a purple matte or a purple shimmer
Great for makeup artists who want to have one custom palette that suits their client’s particular needs
Can replace individual colors when you run out
Usually costs $3-15 each
Cons of single eyeshadows:
Can be a LOT more expensive than palettes when you add up the price for each color you buy
Have to buy an empty palette and magnetic stickers to organize, protect, and travel with them. Otherwise they are not travel friendly and are prone to breaking.
Overall, I believe most casual makeup users have no need to buy single eyeshadows, unless there is a particular color or small custom palette you want. Most people can find an eyeshadow palette that they love instead of buying singles!
On the other hand, buying single shadows is great for a makeup artist! If you use a LOT of one shade, you can just buy another single shade when you run out instead of having to buy a whole new palette, and you can change your custom palette for each person you work with.
Look at your particular needs and then decide which route to go. If you can’t decide or are a beginner, I would suggest starting with an eyeshadow palette.
What brand of eyeshadow is the best?
Once again, this question doesn’t have an answer.
Some people have strong preferences about which eyeshadows are the best. However, people all have different skin types – what works for one person, may not work for you. Likewise, your favorite formula might not work with my skin type!
There are some very prestigious brands that make high quality and well-loved palettes, a couple of which are:
As well as some other high-end brands that many makeup enthusiasts love:
If you have a little more cash to burn and want to get a high-end palette, go for it! For the most part, these brands consistently produce good palettes, just make sure you read reviews, swatch if you can, and look at pictures before you buy.
If you want to get a high quality palette at a lower price, I suggest checking out some drugstore/other brands, such as:
All of these 5 brands can be found in ULTA Beauty, and many of them have sample palettes you can see and swatch. Most of the high-end brands can be found in ULTA, Sephora, or both, too.
Personally, I love Colourpop palettes because of their price, quality, and HUGE range of choices.
How much should I pay for eyeshadows?
Honestly, this one is ultimately up to you, the consumer!
You can get some good quality eyeshadow palettes at the drugstore (and the drugstore section of ULTA, like Morphe and Colourpop!) for $10-15, and even some larger ones for $15-25!
These types of palettes are great to get started. They work well and will likely last you a long time!
But if you want to spend $30-70 on an eyeshadow palette, you likely won’t be disappointed in ABH or another high-end brand – and if you are, ULTA and Sephora have amazing return policies.
You should pay as much as you’re comfortable with – knowing that there are GOOD palettes at any price point!
How can I make sure I am using quality eyeshadows?
Look for these things when using an eyeshadow:
Is the eyeshadow easy to blend? Blending out into your skin, as well as into other colors?
Is it pigmented (opaque, not sheer)? If not, can you build up the color with more layers?
Is it even?
Does the color last all day?
Does it irritate your skin/eyes?
Something else to note: Different colors and finishes of eyeshadow are much different to formulate. For example, purples and deep shades are often harder to formulate than neutral and lighter shades, so a matte purple shade may perform completely differently than another shade in the same palette!
If you have any doubts about the eyeshadow palette you are using, search for it on the internet and look at brand and product reviews.
I hope this guide to eyeshadow is helpful! At some point I will be writing a simple guide on how to get started with applying eyeshadow, and would love to know when you want that post up!
If you have any more questions about eyeshadow, please let me know in the comments below.
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Thanks to a thriving social calendar, my makeup collection is finally getting the much-needed love it missed for a while. My black liquid liner, my eyeshadow brushes, and my palettes have been dusted off and are getting more action now than ever. With a host of events and meetings comes new eye makeup looks, but my skills have diminished quite a bit since my makeup hiatus. Applying liquid eyeliner is somehow the bane of my existence, and don’t even get me started on smudgy mascara. Something had to be done. Whether you just haven’t worn makeup in months or are an eye makeup beginner, here are the ins and outs of eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, as suggested by two makeup artists.
Meet the expert
Jamie Dorman
CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST
Jamie Dorman is a celebrity and editorial makeup artist based in New York. Her clients include Bella Hadid, Anne Hathaway, and Dascha Polanco, and her work has been seen in Vogue, Allure, and others.
Meet the expert
Renee Loiz
CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST
Renee Loiz is an LA-based makeup artist with over 20 years of experience. Her work has been featured on red carpets and in advertisements for brands like Target, Disney, and Urban Outfitters.
Why an Eyeshadow Primer Is Essential
If you’ve ever watched a beauty video on YouTube, you’ve likely heard of eyeshadow primer, but what exactly does it do? “If you have oilier eyelids and your eyeshadow creases, a primer will nip that in the bud,” said celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz. “Primers take away the oil and smoothen out the surface, ensuring whatever you apply on top of it will stay in place.”
But do you have to use a specific eye primer? Celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman said concealers can work well if they’re silicone-based and if you dust with a bit of powder before applying your eyeshadow. If you have oily eyelids, Loiz recommended primer for keeping oil at bay instead of adding another creamy texture to the eye.
If you’re new to eyeshadow, Loiz said the first thing you need is a good set of eye makeup brushes. “These are key to blending in your shadows seamlessly.” Opt for a set of a few brushes to give you some variety, but you mostly need one shader (to put product on your lid and inner corner), one blender (to blend shadows in the crease), and one liner brush. If you want to get a little fancy, having a pencil brush to apply and smudge product into your upper and lower lash line will give you the smokey eye of your dreams.
What Eyeshadows to Try
There are over a thousand brands on the market making eyeshadow, and which one you use comes down to preference and budget. “For beginners, I would recommend smaller palettes like the Fenty Beauty Snap Shadow Palettes,” Loiz said. “The smaller size of the palettes are not intimidating at all and come in a variety of shades from neutrals to bright pops of color.” Loiz also recommended Pat McGrath, Makeup By Mario, Juvia’s Place, and Cozette, and Dorman recommended Rituel De Fille, LORAC, Buxom, and Bobbi Brown.
“Beginners should have a good collection of matte shadows that mimic the depth in shadows on their own skin,” Dorman said. “This will pair well with all colors and is easier to use when learning how to create dimension.” So don’t be afraid to build out a collection of shades that all look a little similar to your skin tone. You’ll use them time and time again to blend out deeper colors or add dimension to your eyes.
How to Start With Eyeshadow as a Beginner
Before you start applying shadow, you should know a little more about the different types.
My favorite way to apply a shimmer eyeshadow, especially one with a lot of texture and glitter running throughout, is with my fingertip. It’ll pick up the most product and evenly disperse it, and the oils from your fingertip will make it look extra shiny and metallic.
“Any beginner to doing eye makeup should start with sheer, shimmer textures because they are easy to blend, look good without adding shades, and are very forgiving if something goes unblended,” Dorman said. She recommended starting with a cream formula to make the application easiest.
Any beginner to doing eye makeup should start with sheer, shimmer textures because they are easy to blend, look good without adding shades, and are very forgiving.
How to Enhance Your Eye Shape With Shadow
Eye makeup involves a lot of shaping, whether it’s making your eyes look more almond-shaped with the fox eye trend or Twiggy-esque ‘60s smudgey mascara, making them look bigger. The shape you should go for often depends on the look you’re trying to achieve, but if you’re focused on the basics, Dorman said you should get to know your eye shape first to figure out what will work best for you. “Some eyes need a socket created, some eyes look great being a bit down-turned, other eyes need a lift—whatever your eye looks best in, keep that shape in mind when selecting and applying looks for your own face.”
Here are some easy tricks to highlight your natural eye shape:
How to Start With Bright/Editorial Makeup
If you’ve mastered the art of the neutral eye and are ready to take the plunge into the world of editorial beauty (welcome!), Dorman recommended first understanding textures. “If you use a product that is creamy and doesn’t dry down, your eye makeup will look great for a photo when you first apply it, but it won’t wear well for a day,” Dorman said. So if you’re new to the editorial, glossy style, opt for something simple to start, especially if you’re planning to wear it all night. “Try putting a glossy glitter over a powder shadow and see how it wears. A look like this is easy to touch up and doesn’t involve precise lines.” You’ll get a feel for how different eyeshadow textures work with your skin type and help you make better choices for looks in the future.
If you look at bright, fun eye makeup looks on Pinterest and wonder how they achieved that, they started small. “When using bright colors or going for more of an editorial look, start out light and work your way up to the intensity you’re going for,” Loiz said. Use a light hand to build up the color rather than stamping down a ton of pigment that would be hard to blend out.
Use a light hand to build up the color rather than stamping down a ton of pigment that would be hard to blend out.
The Key to the Perfect Winged Liner
The first step to a good eyeliner look is finding a product that is easy for you to use. “I like liner pens that have a good consistent flow of product, like Westmore Beauty Wing Effects Liquid Eyeliner,” Dorman said. “Use the length of the pen itself by holding it from the end of your eye to the end of your eyebrow. That will be a good angle to use for your wing. Start small and build up slowly to a bigger wing. Keep your eyes open straight ahead when you look into the mirror to create the wing so it will look like the shape you want while your eyes are open.”
Westmore Beauty
Liquid EyelinerA felt-tip liner like this is key to getting a straight line every time.
Shop nowMaybelline
Gel EyelinerA gel pot and a brush can be easier for creating a wing because the brush gives you a lot of control.
Shop nowKVD Beauty
Tattoo EyelinerThere’s a reason this has a cult following: It’s ultra black and has a super fine brush tip for creating precise lines.
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How to Keep Mascara From Smudging
We all know the dreaded fear of looking at yourself in the mirror a few hours after putting your makeup on and seeing your mascara all smudged. Loiz suggested opting for waterproof mascara when you can because it won’t get disrupted by the oils and sweat on your skin. Dorman also recommended using a translucent powder underneath the eyes to reduce any of that oil as well. For all-day wear, blot the area throughout the day.