Choosing the perfect eye shadow has never been a walk in the park. Not only are there so many to choose from, but there’s also a whole load of eyeshadow lingo to confuse us even further. Pigment? Cut Crease? Blending?
Unless you are a make-up artist, it can seem like a daunting process. However, we have some easy to follow steps that can revolutionise your make-up routine. Putting all types of eyeshadow aside, there is one thing you can master – the shade. The importance of matching eye colour and eye shadow should never be underestimated.
Eyeshadows should emphasise our eyes, and wearing the right shade can make our eyes pop. Choosing the right colour of eyeshadow can really enhance your whole make-up routine. We can even show you what eyeshadow looks good with red lipstick! But before we dive into helping you find the perfect shade of eyeshadow for your eye colour, here are our five top tips for nailing the basics.
1. Brows
Do they make a difference? Absolutely! You wouldn’t believe how much brows can flatter your face when using the right shape and products. Personally, I always complete my brows before anything else using the Brow Sculpting Pencil for a smudge-proof finish that lasts all day. After I’ve shaped my brows to perfection, I move on to my base.
2. Primer
Think of it as hairspray – it’s going to keep everything in place. Primer not only creates a smooth base for you to work on top of but stops your eyeshadow from creasing throughout the day. Once you’ve primed your eyelids, apply a lightweight concealer over your lids and blend up to the underneath of your brow arch for extra definition.
3. Brushes
You could purchase the best eyeshadow the make-up industry has to offer, but if you’re not using the right brushes, you’re still going to be off to a slow start. Do your research on which brushes are required to create your desired look; it’s not as simple as one brush for everything!
4. Inner corners
Always use a lighter colour in the inner corner of your eye, known as the V-shape. This will make the eyes appear brighter and will eliminate any dark circles you may have. You can always use a highlighter rather than an eyeshadow if you prefer.
5. Lashes
Lashes are the most important part of completing an eye look. Curl your lashes and use a maximising mascara for extreme length and volume, or try falsies if you’re going big and want to rock the cat-eye look! Believe me – lashes are the cherry on top of the cake!
Let’s get shadey…
Blue eyes
It can be tricky to know what eyeshadow colours bring out blue eyes the best, but a beautiful orange tone is the best place to start. The contrasting colours will create a bold colour block to bring out those baby blues.
Don’t forget to experiment with grey tones. Choose this type of eyeshadow for blue-grey eyes. The best grey eyeshadow for blue eyes would be a mixture of light and dark greys.
Also, a bold red eyeshadow for blue eyes can also complement a red lip, especially if you planned to wear a red outfit. Your ideal palette should include all these colours.
Green & Hazel eyes
Even though green and hazel are slightly different colours, you’ll find that the shades used to bring out the green tones are very similar.
Get to know your red undertone eyeshadows – they’ll be your secret weapon to unleash that natural eye colour.
To really compliment them, shades of the plum family are your best bet. Get your hands on eye make-up that includes a range of red undertones, such as the following shades: reddy browns, cranberry colours, purples and rusty selections.
Never underestimate the power of purple, either. A purple eyeshadow can really make those green and hazel eyes sparkle!
Brown eyes
You can rock a number of shades if you’re lucky enough to have brown eyes. I love ‘mermaid’ colours with brown eyes – so that’s anything with shades of blue or green.
Be adventurous and try some metallic eyeliners in these shades, such as the Emerald Glimmerstick Eyeliner. This is perfect if you prefer a hint of colour rather than a full-on colour look.
Earthy tones are also the perfect eyeshadow for brown eyes, and you can’t beat a smoky eye. Team your brown colours with a metallic shade such as rose gold or bronze to really wow the crowd.
Grey eyes
Grey is one of the most mysterious eye colours of them all. The key to making grey eyes really stand out is to use a shade that is similar to the eye colour itself, so silvery/blue/grey tones would be the best eyeshadow for grey eyes. The All Nudes Eyeshadow Palette is the perfect make-up for grey eyes. It also complements grey-blue eyes.
Every eye colour is beautiful in its unique way, and it’s up to you to decide which eyeshadow you think complements it the best. Experimenting is part of the fun, so be as creative as you can! Get to know what works for you, and make those heads turn.