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Makeup Blog

How to Apply Eyeshadow

  • 2 min read

BY CHELSEA SIMMONS

When we talk about how to apply eye makeup, we usually mean which colors to use and where to apply them on the eye. But how we apply our eye makeup can take you from struggling with your makeup to creating artful and beautiful eyes. Here are a couple of tips from some of our artists and consultants that have really helped me.

how to apply eyeshadow

When applying eye shadow to the lid, don't swish. Pat or press the color on with a flat brush like our Deluxe Shader Brush. The color sticks better and stays where you want it, rather than all over your face. Apply darker eyeshadow in circular motions so that the color blends more easily and you don't have any lines or harsh areas. This works beautifully with soft and natural eye makeup looks, and also with dramatic looks, vivid shades, and smoky eyes. By blending as you apply, you don't have that hard edge that is so difficult to blend away.

One of the fundamentals of applying makeup is putting that contour shade in the crease. To find your crease, close your eye and press on it gently. The crease is the indent that hugs the top half of your eyeball. Apply your contour shade in the crease with your eye open. If you close your eye to apply your contour shadow, it will disappear into the crease when you open your eye. Use a "windshield wiper" motion lifting your brush as little as possible. Follow the natural contour of the eye and blend up and out. You may wish to bring the color onto the outer corner of the eyelid a bit too, creating a sideways "V." Some wonderful makeup brushes to try include the Eye Shader Brush and Crease Brush for a softer look; or the Eye Contour Brush for more drama. Sometimes I use a lighter shade in the crease, sometimes darker, sometimes shimmer, sometimes matte. Don't be afraid to experiment!

For more tips on applying contour shadow, I also love this video using our Daytime PurePressed Eyeshadow Kit.

Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea Simmons

Chelsea began her beauty journey in 2010 as a fashion and beauty freelancer at Ladies’ Home Journal magazine. There she had the chance to test and review hundreds of products while quickly falling for the benefits the clean makeup she tried. After leaving the magazine industry, she worked as a publicist for international fragrance and beauty brands until 2016 when she landed at jane iredale. Here, she has discovered liquid eyeliner doesn’t have to burn her eyes, foundation doesn’t have to feel heavy, and that the jane iredale Global Educators truly have the best beauty hacks. Since then, she’s shared her 10+ years of experience with you on The Good Glow Blog.