EYESHADOW: HOW TO APPLY

EXPERT TIPS & TUTORIALS

Eyeshadow is SO MUCH FUN. It's colorful, textural, tactile, and transformative. Plus, it’s timeless; a smokey eye or clean nude lid that's popular now will likely be popular 50 years in the future! Read on and let Maybelline New York show how to do eyeshadow with our friendly eye shadow guide!

Powder eyeshadow is still the most popular format of eyeshadow. It’s silky, stays put, and comes in—no joke—every color, shade, finish, and depth you could imagine. It’s the professional makeup artist’s favorite for its versatility and range.

So, there’s no better place to start than with the best matte eyeshadow palette. These pocket-size palettes stack big color, come in 2 matte shades and one shimmer shade, and are inspired by the city streets in some of NYC’s most vibrant neighborhoods!

Apply with fingertips or choose your favorite makeup brush. If using a brush, be sure not to load it up when applying—whisk the brush across the shadow 2-3 times, then tap off any excess powder in a clean tissue before brushing onto lids from the inner to the outer corner of the eyes. Voila! Eyeshadow applied.

Cream shadows, are a newer and more finger-friendly form of eye color. They slick on easily and require buffing into lids with a clean finger. You can layer them to build intensity or stick with one light wash for a natural kiss of color.

Another option to explore is cream-to-powder formats. Simply swipe the cushion tip across the lid to deposit a rich layer of smooth, even color across eyes.

Everyone looks good in natural eyeshadow colors like beiges, creams, and browns—which is why we love our Shadow Blocks shade: North 3rd & Bedford Ave. A good basic trio of eye shadow colors to have is 1) a neutral, nude tone that matches your skin, 2) a paler neutral shade to use along the brow bone and as a highlighter, and 3) a dark neutral shade to use as a liner or to create darker, sultrier looks. These three simple light-medium-dark shades are the cornerstone of almost any look.

But what if you love color? Then reach for our other Shadow Block palettes like Broadway & Prince Street, West 4th and Perry Street, 82nd and Park Ave, and 26th and Madison Ave. These bold, blendable eyeshadows offer all-day pigmented color and wear! And with their travel-friendly packaging, they are the perfect accessory to any makeup bag for on-the-go application!

Try on all of our eyeshadow shades today with our Virtual Try-On tool.

Every eyeshadow application starts on the eyelid. Always apply to closed lids to ensure nothing gets into eyes.

Whether you’re working with creams or powders, the first shade you apply should be a neutral shade that matches your skin tone. Always prime your full eyelid with a layer of neutral shadow to even out skin tone and give shadows a base to rest. Eyelids can be a bit moist, and a base is needed to keep color smooth and even. This is true even if you’re attempting a non-neutral look.

Absolutely you can use just one color! Go with a single swipe of matte, or choose a shimmer shade for some extra fun!