Eyeshadow Tips For Beginners

Eyeshadow Tips For Beginners: A Step-By-Step Guide To Selecting Eyeshadow

Using eyeshadow can be one of the most powerful ways to make your eyes pop ladies!!  I highly recommend it if you want to create some added dimension to your face and enhance your overall makeup look. 

In fact, adding in certain colors can instantly brighten up your eyes when needed, bring out the natural tones of the iris, and add in some extra drama, intensity, & flair! 

I touched on eyeshadow briefly in Beginner Makeup for the Everyday Woman, but I’d like to dive in a bit further with more detailed eyeshadow tips for beginners. 

More specifically, to discuss additional makeup brush options and a wider range of color selections (more than just neutral tones).  So, if you are ready to take the next steps and move things up a notch in perfecting your eyeshadow game, let’s proceed shall we ladies!

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How Do I Choose The Right Eyeshadow?

Eyeshadow can come in a variety of formulas which can be confusing to many, especially beginners, thus, making these next makeup tips quite helpful. 

Have you ever wondered, “what’s the difference?? Is one type better than another?? Which one should I be using a powder, stick, or cream?”

Additionally, have you ever had issues with your eyeshadows creasing, smearing, or fading? If so, these next tidbits will be of particular importance. 

First and foremost, if you want to keep it simple, I would suggest sticking with pressed powders.  However, knowing more about the formula options available to you is still quite beneficial.

So, let’s break them down by their qualities and give you a little more insight into their differences. That way you can compare and best decide which is the right formula for you.

• Pressed Powders- (Best For Newbies) These are the most common eyeshadows you will see in stores.  They are the easiest to work with and blend well.  They come in a wide variety of colors from matte to shimmers!  You will find them in palettes or packaged individually.

• Loose Powders- (Best If You Want Super Pigmented Eyeshadow) Usually you can find these eyeshadows in a little jar.  They can be harder to work with for novices, are a bit messy, and come highly pigmented.  Always tap off excess powder from your brush before applying to the eyelid to reduce eyeshadow fallout.

• Creams- (Best For One Color Or Combined With Powder To Make Powder Last Longer) Unfortunately these tend to crease, smear, and fade the easiest.  They, however, can be a great option if you are just going with one simple shade on your eyes or if used as a base layer for your powder eyeshadow.  When used as a base layer they can give your powder eyeshadow more staying power! Just apply it first, then apply the powder eyeshadow over it.

• Stick- (Best For On-The-Go, Low Maintenance Makeup Gals) These don’t require a brush which can be a plus for ease and if you are in a hurry.  However, sticks do tend to fade, smear or crease, just not as fast as creams do.  Therefore, they have a bit more staying power than creams.  No fancy blending is needed with sticks!  Generally, you can just use your fingers and go!

Beginner Tips: How Do You Know What Colors To Use For Eyeshadow?

So now, that you know what formula you want to use, I’m sure you are wondering what eyeshadow colors would look good on you.  Right??

Get Our FREE Cheat Sheet Of The Most Flattering Eyeshadow Colors For Your Specific Eye Color!!  Get Instant Access Below!!

Your eyeshadow color can easily be used to enhance and bring out the natural color of your eyes creating harmony.  However, using contrasting colors is the key to making your eyes stand out, pop, and become the dramatic focal point for your face. 

How do we determine contrasting colors? 

Simple, we use the color wheel!  Do you remember the color wheel from grade school art class?  If not, don’t worry Beauties, here’s a refresher!

First, I want you to look at the color of your eyes in a mirror.  Look at your iris and notice any tiny flecks of color within it.  Using an eyeshadow that happens to be the same color as any of those tiny flecks you noticed, is perfect for creating some natural harmony. 

Now, look at the color wheel photo above.  You will see that directly opposite each color on the color wheel is another color.  We will be using these opposites on the color wheel to determine eyeshadow choices for you that can create more intensity and drama.

Continue reading below to discover the best eyeshadow colors to use for your particular eyes. Otherwise, if you are ready to learn How To Apply Like A PRO, check out this Eyeshadow Application Guide!!

Quick PRO Tip: Most of these eyeshadow palettes come with FREE same-day, one-day, or 2-day shipping with an Amazon Prime membership. Don’t have Amazon Prime yet? You can always grab a FREE 30-day trial here!

What eyeshadow looks good with blue eyes?

• If you want colors that flatter your eyes and make them appear brighter try light grays and silvers.
• To make your blue eyes (steel blue eyes) look grayer, a gray eyeshadow will do the trick!
• If your eyes or a blue-green color, try soft green or blue-green shadows for a harmonizing effect.
• For more intensity, look at the color wheel for determining contrasting colors.  The color that falls directly opposite of blue is orange.  So, you want to look for eyeshadows that have an orange undertone like apricots, peach, corals, and browns.  You could also use bronzes, coppers, and gold shadows. 
• Pro Tip: Warm colors are perfect for contrasting with cool blue, so technically since red & yellow make orange, you can include eyeshadows with yellow or red undertones too!
• A beautiful palette that would be perfect for creating more contrast and drama is this one from Huda Beauty.

Related: Eyeshadow Looks For Blue Eyes: 31 Stunning Ideas You Need To Try!

What eyeshadow goes with brown eyes?

If you have brown eyes ladies, you are pretty lucky when it comes to picking eyeshadow colors.  Brown is considered a neutral color.  Therefore, most any color looks great with it! But to give you some helpful ideas, here are some of the most flattering color suggestions…

• If you want to create harmony by enhancing and bringing out the natural color of your eyes, try coppers, browns, bronzes, and golds.  Copper-like (red) & goldish (yellow) colors are often found as subtle tiny flecks in the lightest part of the iris of brown eyes.  Therefore, using eyeshadows in these shades can bring out those tiny, natural flecks and make your eyes appear brighter.
• Also, the color brown is predominantly made up of colors red, orange, and yellow.  So, we will use those colors when determining opposite shades on the color wheel.  Opposite red, orange, and yellow you will find green, blue, and purple, so those should be the color ranges you try for more drama.  *Always keep your skin tone in mind when picking your shades. 

Want to know which eyeshadows will make your brown eyes look absolutely AMAZING?? For More Info: The BEST eyeshadow palettes for brown eyes & best single shades…

What eyeshadow looks good with green eyes?

• To create harmony with green eyes look for eyeshadows that are brown, green, copper, gold, and bronze.
• You can lighten and brighten up your eyes by using a light, pale green color.
• For contrast, look at the color wheel.  You will notice that red is the opposite of green.  Therefore for a more dramatic eye makeup look, you want something with red undertones, and you should try colors like burgundy, maroon, raspberry, red-browns, rust, wine, plum, purples, violet, lavender, or pinks. 
• A palette like this one here would look create some gorgeous eye makeup looks for green eyes.  The contrast would be stunning!  And the Twilight palette from UCANBE would really add some fiery drama!  You’ll love the colors in this palette and how they flatter your eyes! They are absolutely beautiful!

Related: 21+ Gorgeous Makeup Looks For Green Eyes That Slay All Day!!

What eyeshadow works with hazel eyes?

• If you look in the mirror, you may notice that your hazel eyes have natural flecks of gold, green, and brown.  So, to make your hazel eyes look even more green, try using green eyeshadows.  You can bring out the brown flecks in your eyes by using browns, coppers, and bronzes.  To bring out the golden flecks in your eyes try a metallic gold. 
• To make your eyes appear lighter and brighter try light greens or golds.
• You can see that on the color wheel, red falls opposite green and purple falls the opposite yellow (yellow represents the gold flecks in your eyes).  So for more drama and intensity, you could try colors like violet, burgundy, purples, plum, raspberry, red-browns, wine, maroon, rust, lavender, etc.

For Your Best Eyeshadow Options Check Out –>> Eyeshadows For Hazel Eyes: Most Flattering Makeup Finds!

What Order Do You Apply Your Eye Makeup?

After prepping your eyes for eye makeup, now comes the fun part!!  Let’s add in some color!!  Follow the following order of steps for the best results.

1. First, you want to apply your powder eyeshadow(s).
2. Next, you should use an eyeliner.
3. Curl your lashes!
4. Last, apply some lovely mascara, and you are good to go ladies! 

Pro Tip: If you also apply mascara to your lower lashes, try using waterproof mascara to help you avoid smudges or smearing throughout the day.

What Brushes Are Needed For Eyeshadow And Eye Makeup?

If you are a complete novice, you can probably get away with two eyeshadow brushes (one for application and one for blending) and an eyeliner pencil.  However, I encourage you to get these basic brushes to take things up a notch and spread your beginner eye makeup wings, Beauties! I’ve marked the most essential ones with two asterisks.

Large Eyeshadow Brush- This brush should be on the larger & wider side with dense bristles. It can be used best for applying eyeshadow over the largest area of the eyelids quickly and sweeping a base color over the lid.

**Basic Eyeshadow Brush- This brush will be smaller than the large previous brush. It’s the typical brush that comes to mind when you think or hear people say “eyeshadow brush”. It’s a flat, rounded brush with soft bristles. 

**Basic Small Eyeshadow Brush- Small brush (great for detail) that can be used for applying dark eyeshadow to very small areas. For example, applying a darker shade to the very base of the lid, and contouring the crease.

**Eyeshadow Blending Brush- This brush should be a soft, long-haired brush.  You can find a variety of these, some will have a tapered, pointier head, others a more rounded head. As you expand your makeup arsenal, I’d suggest getting one of each shape.

You will generally use your eyeshadow blending brushes to blend out any harsh lines and edges made from applying your colors. But blending brushes can also be used to create a smooth transition between the multiple shades you use on the eyes.

**Smudger Brush- As you start experimenting with more looks, you’ll want to invest in a smudger brush. It works great for softening eyeliner (pencil, cream, or powder). You can use it to blend out the liner. This brush should have short bristles and a dense rounded head. Oh, and if you struggle with hard-to-reach places for the eye area like the inner corners, this type of brush can be a life-saver!!

**Angled Brush- This brush is used for lining your lash-line with eyeliner.  It should be stiff, firm, and angled.  This works great if you want to use one of your dark eyeshadows as your eyeliner.  Just dip the brush in a little water, then into the dark eyeshadow shade and apply. 

Flat Liner Brush- This brush is flat, firm, and the bristles are all in line going straight across. It’s another option for applying eyeliner, especially if applying your eyeliner in small sections and then connecting those sections.

The Wrap Up: Eyeshadow Tips For Beginners

As we discussed, eyeshadow is the perfect way to play up your eyes and bring them out!  All it takes to enhance them is selecting shadows in specific colors that use your eye color and the color wheel as a gauge. 

Whether you want to add some drama and intensity with contrasting colors or create harmony building on their natural color, you can truly create a look that will turn those heads, ladies! 

And as you start to understand the various formulas that eyeshadow comes in, you can also begin to make better decisions as to which is the best choice for you! 

Lastly, I encourage you to also add in some of the suggested eyeshadow brushes from this article, if you are eager to step things up a bit.  Having more brush options will come in handy when you want to try out different techniques.  In fact, if you haven’t done so already, check out these step-by-step eyeshadow techniques you can try at home yourself. 

I hope you Beauties enjoyed these eyeshadow tips for beginners!  What are your favorite eyeshadow colors to use?  Leave a comment and let us know below. 🙂

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