Every good makeup kit includes staples. You need foundations, lipsticks, brushes, eyeliner, and of course, eyeshadow. Choosing the right eyeshadow for your kit and for your face is an important way to make sure that you are able to highlight your good qualities, and get the best possible products too.
Picking eyeshadow is not as easy as choosing a color you like. There is a lot more that goes into choosing the right eyeshadow so you need to check out this quick guide on what you need to know for eyeshadows.
Choosing Eyeshadow for Specific Areas
Many people think that eyeshadow is a one-size-fits-all type of product, but they actually go on different areas of the upper eye. Darker eyeshadows go on the topmost part of the eyelid, a highlighter should go in the crook close to the nose, and a neutral shade should cover the main part of the eyelid. When you know how the different areas work, you can blend eyeshadow colors much better.
Know the Different Types of Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow also comes in many different types. There are some main types here that can help you figure out what you need:
- Mineral Eyeshadow – A surprisingly great type of makeup product is a mineral one. The use of natural mineral eyeshadow can help reduce irritation due to there being no fragrances, and the natural tint of the minerals can help produce a good glow for your eyes.
- Cream Eyeshadow – One of the more popular and well-used types of eyeshadow is a cream-based product. The colors come in softer tones as well as bold looks like metallic tones. This type of eyeshadow is long-lasting which is great for extended wear for events.
- Pressed Powder – Pressed powder is an all-encompassing type of eyeshadow base (mineral eyeshadows being a type of powder), and it is likely one that you will find most commonly. These are what most of your palettes will come in and are applied with a brush. They feature the widest range of colors and have a good texture to them.
- Stick Eyeshadow – Stick eyeshadow is not applied with a brush, applicator, or cream. It comes in a pencil-like stick that you apply the eyeshadow then use your fingers to get it smoothed out on your eyes. This type of eyeshadow saves on space and is handy for travel or last-minute makeup reapplication.
- Pigmented Eyeshadow – As used by the pros, pigmented eyeshadow is very vibrant so it is useful for very specific uses. It lasts long and is often of high-quality.
- Liquid Eyeshadow – Liquid eyeshadow may be more difficult for some beginners to use, but like a stick eyeshadow, it comes in a tube that applies the eyeshadow, and then you use your fingers to apply the rest.
Picking a Palette
Choosing your palette is quite easy but it depends on your needs, of course. Beginners should stick to a palette without too many shades, tones, or colors, and find one that is basic with some easy to use eyeshadows. This helps you practice, and many contain good guides to help with blending and application.
More experienced makeup users should look for a palette that also focuses on a smaller, select collection of colors and shades. The fewer colors mean it is less crowded and a more focused palette. The colors depend on your skin tone so you need to figure this out as well.
How to Pair it With Skin Tone
There are a lot of skin tones out there, but the three basic ones are fair, medium, and dark. These three tones will determine the color of your palette and eyeshadows. Light skin tones can work well with copper, bronze, brown, and Earth-y colors for an eyeshadow. Medium skin tones can work well with warmer shades, like burgundy, and richer, more colorful Earthy tones and even neutral colors like grey can work too. Darker skin tones should go with burgundy as well, but good darker metallics are excellent as well, as are rich vibrant colors like a dark purple.
Understanding Eyeshadow Texture
Glitter, matte, frost, and satin are four of the main textures when it comes to eyeshadows. These textures work differently, obviously, so it depends on the color and your skin tone. Glitter can work well in juxtaposition to darker skin tones because it makes it more vibrant, and a nice matte texture works for softer, lighter skin. Experiment with color and texture to see how it works on your skin.
Picking the right eyeshadow doesn’t have to be an arduous task, and now that you know what kinds of qualities to look for in an eyeshadow, you can find the right ones much easier.
