No, you’re not terrible atmakeupif you don’t know how to use eye shadow.
It’s just that eye shadow looks can be extremely difficult to master.
There are tens of thousands of tutorials onlineif not morethat can quickly become overwhelming.
Junior Asiama / 500px / Getty Images
The 30-piece palettes in thebeauty aisledon’t help to simplify things, either.
Mistake: Youre skipping primer.
Both of our experts agree that using eye shadow primer is an essential first step.
Mistake: Youre applying concealer to your lids before shadow.
Sometimesconcealeris too cakey, Maalouf says.
Then it changes the color of the eye shadow and it doesnt look too good.
Mistake: Youre applying eye makeup before foundation.
Both of our experts agree that it’s best toapply foundationbefore any eye makeup.
Instead of using 19 eye shadows, make your skin look perfect and use one eye shadow.
Mistake: Youre buying nude shades that match your skin tone.
But in reality, that’s not your best bet for an all-purpose makeup arsenal.
In fact, youre better off reaching for something metallic to really make your eyes stand out.
Mistake: Youre using only a makeup brush to apply eye shadow.
For best results, apply the shadow to the back of your hand first.
For a smoky eye effect, apply liner to your lash line and waterline.
Then smudge with your index finger.
Mistake: You think you need four different shades of eye shadow for a proper look.
Maalouf believes wholeheartedly in a minimal approach to eye shadow.
Then do a haze around your whole eye.
Bye, eye shadow palette.
Mistake: Youre putting too much product on your brush.
This is especially common with more glittery shadows.
Good news, though: There’s a tried-and-true hack to avoid it.
If youre going for a super-pigmented look, you could still do so without fallout.
Just start with a little powder and build slowly in layers.
Mistake: Youre using black eye shadow to create a smoky eye.
Put down the black eye shadow and slowly walk away!
Yes, applying a super-black shadow is one way to do it.
But you will get a more natural effect just usingblack eyelinerand another smoky shadow color.
Mistake: Youre skipping shadow underneath your eyes.
You do not want to look like a small woodland critter.
Ebbin recommends using a small taperedbrow brushto get in that delicate area.
Mistake: Youre limiting your eye makeup to eye shadow products only.
Use wetblushand create a sunset eye shadow effect, Ebbin says.
You learn something new every day!
Experimenting with other types of makeup on your lids is nothing short of a work of art.
And if it doesn’t go your way?
The worst thing that happens is youwash your faceand start again.
