Learning how to apply eyeshadow for beginners is easy babe! There are plenty of guides out there that use many different products and complicated techniques, but we keep it simple to help you get flawless results every time. From prepping the eye ready for shadows all the way through to adding your shimmery pigment, we’ve got you covered every step of the way.
What is Eyeshadow?
Eyeshadow is that extra touch of glam that brings your whole eye look to life. It's a cosmetic product applied to your eyelids, the under-eyes and sometimes the orbital bone to add colour, depth, and dimension. You can use it to make your eyes pop, create drama, or just add a soft wash of colour for that natural, glowy vibe. Whether it's a bold, high-pigment shade or a subtle shimmer, eyeshadow is the key to unlocking endless creativity and expression.
What Colour Eyeshadow Should I Choose?
Listen babe, choosing an eyeshadow colour is your chance to get creative, but there are a few little secrets that'll make your eyes pop and your beat look flawless. Forget the old rules—we're here to give you the cheat codes to the perfect colour story.
The Main Rule: Colour Theory is Your Bestie
Think back to art class, babe. You know that colour wheel? It's not just for painting walls. The easiest way to choose an eyeshadow colour is to find your eye colour on the wheel and pick the shades directly across from it. Those are the complementary colours, and they'll make your natural eye colour stand out in the most magical way.
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Blue Eyes: You want to play with warm, fiery shades that sit on the orange side of the colour wheel. Think coppers, golds, bronzes, and warm browns. These colours will create a gorgeous contrast that makes your blue eyes sparkle.
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Green Eyes: You're a rare queen, and your eyes will look incredible with shades that have a reddish undertone. We’re talking plums, purples, rosy pinks, and warm berry shades. These will bring out the gorgeous green in your eyes and make them look even more captivating.
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Brown Eyes: Lucky you! Brown is a neutral colour, so it works with almost everything. You can rock any shade on the colour wheel. If you want to make your eyes look extra vibrant, play with blues, teals, and purples. If you want a softer, more everyday look, go for warm browns, golds, and emeralds.
Beyond the Rules: It's All About Vibe
The most important rule in makeup is that there are no rules. Sometimes, it's not about what matches your eye colour, but what matches your mood.
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Go with your outfit: If you're wearing a killer outfit, pick an eyeshadow colour that complements it. It doesn't have to be a perfect match—a pop of colour or a similar tone can bring your whole look together.
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Consider your skin tone: If you have a warm skin tone, warm-toned eyeshadows (like oranges and golds) will look incredible. If you have a cooler skin tone, cooler shades (like purples, blues, and silvers) will be your best friend.
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Think about the occasion: A soft, neutral matte is perfect for a daytime look, but a vibrant shimmer or a bold glitter is exactly what you need for a night out.
At the end of the day, makeup is a form of self-expression. The best eyeshadow colour is the one that makes you feel like the confident, unstoppable queen you are. So go on, babe, experiment with colours and create your own kind of magic!
How To Apply Eyeshadow, Step-by-Step
Now you know the basics of eyeshadow and have found your perfect colour and the look you want to try, we can jump straight in and get glam ready. Remember, it might not be perfect first time, but practice makes perfect babe. You might find that you fancy a different colour and switch it up. We’ll guide you through each stage of creating a bold eye makeup look, using professional techniques and even recommending which tool to use. For this tutorial we’ll be using powder eyeshadow palettes.
Step 1: Create The Perfect Base
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The first and most important step when it comes to creating an eyeshadow look is to create the perfect base. When you spend time on the base, it will help your shadows to perform so much better, and they will stay in place all day long. Using an amazing base will completely transform your makeup look, trust us babe!
- To start, take one of our Rumour bases one or two shades lighter than your skin tone.
- Use a #7071 flat brush to pat the base across the eyelid, covering the entire lid and blending the edges out using a fluffy brush to diffuse the product.
- For a full coverage look, keep building the layers until the full lid is covered! When you are working towards a dramatic look, it’s best to go in with a full coverage base.
- For a more simple look, apply the entire base with a fluffy brush for a more sheer finish. Prepare to say goodbye to unwanted texture, pigmentation or unwanted brow hairs for a blank canvas!
Step 2: Apply Your Eyeshadows
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Next up, it’s time to go in with the eyeshadows. The most important thing to remember is that the first shade is the most important, so take your time.
1. Apply Your First (Darkest) Shade
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Choose your darkest shadow. For example, if you were using the Wedding Wish XL palette, this shade would be "The Big Day."
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Use your smallest brush to ensure super accurate product placement.
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Carefully apply this shade directly into your crease to create structure.
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Use the P. Louise "dump and blend" method: build up the pigmentation by "dumping" the shadow off the brush into its correct position with very soft pressure. This allows the rest of the blends to follow its lead.
2. Blend with a Lighter Shade
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Choose the next lighter shadow e.g. "Centre Piece" or "Blessings" from the Wedding Wish XL palette and a fluffy brush.
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Follow the same shape you created with the darker shadow.
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Use larger circular motions and a soft pressure to drag the blend further outwards towards the outer eye and upwards towards the brow bone.
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Use the P. Louise "50/50 technique," where 50% of the brush is on the shadows you have already placed and 50% is on the blank base. This allows the shades to merge seamlessly.
3. Repeat with Your Lightest Shade
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Repeat the exact same process with an even larger fluffy brush and your lightest shade e.g. "Bride Triber" or "Charming".
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Take the product right up to the brow bone. This will give a lighter, more blended finish and ensure no colour layers are lost. The goal is for the shadows to be poppin’ and blended together like butter!
Pro-Tip: If you are struggling to choose shades that transition nicely, practice on the back of your hand first to get the blend perfect before moving on to your eyes.
Step 3: Create The Spotlight Eye
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Finally babe, it’s time to finish the look by creating a spotlight eye. When you use the technique above, the middle section should be relatively clean, so you can create a gorgeous statement in the centre of the eye.
- Take one of our coloured bases in the middle of the eye to create a halo effect.
- Use a small flat brush to create a thin line just above the crease of the eye in the middle third.
- Then bring the base down towards the centre of the lash line, creating an upside down triangle shape.
- Blend out either side of the shape gently using the same brush to diffuse the base and create the perfect sticky base for your shimmer.
Want to add some some shimmer for that ultra glam look?
- On top of this base, take your shimmery shadow with a compact flat brush. This will give you a surreal shine!
- Finally, to finish off the look, take a combination of the darker and medium shades used on the eyes on the bottom lash line with a #122 short smudger brush. This will create balance with the shadows on the eyelid and create a smoky effect that is super simple to achieve.
Step 4: The Finishing Touch
Now your eyeshadow look is complete, next, all you need to do is add the finishing touches.
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Define Your Eyes: Grab your eyeliner and mascara to make those eyes pop. Apply eyeliner along your lash line for definition, then wiggle your mascara wand from the base to the tip of your lashes to add volume and length.
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Finish the Face: After the eyes are done, give your face some love with a touch of blush on the apples of your cheeks for a healthy glow. Follow up with highlighter on your cheekbones and Cupid's bow for that perfect shine.
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Set with Powder: To keep everything looking flawless, lightly dab a setting powder on your T-zone and under your eyes. This will help control oil and prevent creasing, leaving your makeup smooth and perfect.
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Seal with Spray: For the final, all-day hold, grab your setting spray. Hold the bottle about an arm's length away from your face and spritz in an "X" and "T" motion. Let the mist dry to lock in your makeup and get that flawless, long-lasting finish.
Eyeshadow Application Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use an eyeshadow primer?
A primer is a total non-negotiable. It's like your makeup's personal bodyguard, keeping your eyeshadow flawless, crease-free, and poppin' from dusk 'til dawn. Our rumour eye base is the perfect primer for setting the foundations of your eyeshadow look.
What's the best order to apply my makeup?
Our little secret? Eyes first, always! That way, if you get any glitter fallout or crazy blending, you can clean up without messing up your base. You'll thank us later.
What's the difference between powder, cream, and liquid eyeshadow?
Powders are your besties for blending, creams are for a quick swipe-and-go look, and liquids? They're for when you want that bold, high-impact drama that just won't quit.
How do I choose the right eyeshadow brush?
It's all about the tools, babe. You need a fluffy brush for blending like a pro, a flat one for packing on that pigment, and a small pencil brush for those intricate details.
Where do I apply a light vs. a dark eyeshadow?
Remember this: light shades bring an area forward (think inner corner and brow bone), while dark shades create depth and drama (hello, crease and outer corner!).
How do I make my eyeshadow colours look more vibrant?
Spritz your flat brush with some setting spray before you dip it in your shimmer shadow—it's like magic! You can also start with a P. Louise base to make those colours pop even more.
How do I prevent my eyeshadow from creasing?
Primer, babe, primer! It's the key to a smooth, budge-proof base. And don’t forget to lock the look in place with our hydrating Ready, Set, Slay Setting Spray.
What can I do if I get eyeshadow fallout on my cheeks?
Don't panic, babe! Use a big, fluffy brush to gently sweep it away. Or, try "baking" with a little setting powder under your eyes to catch any fallout before it lands on your face.
Is it okay to use eyeshadow as an eyeliner?
Girl, yes! Wet a small, angled brush with some setting spray, dip it into a dark eyeshadow, and create the sharpest, most flawless line. It's an absolute game-changer.
Final Thoughts
So, who knew learning how to apply eyeshadow for beginners could be so easy? Practice makes perfect babe, but we’re here to support you every step of your journey through our socials! The best tip we can give is to invest in good makeup brushes, as this can make all the difference. Don't give up, as we rarely get things perfect the first time, but with this guide, we’re making things so much easier.