First a disclaimer: There isn’t one correct way to apply eyeshadow. The fun part about makeup is that there are no rules, after all. That being said, there are some fundamental techniques, which we’ll review here in just a sec. But first, let’s cover picking the right eyeshadow. If you’re a beginner, opt for matte shadows, which are more forgiving of mistakes and easy to wear on any skin type. If you’re going for a dramatic or festive look, go for loose powder shadows. In a rush but looking for long-term wear? I recommend liquid shadows—just one swipe gets you the most pigment, doesn’t require any tools, and won’t budge once it’s on. And we can’t forget about metallic shadows, which are ideal if you want a little sparkle without going overboard with glitter. Now that we have that covered, let’s dive into the process. Looking to score all three at once? Try Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend Makeup Brush Trio ($9; ulta.com). If you want to go for a single shade shadow, you can stop after this step. For something more dramatic, continue to the next step. If you have deep-set or hooded eyelids, try applying the crease shade with your eyes open to see where it’ll be most visible—this will probably fall above your actual eyelid on the lower brow bone. If you’re going for a daytime look, stop at this step. For a more smoky eye, proceed to the last step.
