While you’ve got your base, contour, and brows down pat, you still might be struggling with one thing: eyeshadow. While it might seem ~extra~, applying eyeshadow is a fun way to express yourself and change up your look. But it can also be pretty intimidating. Choosing colors, applying shadow for your eye shape, and mastering the art of blending can be tricky to learn, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you’ve been skipping this step for so long. Applying eyeshadow is easier than you think, and we broke down some of the most common ways to apply it—from super easy to beauty guru-difficult.
BEGINNER: Basic; Single-Color
This technique is ridiculously easy. All you need is a cream or powder eyeshadow plus a blending brush (or just your fingers!). Simply pat the color onto your lids and blend it upwards to your crease. You can even apply it on your lower lash line for a more defined look.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
MAC Eye Shadow in Woodwinked
This warm antique gold eyeshadow flatters all skin tones and is super easy to blend out. A lot of beauty gurus and bloggers love this shade because when you blend it out at the crease, it looks like you used two colors and put in waaay more effort into your look.
Price: P1,200
Where to buy: SM Megamall, Rustan’s, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Lazada
Revlon ColorStay Creme Eye Shadow in Creme Brulee
If you just want a light wash of color, apply this cream-colored shadow on your lids using your fingers. It’ll go with any look you decide to do, plus, the shimmery shade can brighten up your eyes.
Price: P575
Where to buy: Watsons, Personal Care Express, Lazada
Makeup tool to use:
Suesh Tapered Blending Brush
Use a medium blending brush to apply shadows onto your lid and blend them out up to your crease. This one by Suesh has soft yet sturdy bristles that will make blending a breeze.
Price: P450
Where to buy: Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall, Glorietta 3, Suesh.com
ADVANCED: Smoky Eye Technique 1
This technique is perfect for those who aren’t quite sure how to apply eyeshadow on their monolids or chinita eyelids: Take a dark color on your eyeshadow brush and pat it close to your upper and lower lash line. Then, use a shadow one shade lighter and apply it on your eyelids. Blend an even lighter shade on your crease. Brushing the colors seamlessly will create a gradient that goes from dark to light.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
BYS Lustrous Venus Eyeshadow Palette
Take the guesswork out of matching colors by using a palette that already has shadows that gradient from light to dark. This BYS x Nadine Lustre collab contains a lot of safe, neutral colors you’ll be able to wear anywhere.
Price: P799
Where to buy: Watsons, Lazada, BeautyBeat.ph
Makeup tools to use:
Wet N Wild Large Eyeshadow Brush
Pick up and pat on your favorite pigments with this brush. It has synthetic bristles—perfect for packing on color to get a saturated look.
Price: P99
Where to buy: Watsons, Personal Care Express, Lazada
BYS Synthetic Blending Brush
Since this look requires a lot of blending, try this reliable fluffy blending brush from BYS. It’s made up of synthetic bristles, so you know it’ll last forever.
Price: P299
Where to buy: Watsons, BeautyBeat.ph
ADVANCED: Smoky Eye Technique 2
This is probably the most common eyeshadow technique, but it can be tricky if you’re not sure where to put the colors. Before trying this technique out, look straight into the mirror and identify your eyelids and creases. Blink one eye close and take note of where you crease lies when you close your eyes. This is where you should be putting your crease color.
Apply a bright shade on your eyelids, then take a darker matte shade and blend it all over your crease. This will make your eyes look more deep-set. Choose an even darker color and blend it on the outer V of your eyes and on your lower lash line for a more defined effect.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
Ever Bilena Pro Play Eyeshadow Palette
This earth-toned palette comes with a bunch of shimmery and matte shades you can easily mix and match for a smoky eye look.
Price: P149
Where to buy: SM Beauty, Watsons, Lazada
Makeup tools to use:
Suesh Medium Eyeshadow Brush
With this technique, it’s best to use a small or medium eyeshadow brush to pack color on the lid. Choose a brush that isn't too big for your eyelids to avoid getting the lid color on your crease.
Price: P400
Where to buy: Suesh Alabang Town Center, Suesh SM Megamall, Suesh.com
L.A. Girl Blending Brush
Use a blending brush with short bristles to apply and blend out the color on your crease with precision. It will also help keep the crease shadow neat and not too smoky.
Price: P419
Where to buy: Watsons, BeautyMNL
Wet N Wild Crease Brush
A thin, tapered brush is best for applying the darkest eyeshadow on your outer V and lower lash line. Using a small brush like this will help you intensify the colors of the smoky eye.
Price: P170
Where to buy: Watsons, BeautyMNL
ADVANCED: Glitter Eyeshadow
Glittery eyes make for a high-impact look, and while it may seem complicated, it’s actually pretty easy to incorporate glitter into your eyeshadow looks. All you need to do is to apply your eyeshadow using one of the basic or advanced techniques we mentioned, then accentuate your look with glitter .
Tutorial:
Products to use:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Glitters
ABH’s ultra-reflective glitters will make your eyes sparkle in no time. Just make sure to use a primer or an adhesive so that the glitter stays on your lids.
Price: P1,050
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow
These liquid glitter shadows come with a doe-foot applicator, so they’re super easy to apply. Pat them on your inner corners to brighten up your peepers, or slide the applicator over your lid for a ~*sparkly*~ lewk.
Price: P1,250
Where to buy: Rustan’s the Beauty Source
Too Faced Glitter Glue
If you’re working with loose glitters, make sure to lay down a good foundation using glitter glue. This will ensure the glitter lasts all day and won’t fall down to your cheeks when you’re out and about.
Price: P1,233
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+
Spray this onto your makeup brushes before picking up glitter. This setting spray will let the pigments stay in place once it dries on your lids. Plus, it’ll also make the colors pop.
Price: P1,300
Where to buy: Rustan’s the Beauty Source, SM Megamall, Glorietta, Power Plant Mall, SM Makati, Lazada
Ellana Flower Power Setting Spray
You can use a primer spray. Again, all you’ll need to do is spritz this on your eyeshadow brush before picking up the glitter.
Price: P599
Where to buy: Watsons, Lazada
Makeup tools to use:
Gladking Mini Eyeshadow Brush
When it comes to applying glitter, small, flat, synthetic brushes are your best friend. They’ll pick up the pigments and you won’t make a mess of your look when you use them.
Price: P50
Where to buy: Robinsons Galleria, Festival Mall, Gladking.com.ph
MUD Large White Fan Brush
We’re not going to lie: Using glitters can get messy. If you do experience some product fallout, use a fan brush to sweep the mess away. This type of brush will sweep the excess glitters off of your face without disturbing the rest of your makeup.
Price: P995
Where to buy: PureBeauty TriNoma, PureBeauty Serendra, PureBeauty Glorietta, ShopPureBeauty.com
ADVANCED: Liquid Eyeshadow
If you’re going for a bold look, liquid eyeshadow is the way to go. With this type of shadow, you have the choice to blend a single color onto your eyes (just like the single-color technique!) or you could create more elaborate shapes like a defined, winged eyeshadow look. Simply take your liquid shadow onto an angled brush and draw the outline of the shape you want, then fill it in.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
Revlon Eye Paint Eyeshadow
This super pigmented eyeshadow is perfect for creating defined looks, but if you’re leaning towards a more relaxed vibe, just spread the shadow on your lids using your fingers.
Price: P575
Where to buy: Watsons, Personal Care Express, Lazada
BLK Intense Color Liquid Eyeshadow
Since this liquid eyeshadow comes with a doe-foot applicator, you can apply it straight to your lids and blend upwards for a soft, smoky eye effect.
Price: P299
Where to buy: SM Department Stores, Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Lazada
Makeup tools to use:
Revlon Eye Liner Brush
All you need to create precise lines is an angled eyeliner brush. Use it to create the shape you want before filling the area in with eyeshadow. You can also work with it to rim your lower lash line.
Price: P600
Where to buy: Watsons, Personal Care Express, Lazada
Zoeva Rose Gold Concealer Buffer Brush
While this may be a concealer brush, it’s dense, synthetic bristles make it perfect for blending out liquid eyeshadow on your crease, giving you an effortless smoky eye.
Price: P620
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Expert: Halo Eyes
Halo eyeshadow is a huge trend at the moment, and it can absolutely be done on any eye shape! Just take a dark eyeshadow and blend it on your inner and outer corners, leaving the middle of your eyelids and lower lash lines clean. Then, take a bright, shimmery shade and pat that onto the center of your lids and lower lash lines. It’s a great and unique way to add dimension to your eyes.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette
A trendy look requires an equally trendy palette, and this one by Urban Decay has a number of dark and light shades you can combine for a one-of-a-kind halo look.
Price: P3,500
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Maybelline The Nudes 12-in-1 Eye Shadow Palette
If you’re going for a more low-key look, try gold-neutral shades like the ones in this palette. Just apply the dark brown shades on your inner and outer corners, then pack on a shimmery gold on the middle of your lids.
Price: P749
Where to buy: Watsons, Personal Care Express, Lazada
Anastasia Beverly Hills Riviera Eye Shadow Palette
Meanwhile, if you’re obsessed with bright colors, try this colorful palette on for size. Experiment with complementary colors—blend a mix of the purple and brown shades and apply those on your inner and outer corners, then take the yellow shade and pat it on the center of your lids.
Price: P2,930
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Makeup tools to use:
Zoeva Petit Eye Blender
This tiny brush is the perfect tool for when you want to get in your inner and outer corners. Use it to apply dark colors and blend them towards the center of your eyelids.
Price: P486
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Make Up For Ever Round Shader Brush
Use a dense, round brush to easily pick up powder eyeshadow. This will ensure that you get the best color payoff, especially since you need the centers of your lids to be bright and contrasted against the dark edges.
Price: P1,650
Where to buy: Greenbelt, SM Aura, Lazada
EXPERT: Cut Crease
This eye look has made the rounds on Instagram, and for good reason, too. It’s a work of art in its own right, and it’s definitely tricky to achieve.
Here's how it's done: First, take a dark color and blend it on your crease only, creating a half-moon shape. Make sure you blend it upwards so it blends out naturally. Next, take some concealer on a flat brush and cut the crease by carefully applying product on the lower part of the eyeshadow you just did—this creates a sharp cut.
Take a bright or colorful eyeshadow and apply it on the lid, where you put the concealer. You can apply it all the way to your outer corner for a full cut crease, or halfway through your lid for a half-cut crease. If you’re doing a half-cut crease, take your crease color and blend it from your outer corner to the middle of your eyelid, blending the shades together for a seamless gradient. Don’t forget to blend the color your used on your crease on your lower lash line as well to complete the look.
Tutorial:
Products to use:
Club Clio Pro Eyes Palette in Simply Pink
For a cut crease that’s out-of-this-world, try this colorful palette. It has a number of matte and sparkling shades so you can experiment with different colored cut creases.
Price: P1,750
Where to buy: Freyja Glorietta, SM Beauty, Lazada
Teviant Señorita Eyeshadow Palette
If you want to treat yourself, check out the same palette Heart Evangelista uses to create your cut crease. You can use the dark brown, taupe, and shimmery gray shades on your crease, and the rest of the colors on your eyelids.
Price: P2,450
Where to buy: SM North EDSA, Lazada
Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye Primer
You need a good eyeshadow primer to create the vivid contrast of cut crease eye makeup. This primer that can double as a concealer. It’s super opaque, so you’ll have no problem cleaning up your crease, and you can be rest assured that your eyeshadow will stay in place.
Price: P1,060
Where to buy: Sephora.ph
Makeup tools to use:
Gladking Concealer Brush With Glitter Handle
Use a flat concealer brush to cut your crease and fill in your lid with concealer. Tip: You only need a small amount of concealer and build it up to your desired opacity. It’ll be way easier to work with thin layers instead of having to remove excess cream.
Price: P80
Where to buy: Robinsons Galleria, Festival Mall, Gladking.com
Suesh Bullet Brush
Use a bullet brush to apply your eyeshadow onto your crease. This type of brush will give you more control so you can create a sharp contrast on your crease.
Price: P350
Where to buy: Suesh Alabang Town Center, Suesh SM Megamall, Suesh.com
Real Techniques Brush Crush Shadow #305
Use a blending brush like this to diffuse the upper portion of your crease eyeshadow. You can also take a shadow which is a shade lighter than your crease color onto the brush for a more gradient effect.
Price: P690
Where to buy: Watsons, Sephora.ph
Essence Eyeshadow Brush
Pick up pigment using a small shadow brush and apply it only where you laid down your concealer. To add some ~oomph~ to your look, you can even take glitter pigments and press them onto the lid as well.
Price: P149
Where to buy: The SM Store, Lazada
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