Beautiful eyes made easy

What eye shadow shades work for you will be influenced by your skin tone, hair colour and, most importantly, your eye colour. But the eye shadow shades you choose should ultimately be decided by your personal style, what looks good and feels right to you. This eye makeup article will give you a guide to eye shadow shades that you may find work better for your eye, skin and hair colour. We also offer useful eye makeup tips for applying your eye shadow.

Step 1: Choosing an eye shadow to suit your eye colour
Remember when choosing eye shadow shades that colours should be chosen keeping in mind your eye colour, hair colour and skin tone and not the colour of the clothes you wear.

For Blue eyes the tried and true eye shadow colour is deep blue (a darker shade than your eye colour will make your eyes look really blue). Taupe, gray, violet, and purple are also great eye shadow colours for blue eyes. "Edgy" eye shadow colour favorites for blue eyes include silver, turquoise, and fuchsia.

For Green or Hazel eyes greens are your best eye shadow colour. To really brighten your eyes try a deep khaki or forest green. Brown, apricot, purple, and plum eye shadow will also enhance your eye colour. "Edgy" eye shadow colour favorites for green or hazel eyes are gold, lime-green, really light green, and bright purple.

For Brown eyes tried and true eye shadow colours include: copper, bronze, coffee, champagne (soft pink with a touch of apricot), brown (for a doe-eyed look), beige, and khaki green. "Edgy" eye shadow colour favourites for brown eyes are tangerine, royal blue, hot pink, and lime green. The contrast adds punch to brown eyes.

Eye makeup tip: Generally warm tones i.e. earthy, golden etc. will compliment warm skin (yellow based, olive, medium to dark skins). Cooler tones e.g. pastels will compliment cool skin tones (very fair, very dark, and light to medium skins).

Eye makeup tip: Do not wear bold eye makeup and a bold lipstick at the same time. If you are using vivid or edgy eye shadow team it up with nude lipstick.

Eye makeup tip: When you look at a womens face you see her eyes not her eye shadow. The general rule is that light shades bring out your eyes and darker shades give them dimension. If you have small eyes, and want to give the impression of larger eyes, you want to stay with lighter shades. If you have large or protruding eyes you would want to use darker shades. Keep the basic principles of light and dark in mind while choosing and applying eye shadow colour. Dark colour recedes, light colour brings forward.

Step 2: Choosing an eye shadow texture
Eye shadow generally has either a matte texture, a more reflective texture (e.g. satin texture) or a shimmering texture (e.g. dimensional or French Pearl texture). Which texture you use is a matter of personal taste however matte and satin textures are typically used for day wear and shimmering textures are typically worn for evening wear.

Step 3: Applying eye shadow
For smoother eye shadow application, that lasts longer, first apply a thin layer of foundation on your eyelids and then apply a thin layer of face powder. This gives you a clean canvas for your eye shadow and will also help to prevent the eye shadow from creasing. This will give you more even, accurate, eye shadow application.
Eye makeup tip: Choose good quality eye shadow brushes which are flat and angled. This will give you more even, accurate, eye shadow application.

Eye makeup tip: Always work your way up from lighter to darker shades, choosing colours that blend easily together.

The classic approach for applying eye shadow to the eyelids is to maximize the eye shape and eye shadow effect by using three matching eye shadow shades: light, medium and dark shades. This is the approach we recommend. Choosing three matching eye shadow shades sounds a little daunting but weve done the hard work for you. Our Triple Split eye shadows are one eye shadow split into three coordinated light to dark shades. Using the Triple Split eye shadow, or your personal choice of three matching shades, follow the simple instructions below for spectacular looking eyes!

1. Shape your eyebrows and apply eyeliner.

2. Select your Triple Split eye shadow or your choice of three matching eye shadow shades. Using the lightest shade cover the entire eyelid, from lash line to brow. Use a large flat eye shadow brush.

Eye makeup tip: The lighter shade applied to the brow bone will give the eyes and wide and open look.

3. Apply the medium shade on the lower lid from the lash line to the crease of your eye. Use a smaller eye shadow brush.

4. Use your darkest shade in the outer corners of the eyes, out to the crease. Intensify for a more dramatic night-time look. You can also use this shade as an eyeliner. Remember to blend the shades for a smooth overall effect. Again use a smaller eye shadow brush.

5. Apply mascara sparingly for a sophisticated daytime look. Apply two coats for a more dramatic night-time look.

Remember there are no right or wrong colours. What is important is that you are comfortable with your colour choices so dont be afraid to experiment.