Our 5 Best Eye Makeup Tips For Beginners

Eye Makeup Tips #1.    Use an eyeshadow primer

Eyeshadow primer is the key to making your eye makeup last all day long. The purpose of a primer is to prep your eyes for the makeup you are about to apply. Primer also helps eyeshadows appear more vibrant because it gives the product something to stick to, instead of trying to apply powder directly onto the skin and hoping it stays. This is similar to the way that face powder stays on longer when it’s applied after foundation or concealer, instead of onto a bare face.

There are tons of primers to choose from between drugstore and high-end brands and they all serve the same purpose– to keep your eye makeup looking beautiful all day long!

Urban Decay Primer Potion is one of our favorite eye primers. It comes in 6 different shades and has been a very popular pick for years now! You can buy it here:

In the event that you don’t have a primer, using concealer is a good backup plan! You can apply your liquid or cream concealer to your entire eyelid, like you would primer, before you put on eyeshadow and it will have a similar effect to primer by giving your eyeshadow a solid base to stick to.

Eye Makeup Tips #2.    Use more than one brush

A common beginner’s mistake in eye makeup is trying to use the same brush for the whole eye. This is not the best option for eyeshadow because different areas of the eye require different tools for the smoothest and most efficient form of application. For example, on the eyelid a flatter brush works better for packing on eyeshadow but in the crease, a more fluffy brush is ideal because the darker colors that go in one’s crease need to be more blended.

Getting a set of eyeshadow brushes is the best way to begin your collection and have the tools you need to create a beautiful eyeshadow look. We’ve created a cheat sheet detailing what each type of brush is for. These descriptions are formatted to our 8-piece eye brush set but can be applied to any set of brushes.

Related: Transform Your Look with This – Unlimited Eyeshadow Looks

Eye Makeup Tips #3.    Use an eyelash curler

Eyelash curlers sometimes seem like a thing of the past. I remember always seeing an eyelash curler in my mom’s makeup bag as a little kid and wondering what in the world it was! Nowadays, I curl my lashes every day before putting on mascara because it makes such a difference.

I’ve noticed recently that barely any of my friends use an eyelash curler in their daily routine. However, eyelash curlers can actually help your eyes look more open and your lashes look longer. They are especially beneficial for those of us who are not blessed with long, thick, dark lashes and who seem to be constantly looking for the perfect mascara to help define our eyes.

Curling the lashes before applying mascara allows them to curl up instead of stick straight forward or down, thus making your eyes appear more open and making the lashes appear to be longer. The thickness of mascara causes lashes to stay “in place”, so when your lashes are nice and curled, applying mascara to them makes them stay that way all day long!

This is such an easy step to add to your everyday makeup routine- it takes less than 30 seconds and it can up your eyelash game a whole lot. And, eyelash curlers are available everywhere– often times for under $5!

Eye Makeup Tips #4.    Skip the eyeliner for a softer look

Many women habitually apply black eyeliner every single day. I fell into this category for many years, but I have recently stopped wearing eyeliner every day because I realized that a bold, black line sometimes looks too harsh for the look I’m going for. Now, I decide each day whether or not I will apply eyeliner instead of automatically doing it.

It’s easy to get into habits with makeup, but the real beauty of it is changing up your look every day depending on your mood and your outfit. Deciding not to use eyeliner for a day can give you a more soft, natural look. It can also make you appear like you are wearing less makeup.

This idea works two ways, though! If you never apply eyeliner, you might want to try it one day for a more intense and eye-catching look.

It’s good to experiment with eyeliner and try different makeup looks with and without it, because everyone has a unique eye shape. The way one person applies their eyeliner might look completely different on you. There are many ways to wear eyeliner, from the type of product (gel, liquid, pencil, felt-tip) to the actual application (winged, on the tight line, on the waterline, etc.) and so it’s important to figure out what looks you like!

Moral of the story, don’t feel obligated to wear eyeliner every day or to apply it the same way every day. Changing up just this one little thing can change your whole look!

Related: Your Eyeliner Troubles Are Over

Eye Makeup Tips #5.    Highlight your inner corner and under the brow to brighten up your eyes

We all know about the huge makeup trend of having gorgeous highlight, especially on the cheekbones. But how about highlighting the eyes, too?

Simply adding a color lighter than your skin tone in the inner corner of your eye and on the brow bone can make your eyes pop!

Highlighting in the inner corner is important because it is on the opposite side of the eye from where the darkest parts of an eyeshadow look are (the outer corner and the crease), so there is a stark contrast. It also helps to brighten the eyes because the highlight color appears directly next to the white of the eye.

Under the eyebrow/on the brow bone, applying a highlight can help a lot to make the brows appear more arched and lifted. Since eyebrows frame your face, you want them to look as great as they can. When blending dark colors into the crease, they often go up too high on the eye and get too close to the brow, making the brow less defined. Adding a highlight between the eyeshadow and the eyebrow allows both the eyes and the brows to stand out on their own.  Try our Concealer & Highlighter Duo.

Related: The Best of Both Worlds – Concealer & Highlighter

More Great Eye Makeup Tips Resources:

8 Simple Steps to Perfecting a Smoky Eye

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MAKEUP BRUSHES

10 Shapes for Your Eyeshadow