Makeup Primer

Eyeshadow

Pigmented powder or cream applied to the eyelid and surrounding area to add color, depth, or dimension.

An open shimmering rose-gold cream eyeshadow pot with its lid and a small brush resting beside it on a wood surface

What it is

Eyeshadow is pigmented product applied around the eyes, ranging from a single all-over wash of color to multi-shade looks that build shape and depth. It's sold as pressed powder, loose pigment, cream, and stick formulas, each handling differently.

How it works

Powder eyeshadow deposits pigment through friction - the brush picks up particles and deposits them where dragged, which is why blending (moving those particles gradually into surrounding skin) is central to how a finished look reads. Cream and stick formulas deposit more pigment per swipe and set into place, making them easier for beginners to apply evenly but harder to blend multiple shades together once set.

How to choose one

  • Matte shades are the easiest to blend into a soft transition and work well in the crease to build depth.
  • Shimmer and metallic shades show best on the lid itself, where they catch light, rather than blended into a soft edge.
  • Powder formulas offer the most control for multi-shade looks; cream formulas are faster for a simple, one-shade wash of color.
  • Buy a small, cohesive palette before single pans - a well-chosen palette of matte transition shades plus one or two shimmers covers most looks without needing a large collection.

How to apply it

  1. Prime the lids. An eyeshadow primer, or a thin layer of concealer set with a little powder, gives the shadow something to grip and stops creasing on oily lids.
  2. Start with a matte transition shade in the crease. Use a fluffy brush in small back-and-forth "windshield wiper" motions to build a soft wash of color - see Blending Brush and Blending Basics.
  3. Press the lid shade on. A flat brush or fingertip pressed onto the lid deposits more color than sweeping does, and is the best way to apply shimmer.
  4. Add depth only if you want it. A slightly deeper shade on the outer corner, blended into the crease color, adds dimension; for a soft, everyday look, one transition shade and one lid shade is enough.
  5. Tap off the brush and deal with fallout. Tapping excess off before each application cuts down on fallout. Doing eyes before foundation makes any that does fall easy to wipe away - see Why does eyeshadow fall out under the eyes?.

Common mistakes

  • Skipping a transition shade in the crease, which leaves color looking flat instead of dimensional.
  • Applying shimmer with a fluffy blending brush, which scatters the shimmer's fine particles instead of depositing them densely where they can catch light.
  • Not using an eyeshadow primer or base on oily lids, where shadow can crease or fade within a few hours without one.