Makeup simply cannot be made perfect without using eye shadow. It is believed that they are able to give your look a drop of slyness, mystery and unprecedented attractiveness. Also, shadows can to some extent change or emphasize the color of the eyes. This can be achieved with the right choice of shadows.
Today, all shadows are divided into two types: pearlescent and matte.
As a rule, pearlescent refers to shadows that contain tiny particles that have a slightly pronounced shine. In addition, shimmers add sparkle to this cosmetic product.
Pearlescent shadows have the unique ability to open up the look and also eliminate signs of fatigue. To verify the exclusive ability of these shadows, you just need to apply mother-of-pearl to the moving eyelid and the inner corner of the eye.
It is recommended to use pearlescent cosmetics if you are going to an incendiary party. But if your skin has wrinkles, then you still shouldn’t resort to mother-of-pearl, as it will only highlight your imperfections and make your face look tired.
Matte shadows are most often intended for daily use. They can be applied to the entire eyelid. If you want to give your makeup a natural and relaxed look, then blend matte shadows well.
If you still want to use these shadows for evening make-up, then in order to achieve intense and bright shades, apply the shadows with slapping movements.
Basically, matte eyeshadows are ideal for creating a simple makeup look that is suitable for business meetings. However, using a varied palette of matte shades, you can try to create an original make-up.
Let's figure out which shadows are better, matte or pearlescent, and what is the difference?
Makeup artists say that matte shadows are a little more difficult to shade than pearlescent ones. Also, shadows of matte shades must be applied carefully and shaded thoroughly, otherwise the shadows will appear in spots.
But matte shadows also have their superiority over pearlescent ones, because they can be applied to the entire eyelid. You can also correct fine wrinkles with the help of matte shadows.
There is no definitive statement about which shadows are better, matte or pearlescent. Of course, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Be beautiful!
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Peculiarities
Pearlescent shadows are the most popular and loved by many women. They consist of small particles that have a metallic sheen. Also sometimes this effect is called shimmer, when sparkling particles predominate in the shadows. The texture allows you to make your eyes appear more open, remove a layer of fatigue and refresh your look. It’s very easy to see the capabilities of mother-of-pearl, you just need to take a little light shadow and apply it to the moving eyelid, the area under the eyebrows and to the inner corner of the eye.
It is recommended to use such shadows in creating images for walks, dates, and establishments. The main thing to remember is ideal eyelid skin. If there are wrinkles on it, it is better to abandon pearlescent shadows in favor of matte ones. Pearlescent shadows will not be able to correct the shape of the eye or make the look deep, but in combination with matte shadows you will achieve a striking effect (see photo).
Palette
It’s safe to say that in almost all collections of any brands - from the most elite, professional and famous - to budget options, the majority of eyeshadows produced are pearlescent. Therefore, choosing a suitable shade from a whole palette is not difficult. The most in demand are light shades of pearlescent shadows, as they are used as a highlighter in any makeup. Bright and rich summer shades will allow you to create many spring and summer looks. Calm and deep dark tones - warm and cold, suitable for evening and holiday makeup, autumn and business.
How to apply?
Shadows with mother-of-pearl are applied using special applicators. They usually come with eyeshadow sets. Unfortunately, they are not always easy to use. The applicator head is very small, the handles are short, they often slip and fall out of your hands. To use pearl shadows in eye makeup, it is best to purchase applicators separately, choosing ones with long handles and a comfortable head shape. You can apply such shadows with a wide flat brush, but applicators are still more convenient.
In order for shadows with mother-of-pearl not to emphasize imperfections, but to emphasize the beauty of the look, it is necessary to carefully study the condition of the skin around the eyes. These shadows are suitable for elastic, young skin, without a hint of wrinkles. Otherwise, such shadows will only make you look older.
Typically, shadows are applied only to the middle of the upper eyelid, under the eyebrow and in the corner of the eye. They are usually combined with matte ones. You can also do multi-layered makeup, only in this case use darker and deeper shades.
Makeup example
- Before you start painting your eyes, cover your eyelids with a special moisturizer, and then dust them with light translucent powder. Thanks to this, the shadows will fit much better on the eyelid, and the color will come out more saturated.
- Paint the upper eyelid with matte shadows in the main tone. Apply a darker shade to the outer corner of the eyelid. Carefully blend the transitions so that they are practically invisible.
- To create contrast, apply pearlescent shadows to the middle part of the upper eyelid, approximately in the area of the iris. The bright spot should only be on the eyelid.
- Paint the outer part of the fold with dark shadows. This area should be the darkest. Highlight the area above the fold with a grayish color.
- Apply light shadows, matching the tone of the main colors used in makeup, under the eyebrow, and also following an arc from the outer corner to the inner one. Blur all borders.
- If desired, you can line your eyes with eyeliner and apply mascara.
How to do this make-up - look at the photo.
And last but not least. If you use pearlescent shadows in your makeup, it is not recommended to combine them with shiny lipstick or shiny blush. The emphasis in makeup should be only on the eyes, otherwise the makeup will look too vulgar and tasteless.
Video
There are a large number of eye shadows available today. They vary in texture, shades and properties. Despite their huge variety, they are all divided into matte and pearlescent. I would like to talk about the latter in more detail. Namely, talk about how to properly do makeup with pearlescent shadows.
Unlike matte ones, they contain small particles that shine beautifully and shimmer in the sun. This is what often attracts girls and women who want to look more dazzling and beautiful.
However, in everything you need to know when to stop. Shadows with mother-of-pearl are designed to give freshness to the look, make it clearer, highlight the natural color of the eyes and relieve visible fatigue. But, in the pursuit of all this, some ladies forget that such shadows are not a panacea at all and, despite all their beauty, cannot be used for every occasion.
The first rule is that you shouldn’t apply them at all before going to work, and if you add them to your make-up, then only a little bit. The places where they look best are the inner corner of the eye, the middle of the upper moving eyelid and the area of the eyelid under the eyebrow.
But applying them in a continuous layer over the entire moving eyelid is a mistake. And here's why: pearlescent shadows can highlight any skin irregularities, especially wrinkles. Therefore, they should be chosen only by girls who are completely confident that time has not yet affected their appearance.
Unfortunately, women who already have visible crow's feet around their eyes should abandon this type of makeup in favor of matte shadows. The latter effectively hide all imperfections, unlike mother-of-pearl, which with its shine exposes any uneven line on the surface of the skin or its defects.
But, if you have no doubt that the condition of your eyelids allows you to safely use mother-of-pearl, do not forget that it is most suitable for evening makeup (or for special occasions). Only on rare days can you allow yourself to be one of the most brilliant and charming; on all other days such shadows should remain on the sidelines.
For those who have not yet decided on the color of a suitable mother of pearl, it is worth starting with more neutral and almost universal shades - light peach, dazzling white, gray, radiant chestnut, pale pink or gold. They can be matched either to the tone of the iris or to the color of the base shadows. You cannot use only pearlescent shadows in makeup; it is best to combine them with matte ones. So, the latter are applied to the entire moving eyelid and the area under the eyebrow, and shadows with reflective particles are only used as accents. However, it must be remembered that mother-of-pearl around the inner corner of the eye, as well as at the very edge of the outer corner, is not appropriate, thereby it will only emphasize fatigue and make the eyes faded.
And in order for the make-up to be called complete, the eyes should be emphasized with a thin arrow (although this is optional, of course) and the eyelashes should be lengthened with mascara.
By the way, if you choose pearlescent shadows to create your look, you cannot combine them with the same powder and lipstick. All together they will create the impression of sloppy or even too flashy makeup. In this case, it is best to focus on pastel colors, which especially applies to lipstick. It should never be as bright as the eyes.
Every girl must decide for herself whether to have such shadows in her cosmetic bag or not, but the fact that they will become indispensable at any party is a fact. Therefore, you need to learn to use them correctly, so that if something happens you don’t look too stupid or funny by going too far with the color or number of shadows.
Read also
Beautifully shaded eyes are the key to successful stylish makeup. But before applying shadows correctly, it is important to prepare the base, use mattifying foundation or powder. In addition, each type of makeup has its own characteristics.
Eyeshadows are classified by pigment type and consistency. With pigmentation everything is quite simple. There are colorants with shimmer and matte. It is also necessary to highlight mother-of-pearl ones separately. These shadows are supplemented with iridescent reflective pigment, due to which they can change their color depending on the lighting.
The consistency of the shadows is:
- Baked(Avon True Color Eyeshadow - Avon). The most common. They are characterized by a dense structure, manufactured by pressing and subsequent heat treatment. Due to prolonged exposure to high degrees, some colored particles melt and acquire a pleasant metallic tint. Known for ease of application and durability: even after a long time they do not form into lumps;
- Powdery or pressed(L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Les Ombres Quadro - L'Oreal, Naked by Urban Decay). Powder shadows can come in several shades at once. They are produced similarly to baked ones, but they are not made using high temperature processing. They may have different grinds, so when choosing, you should give preference to premium brands. Otherwise, it will begin to roll off before the eyes or even damage the delicate skin of the eyelids when applied;
- Liquid or creamy(Tammy Tanuki, Max Factor Drama). They are also called pencil shadows; to use this eye cosmetics correctly, you need to apply them on top of a dry matte base. Then they will lie evenly over the entire surface of the eyelid without gaps. A special feature is the ability to give off a wet shine, which allows you to create many different makeup looks.
In addition, shadows can be two-color (where two shades are combined in one stick or pencil), three-color, four-color and more. Most often, such sets combine shades of similar colors or those suitable for creating a certain type of makeup (evening or daytime).
How to properly apply eye shadow step by step
The simplest way to apply shadow is to shade the upper eyelid at the hollow and properly lighten its main part. This will “open” your eyes and make them more expressive. For daytime makeup, two shades will be enough, and for evening or holiday makeup, three.
How to apply eye shadow step by step in the classic way:
Video: How to properly apply and shade eyeshadow
Video: How to properly apply eye shadow
There is not a single girl who would not dream of making herself a smokey eye. This is a special type of eye makeup, for which a certain color scheme must be followed. With the right technique and shading, the effect of a soft veil enveloping the eye will be created.
How to apply dark shadows for smokey eyes:
Loose shadows of a dark shade can be with sparkles - this is a great idea for a festive makeup look.
Selection of shadows according to eye color
Each makeup will look even more profitable and interesting if you choose the right color scheme. For any eye color there are more and less advantageous shades. For convenience, we have highlighted the main ones.
The shades of green and purple (lilac, lavender, lilac, indigo) look most advantageous. Brown color is favorably emphasized by almost the entire warm palette (peach, pink, dark brown), but it can unsightly shade the eyes, making them look tired and dull. Therefore, eyeliner should be an almost constant attribute in the makeup of brown-eyed girls.
Green eyes
Bright and unusual green eyes can be made even deeper and more sensual if you use brown, golden, warm pearlescent and pinkish shades in the shadows. If you prefer matte shades, beige and copper tones, such as Maybelline's The Nudes, are best.
Gray and gray-blue-eyed owners
Smoky blue and gray eyes look great under copper and coral eyeshadow. Liquid metallic colors look great, especially the warm palette of orange and pinkish ash.
Girls with blue eyes
Crystal blue eyes are considered the most universal: almost all known shades of eye shadow suit them. Cold violet, purple and silver metallic highlight this heavenly color especially favorably. Warm orange, pinkish and beige tones look no less bright and charismatic. It is recommended to use a classic black eyeliner to accentuate all of the listed tones.
How to apply eyebrow shadow
If you are tired of pigmenting your eyebrows with a tattoo machine all the time, then there is a simple way to solve this problem: color them with shadows. Eyebrow shadows are most often produced as a set. Which includes two eyeshadow options, wax and a brush.
Instructions on how to color your eyebrows with shadows step by step:
