Probably the makeup with the boldest appeal, the eye shadow gives the eyes their character, due to the wide range of hues that may be used in the application. The cosmetic adds intensity and dimension to the eyes, acting as a catalyst in drawing attention to it, especially if the hue perfectly complements the eye color. Because of this versatility, it is important to consider the attire, eye color, and facial makeup of the person before deciding on the eye shadow to go with. The cosmetic is available in either cream or powder form, and deciding on which medium to settle with depends upon the individual. Cream eye shadow is relatively easy to apply because it can be easily spread over the lid in one easy stroke, but it suffers in longevity as it blurs off after a few hours of application, or it can also easily smear across the eyelid. In order to offset this disadvantage, setting the cosmetic with light pats of translucent powder will help. On the other hand, powder shadows do set in quite nicely, but you’ll need skill in the application; using a brush in the process eases the technique significantly. People with matured skin will benefit more from the powdered type.
Before the application, it is recommended that you pat on some loose powder under your eyes; this will catch any residue from the application and keep the makeup free from stains. The powder can be removed afterwards with the use of a large brush. You can tone down the color of the eye shadow with a light pat of face powder, or by a gentle wipe of a foundation sponge. To add longevity to the application, use a dampened brush. The application itself consists of three layers; the first one involves a light colored application over the entire lid with the use of a flat brush, from the lash line to the eyebrow. Using a fluff brush, the second involves one of a medium shade applied on the lower lid, from the lash line to the crease. The final layer uses the darkest shade, as a liner applied along the lash line.
As a rule, eye shadows of the darker shades tend to further deepen or hollow out facial features, while the light shades tend to make the eyes prominent. Bright colors are effective if chosen carefully. They usually look great if discreetly used, since they draw instant attention to the eyes; if the hue is too bold or striking, it will lend a surreal effect on the eyes, unless it is deliberately put on to complement with other makeup applications. Also take note that the colors would look more intense on the eyes than they do on the selection palettes, so extra caution is advised. What is consoling is that it is very easy to experiment with different shades (use the bright ones as sort of a wash of subtle color over the lids). Matching this cosmetic with the skin tone is probably unnecessary, as long as it is successful in accenting the skin’s natural color. The important complement should be with the eyes; blue eyes go well with brown and navy colors, green eyes with khaki and brown hues; dark brown eyes look beautiful with accents of charcoal and mahogany, while gray-green eyes go well with charcoal and black hues.