How to Apply Eye Makeup

1. ALWAYS USE AN EYESHADOW PRIMER

A good primer will make your eyeshadow appear more vivid, prevent creasing, and keep your eyeshadow from fading throughout the day.

MUG Must-Haves: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Paint Pot, Benefit Lemon Aid, and Laura Geller Eye Sparkle

2. CHOOSE YOUR TOOLS WISELY

Using the proper (doesn’t necessarily mean expensive!) tools will make a world of difference when it comes to your eyeshadow application. We recommend adding the following brushes to your collection if you don’t own them already.

• Stiff shader brush—this tool will pack color on the lid while minimizing eyeshadow fall out.

MUG Must-Have: MAC 239

• Dome brush—this is an excellent tool for buffing out harsh lines, blending color in the crease, and highlighting under the brow.

MUG Must-Have: Makeup Geek Soft Dome Brush

• Pencil brush—this tool is ideal for smudging color along the lower lash line, adding definition to the crease, and smoking out eyeliner…perfect for smoky eyes!

MUG Must-Have: Makeup Geek Pencil Brush

• Angled eyeliner brush—this tool allows you to easily control the exact shape and thickness of your eyeliner. Since the bristles are so small, you can achieve a precise line without too much effort.

MUG Must-Have: MAC 266

3. USE 3-4 EYESHADOWS

Always select 3-4 complementary eyeshadow shades to complete your look.

• Lid—choose any color you like!
• Crease—choose a color that’s about 2 shades darker than your skin tone (doesn’t have to be neutral–color is OK!).
• Highlight—choose a satin or shimmery color that’s close to your skin tone.
• Outer V (optional)—choose a color that’s darker than your lid, crease, and highlight colors to direct attention toward the inner portion of the eye.

***Note*** These guidelines pertain to creating a traditional eye makeup look. There are numerous other looks that will require a different process.

4. MIX UP YOUR FINISHES

A good way to look like a disco queen is to use all shimmer shadows on your eyes. If that’s what you’re going for, by all means. If not, incorporate a mixture of matte and shimmery finishes to add depth and balance to your look. For example, if you’re using a matte or satin color on the lid, use a shimmery color under the brows, and vice versa.

5. DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF

There is no hard and fast rule that says, “If you have ____ color eyes, or _____ color skin, you should/shouldn’t wear ____ color eyeshadow”! Sure, there may be certain colors that are easier for you to pull off than others, but it’s more about making the colors work together and choosing shades that make you feel good!