Eyeshadow Makeup

Eyeshadow is a makeup product that is typically applied to the eyelid to enhance eye shape and color, plus, when done right, it can really take your entire makeup look up a notch. In addition to coming in a rainbow of colors, eyeshadow comes in several different formats, including powder, cream, stick, and liquid. Bonus: eyeshadow makeup comes in different textures, too, including shimmer and matte, which allow for endless creativity in your eye makeup looks.

You pick an eyeshadow based on many things, including your eye color, skin tone, and undertones, along with your desired look (natural, glam, bold). But, while there are certain shades that may be the most flattering for your coloring, it’s really about picking whichever eyeshadow colors and textures appeal to you. Other things to consider include the occasion that you’re doing your makeup for– if it’s for a day at the office, maybe you stick to matte neutrals, but if it’s a special evening event or a party, it makes sense to go all out with deeper hues and shimmering finishes. Don’t want to choose just one matte, shimmer, neutral, or bright shadow? For more flexibility, opt for a palette or a quad, which will give you more choices. However, if you want to streamline your routine, a single shadow or stick might make the most sense for you.

You apply eyeshadow based on your desired look. If you simply want a pop of color on your lids to enhance your eye color or complement an outfit, stick to just one shadow as a base. Adding some color to your lid, even if it matches your skin tone, will help to even out any discoloration. But, if you want to create depth and maybe a smoky look, it involves buffing a deeper shadow into the crease and outer corner. For a full-on glam look, you would also use a lighter shadow shade on the brow bone– this can help lift the eye and give a more sculpted appearance. You can also add a shimmer shadow to the inner corner of your eye for a more wide-awake look. Color combinations are endless, but if you want to simplify your eye makeup routine for easy-to-create looks, getting an eyeshadow quad or stacked palette with multiple shades that are in the same color family will be super helpful. Check out our handy eyeshadow makeup tutorial for beginners for more tips and tricks, and see below for our recommendation of how to build your eyeshadow makeup wardrobe.

A good basic trio of eyeshadow colors to have is 1) a neutral, nude tone that matches your skin, 2) a paler neutral shade to use along the brow bone and as a highlighter, and 3) a deep neutral shade to use as a liner or to create darker, sultrier looks. These three light-medium-deep shades are the cornerstone of almost any look out there and help simplify how to apply eyeshadow for beginners.

Because hooded eyes tend to have a hidden crease or appear to droop or sag, it’s all about creating the illusion of depth and dimension. You do this by enhancing your natural crease or creating the look of a crease with eyeshadow. In fact, there’s a name for this technique, and it’s called a “cut crease”. It's when a lighter shade of eyeshadow cuts across the crease of the eyelid, creating a dramatic contrast that makes eyes look more defined. You’ll want to pay attention to the placement of your shadow, too, as hooded eyes tend to experience smudging if the natural crease is hidden. To help, consider placing your darker shade higher up than your natural crease to create the illusion of a higher, deeper crease that will help to open up the eyes even more. It’s smart to avoid shimmer shadows and cream textures, too, as they’re more prone to smudging and drawing attention to the area– stick to a darker matte shade to create your crease and a lighter matte shade on the lid for contrast.

Here's how to do the cut crease technique:

1. Dust lids with a neutral shadow that closely matches your skin tone, then sweep a deeper eyeshadow shade just above the crease of the eye.
2. Apply a light concealer across the lid to clean up the edges of the eyeshadow and provide a guide for the cut crease. Use an angled brush to sweep concealer outward and across toward the tail of the eyebrow.
3. Grab a kohl eyeliner. Carefully drag across your lash line and angle upwards to create a lifted effect. A small feline flick will suffice, or you can go for a full-on cat eye.

Cream eyeshadow is great for someone who might not want the hassle of using a brush– you can simply swipe some on using your finger! (Or you can use a typical shadow brush that you would use with powder eyeshadow.) Cream shadow is great to use as a base, too, as it provides something for powder eyeshadow to grip onto, and you can use it to build intensity. On the other end of the spectrum, if you just want a natural wash of color to even out your lid, a neutral cream shadow can give that to you. We recommend using an eyeshadow primer beforehand to give you the most lasting power, and to blend well– either with your finger or a brush– before your cream shadow sets.

You apply eyeshadow primer the same way you would a makeup primer, as your first step in your makeup routine. So, you would apply a thin layer of your eyeshadow primer all over your lids and allow it to dry before applying your eyeshadow over top. Wondering if using an eyeshadow primer is worth it? We’re here to tell you it 100% is, because it gives your shadow something to grip onto, helps your shadow last longer, allows for more intensity of your shadow, and helps prevent creasing or smudging. Insider tip: You can just as easily use concealer as eyeshadow primer, too. It serves the same function, to be a grippy, slightly tacky base for color to adhere to.

The difference between cream and powder eyeshadow is that cream eyeshadow has a smoother, well, creamier consistency, while powder is drier. Sometimes cream can be more sheer, whereas powder may be more pigmented, depending on the formula. Cream can be easily applied with a finger or a brush and may be more forgiving, so you can apply it less precisely, whereas powder typically calls for a brush and some extra care in applying it, so it sits just right. Powder is great for layering over cream or over other powders, too, but you wouldn’t want to layer cream over powder. Lastly, powder tends to have more longevity, whereas cream may lessen in intensity over time as you wear it.

An eyeshadow quad or mini palette is a collection of different shades, usually in the same color family, but it’s in a smaller size that’s great for traveling or bringing with you on the go. Opting for an eyeshadow quad or a mini palette is an easy way to take the guesswork out of choosing which eyeshadow shades go together, as they’re already paired together for you. Most of the time, an eyeshadow quad or a mini palette will offer different finishes, too, including shimmer and matte, with a lid shade, crease shade, and “pop” shade, so you can create your eye look with ease.

Stacked eyeshadow comes in multiple layers rather than a flat palette. Our Shadow Blocks come in a stack of three, and each opens into basically their own little single eyeshadow, so you only need to open the one that you’re using. The separate levels of packaging are also different colors, which correspond to the color inside, so you can easily open the one that you want to use. The pocket-sized “palette” is easy to take with you on the go and makes for a no-mess application.

The best type of eyeshadow for mature skin is one that is hydrating, as mature skin tends to be drier. A cream-based or satin-finish eyeshadow would be a good pick as it will help to hydrate and smooth the crepey lid area. It’s also helpful to opt for matte or subtle shimmer shades, as full-on glitter can make wrinkles appear more pronounced.

If you want to choose an eyeshadow color that will best flatter your eye color, typically the color opposite to your eyes will be the most complementary, making your eyes pop. For instance, purple and burgundy tones look absolutely stunning on green and hazel eyes. Orange would be the opposite of blue, but rather than a true orange, as it’s not that popular of an eyeshadow shade, peach, bronze, and copper are good options. Brown eyes are super versatile and look amazing with most eyeshadow shades, including neutrals, but if you want to make them pop, try a jewel tone like sapphire, emerald, or amethyst. You can also look to your undertones for guidance in choosing your eyeshadow color. Warm undertones of yellow or gold pair well with earthy eyeshadow shades of warm brown and copper. Cool undertones of pink or blue go best with cool eyeshadow shades such as grey, blue, and silver.

Maybelline New York eyeshadow makeup products can be purchased at mass market retailers, drugstores, and supermarkets nationwide. To locate a specific Maybelline eyeshadow product, head to maybelline.com and click on the product you are interested in. Find the one you are looking to purchase and select it. You will have a choice to buy from our online retailers, or you can enter your zip code in the FIND IN STORE field to find stores in your area that have your product in stock.