Turns Out I've Been Applying My Eye Shadow All Wrong—A Makeup Artist Told Me How It's Really Done

I can't paint, I can't draw, but one thing I can do is makeup. To me, my face is like my own personal canvas, and I could spend hours trying out different blush techniques, contouring hacks and eyebrow shapes. When I was younger, I'd spend hours watching YouTube tutorials and recreating the makeup artist's every step. However, thanks to my job, these days I am lucky enough to chat to these makeup artists face-to-face and ask them for all of their tips and tricks.

One thing I am always keen to learn more about is how to apply eye shadow. There are so many different eyeshadow looks out there, but they can definitely be a little bit trickier to re-create at home. Not only that, but with everything from powder eye shadows, cream eye shadows and eye shadow pencils available, it can be hard to know what to buy to get your desired look.

So, I decided to reach out to London-based makeup artist Aimée Twist to get all of her advice on how to apply eye shadow and get it to last all day long. After speaking to Twist, I realised that I'd been applying my eye shadow all wrong (so much for being able to do makeup!), so keep on scrolling for everything you need to know...

How to Apply Eye Shadow, According to an Expert

"All eye shadow looks are prepped and executed differently, as there are so many different looks and eye shadow formulas out there," explains Twist. "It can be as easy as using a cream shadow and blending with your fingers, or more complicated, where you might be using multiple shadows and brushes. If you are starting to experiment with multi-colour eye shadow looks, I would say you need at least three brushes to complete this: a flat brush and two blending brushes." Check out Twist's step-by-step guide to a multiple colour eye shadow look below.

Step 1: Prep the Eyelid

"To complete this look, begin by prepping the eyes with a shadow primer of choice," says Twist. Eye shadow primers are great as they create the perfect base for your makeup and help your eye shadow to last all day.

Step 2: Apply Lightest Eye Shadow

Next, Twist says to take a flat brush and lay down your lightest colour all over the lid. It's always better to start with your lightest eye shadow colour first as these shadows are easier to blend.

Step 3: Apply Medium Eye Shadow

"Then, take your biggest blending brush and your medium colour and blend this from the outer corner through the crease of your eye to the inner corner," says Twist. "This will allow the most colour to be deposited in the outer eye."

Step 4: Repeat

You can repeat this process until you get your desired payoff from this colour.

Step 5: Apply Darkest Eye Shadow

"Finally, take your darkest colour and your smaller blending brush and follow the same step as before. You should get a more concentrated deposit for colour from using the smaller brush," explains Twist. "If you find the colour looks a bit too much or not blended enough, take the bigger brush, without picking up anymore colour and use it to blend the hard edges. You can again repeat this process until you achieve the desired look."

Step 6: Apply Shimmer

This final step is totally optional, but if you want, Twist says you can take a pop of shimmer on your finger and place it in the centre of the lid for a bit of sparkle.

How Can You Make Your Eye Shadow Last?

One thing I always struggle with is making my eye shadow last all day. However, Twist has a great tip. "I would recommend investing in a good eye shadow primer, as this will prevent the natural oils coming through and breaking down the eye shadow throughout the day," she tells me. "There are a lot on the market now, and you can choose yours based on your preference. Some are clear, which usually have the best hold for oily eyelids, some work like a concealer and reduce the pigment on your eye, and then some are like a cream colour base."

"I personally like to use an eye shadow base with a colour pigment (such as the Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot) as this will actually make the eye shadows on top pop more and allow you to use less product overall, making blending time quicker and easier."

Is It Best to Apply Eye Shadow With a Brush or Your Fingers?

Whenever I watch makeup videos, I see some makeup artists using brushes to apply eye shadow, whilst others prefer to use their fingers. So, I was keen to know which method is actually best. "I love both equally and for different reasons," says Twist. "When working with matte eye shadows, brushes are your best friend, as this will give you a more seamless blend (they can go a bit patchy if blended with fingers). However, shimmers get the best effect [when using] fingers, as the natural oils on your fingers will give you the best payoff. I also like to use my fingers to change the way eye shadow appears on the skin. [For example], if I feel that the eye shadow looks too intense or overdone, I will go in and blend with my fingers to make the shadow look softer and more lived-in."

So there you have it. Everything you need to know about applying eye shadow that will actually last. If you're keen to give a more complicated eye shadow look a go, check out my essentials below.

Products You Need for a Seamless Eye Shadow Look