Eyeshadow 101 #DitsyDecember

It's time for another 'Makeup 101'! I know, I know - I haven't done a post like this for a long while. Ever since January, in fact! I guess with everything going on this year, continuing this series has simply fell by the wayside - but not any longer! I really want to get back into this tips 'n' tricks series again. And next up on the list of makeup steps, we have Eyeshadow. And with this being such a wide and extensive makeup department, in my opinion, for this edition I thought that rather than doing just five tips - I'd do a more detailed collection of ten, in order to hopefully cover as many bases as possible. Let's get started...

• Choose a good base - and there's more on that in my last Makeup 101! A good eyeshadow look requires a good canvas after all...
• If you have issues with creasing or have particularly oily eyelids, you may have to lightly set it with powder before applying your eyeshadow but if you can, definitely leave your base/primer un-set! This gives your eyeshadows the best chance of adhering nice and well-pigmented!
• Start with the darkest/deepest colour you're going to use first - many call this the 'Backwards Blending' Technique. Instead of the more 'traditional' way of beginning with your lightest transition shade and then gradually building up to your darkest hue - reverse that process! Your mattes will apply so much more pigmented and with practise, blend just as easily too.
• Application! Wanna pack on colour? 'Stamp' on your colours with a more dense brush. Then for Blending, use more flexible, fluffy brushes to start diffusing harsh edges. I personally like to use a mixture of circular and 'windshield wiper' motions to blend, in order to hopefully achieve the smoothest and seamless finish! Shimmer-wise, a flat synthetic brush is always your best bet, unless of course they don't easily pick up - in which case, a fingertip is the way to go (and then you can always use a detailer brush to get up to the edges if doing a more precise cut crease/halo eye). And don't forget the lower lash line! Using a short, smudger brush - apply the deepest colour rigth against your lower lash line, before using a lightly fluffier (but still flat) smudging brush to apply a lighter colour to blend out the edges.
• Also, whilst we're here talking about application - good brushes is key! They don't have to be pricey by any means (Beauty Bay and Spectrum both do an amazing range of brushes, most you can buy individually or in sets) and are pretty reasonably priced too. You just want soft, sturdy and effective brushes that also wash up well too. Cause if you're starting to experiment with your eyeshadow, you definitely don't want your colours mixing together...  
• Regarding Colours - I'd say start off with the basics. In terms of Neutrals, you have your Cool-Tones, Warm-Tones and then true 'Neutrals' that sit right in the middle. Generally, if you stick to one of those undertones when placing colours together for a neural look - you should be ok! Then, for Bright/Bold/Colourful Shadows, these can be a little more of a minefield at first. However, if you break it down it can seem less overwhelming! Again, if you generally break them down into different colour families - things should be a lot easier! All colours can theoretically be placed and combined together into one look, but not all colours are going to blend into each other - and if they don't, that's when they'll start to look 'muddy', a.k.a. Brown! The best idea is to pull out a colour wheel - Colours next or close to each other will blend, colours  further apart (mainly opposite) will not! Like I said, any colours can be paired together in a look but not all colours can be placed directly next to each other as that's when blending comes into play and can make things murky...
• Wanna create a super sharp, winged out look? Maybe you're planning on adding black winged liner to your look or are simply after a feline shape for your shadow (instead of keeping things more rounded). With practice and careful application, you can learn to kinda create that shape as you go with applying your shadow but until then, use a good ol' makeup wipe! This is mainly a good hack for if you're doing your eyes first, so once you're all done, use a makeup wipe to slowly swipe away any excess shadow and create that sharp, winged out shape! Just be careful to now remove too much at once and ensure they match up, as you can remove more but can't put it back!
• My best cut-crease hack? Take a cotton bud with some micellar water and use it to carve out the shape of your cut crease. Slowly but surely, you can remove but you can't put it back! Then, you just have to fill in the shape you've created with your concealer/eye base, using a flat definer brush and there you're ready to go!
• Want your shimmers to apply super poppin', intense and reflective? Use your finger to apply them or slightly wet the brush with some primer water! I've also heard applying a thin layer of glitter primer (what you use to apply loose glitters) can be great way of really making your shimmers super metallic, as it naturally has that necessary tacky texture!
• Worried about fall-out? First of all, always tap off your brush before apply to dust off any excess! Then, try doing your eyes before your base makeup and then you can simply remove any fall-out afterwards with a makeup wipe. Or, if you prefer doing your eyes after/during doing your base makeup - try placing a light layer of loose powder underneath your eyes beforehand in order to catch it and make it super easy to just dust away!