How to apply eyeshadow: Step-by-step Pro Artist eye make-up tutorial

If you’re looking for a step-by-step tutorial on how to use eyeshadow, or just want to brush up on your eyeshadow application skills, we’ve got all the advice you need to create different looks with the No7 Pro Artist make-up essentials.

Why is eyeshadow a make-up routine must-have?

Just like switching up your lipstick shade, eyeshadow can become a way to playful express your personality, helping you achieve different looks depending on your mood or the occasion.

From a subtle, barely-there shade that accentuates your natural beauty, to a super-glam smoky eye that really grabs attention – however you want to use eyeshadow, we’re with you every step of the way.

Unsure how to apply eyeshadow? We’ve put together a tutorial with all the tips and tricks you need to help perfect your eyeshadow application for beautiful eye make-up, whatever your desired look.

7 steps to help perfect your eyeshadow application

Step 1: Prep your eyes

Not to be missed, the prep step is the essential starting point for any eye look to help your eyeshadow remain crease-free and last for up to 24 hours.

Start by using a concealer such as No7 Pro Artist Concealer to help cover blemishes and help even skin tone, then use an eyeshadow primer like No7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow Primer to enable smooth and even eyeshadow application.  Sweep over some setting powder like No7 Set the Scene Loose Setting Powder to absorb oil, and you’re ready to go.

Step 2: Choose your eyeshadow application tools

The next step in any eyeshadow tutorial – choosing the right beauty tools. When it comes to perfecting your eyeshadow look, brushes are your best friend.

There are a few different brushes that’ll help you on your way to becoming an eyeshadow application pro:

This soft brush is great for packing powder or cream eyeshadows onto your lids to give an even, buildable coverage. Simply load your chosen eyeshadow shade onto the brush, tap the handle to remove any excess product and sweep across your lids.

This compact brush has angled bristles which make it a useful tool for contouring and blending into the creases and corners of the eyes.   Load up your brush with eyeshadow, tap the excess away and apply your chosen shade to your chosen area of the eye.

Top tip: Apply darker colours in the crease and lighter colours in the inner corners to add depth and definition.

This double-ended brush can be used to help you create your perfect smoky eyes.  Use the foam end to smudge and soften eyeliner, and the bristle end to blend in eyeshadows.

The golden rule of beauty brushes, as any make-up artist will tell you, is to clean them regularly to remove product build up, helping keep brushes in good condition, ready to give you amazing results every time you use them. Spot clean your beauty tools regularly with No7 Make-up Brush Cleanser and deep clean them once a month with warm soapy water, leaving them to dry flat.

Step 3: Select your eyeshadow palette

When it comes to choosing an eyeshadow shade, the only real rule is to express yourself and wear what makes you happy – nothing is off limits if it makes you feel good.

If you’re looking for inspiration, you might want to think about the occasion you’re creating your look for – is it a daytime look where neutral shades would work well, or is it an evening event or special occasion where you want to create a bolder, more dramatic look?

You might also want to consider which eyeshadow colours suit your skin tone and eye colour – take a look at the frequently asked questions section below for more advice on this.

The No7 Pro Artist Eyeshadow Palette Lights Camera Action contains easy-to-blend, buildable shades that can take your look from day to night.

No7 Pro Artist The Full Effect Eyeshadow Palette with a range of shades to create multiple looks, so you’ll never be short of inspiration.

Step 4: Eyeshadow application step-by-step

Now comes the fun bit – applying your eyeshadow. Grab your chosen tools and shades and follow this simple tutorial for tips, tricks and the basics to help you perfect your technique…

Start with a base shade: Grab your eyeshadow brush and apply a neutral shade all over your lid, starting by gently pressing the powder onto the lid before blending it out.

Define the crease: Next, create depth by adding a darker shade to the crease of your eye with your eye contour brush.

Blend: Use a clean smudger brush (or fingertips if you’re using a cream eyeshadow formula) to blend your eyeshadow outwards for a seamless finish.

Top tip: Apply a small amount of product and blend and repeat until you’ve reached your desired level of coverage. Remember – it’s easier to gradually add more product than it is to take it away if you find you’ve accidentally applied too much product.

Add a pop of colour: Select a brighter colour and use your contour brush to apply to the centre of the lid, then highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the eye for a wide-eye effect.

Step 5: Day & night eyeshadow looks

One of the great things about eyeshadow is you can use it to create divine daytime looks and glamorous evening make-up. You can even use your new-found eyeshadow expertise to transition your look from one to the other when you’re short on time.

Daytime look: Sweep a soft, neutral shade all over your eyelid for a subtle, everyday look. Add a little bit extra by sweeping a slightly darker shade in the crease, and a lighter shade or highlighter to the inner corner to accentuate your eyes.

Night-time glam: Dial up the drama for an evening look with a bold smoky eye. Choose two or three shades in the same hue and apply the lightest one all over your eyelid as a base. Next, use the darkest shade (or shades) to accentuate your crease and top and bottom lash lines. Build up the pigment to your desired effect, using an eye brush to blend as you go for a eye accentuating smoky effect that’s as gorgeous as it is eye-catching.

Transform your daytime look to night-time glam by blending in darker shades on your outer corner and lash lines to add more depth and drama or adding a shot of shimmer.

Top tip: Create a megawatt finish by using your fingertips to add a layer of shimmer shadow over your existing eye make-up.

Add a sweep of your favourite No7 eyeliner and a couple of coats of mascara and you’re good to go!

Step 6: The finishing touches

Now you're on the way to perfecting your eyeshadow, it’s time to add the last little bit of impact with liner and mascara. Whether you’re a fan of a winged eyeliner (try No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Eye Liner), prefer a smudge of brown pencil (try No7 Pro Artist 12-Hour Artist pencil in Noisette Brown or like to make sure all eyes are on you with a jewel tone (try No7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eye Pencil in Green, Blue or Purple) these are the touches that can help make your eyeshadow really pop . And don’t forget to bring your look together with a sweep of your favourite No7 mascara.

Step 7: Lock in your look

Once you’re happy with your make-up, the last step should always be to lock it in with a setting spray like No7 Pro Artist Finishing Touch Fixing Spray.

How to apply eyeshadow based on your eye shape

Ready for another eyeshadow trick of the trade? Choosing shades and application techniques that flatter your eye shape. Here’s how…

Almond eyes: A great way to enhance this beautiful eye shape is to apply your crease colour then use a darker shade at the outer corners, blending up and out towards the temple to help create a lifted effect.

Round eyes: Applying the same colour around the top and bottom lash lines will emphasise round eyes. If you want to make them appear more elongated, try winging out your eyeshadow, and use a softer shade on your bottom lash line – or leave it bare and simply go for a sweep of mascara.

Hooded eyes: Matte eyeshadows are a great choice for this eye shape, with just a little bit of shimmer on the visible eyelid if that takes your fancy.

No7 eyeshadow top picks

Ready to dive into the wonderful world of eyeshadow? There’s so much choice – from different formulas and finishes to, of course, which shades to try. Here are some of our favourites…

For three shade options in one, try the No7 Eye Shadow Trios, which come in a variety of shade choices so you can create your perfect look.  Each palette contains three shades that can work together to create a quick and easy eye look.

Create endless looks with the No7 Eye Shadow Palette. Featuring matte, metallic and pearlescent shades, there’s something for a variety of occasions.

Ready to curate your own collection of eyeshadows? The No7 Mono Eyeshadows come in a wide range of high-intensity colours so you can be as creative as you like.

Take a look at the full range of No7 eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes.

Frequently asked questions about eyeshadow

How to apply eyeshadow for beginners?

The eyeshadow tutorial above will give you step-by-step advice on how to apply eyeshadow. If you’re new to creating eye make-up looks, try starting with something subtle before moving on to stronger looks as your confidence builds. Remember, practice makes perfect, so even if your smoky eye doesn’t turn out quite the way you planned it first time, you’ll get there. Even the best make-up artists had to start somewhere!

What eyeshadow colours suit my skin tone & eye colour?

When it comes to colour, there are no rules – simply wear what you love! Make-up can be an extension of your personality and feeling beautiful from within.

If you’re not sure which eyeshadow shades to go for, or want to choose a hue that really flatters your skin tone and eye colour, here’s some inspiration:

• Warm undertone (skin appears golden, yellow or peach): Choose warm colours like golds, oranges and reds
• Cool undertone (skin appears pink, red or blue): Try green, blue and purple shades
• Neutral undertone (skin doesn’t have warm or cool tones): Experiment with warm and cool shades
• Fair complexion: Your ideal colour palette ranges from gold and bronze hues to softer champagne and rose shades, as well as deeper shades like plums and greens in a shimmer finish.
• Olive complexion: Neutral shades like golden browns suit olive skin tones, as well as jewel hues like royal blue and emerald green for an empowering pop of colour.
• Dark complexion: Bold, vibrant eyeshadow like greens, blues and pinks look great on dark skin tones. For more neutral hues, try warm golds and burgundy shades.
• Brown eyes: Emphasise brown eyes with golden shades, or make those peepers pop with purple and blue hues.
• Blue eyes: Warm shades like coppers, oranges and browns bring out the brilliance of blue eyes. For a more neutral look, try soft peach and champagne shades.
• Green eyes: Oranges, reds and golds look great with green eyes. Rose gold shades are also a good choice for subtly bringing green eyes to life.

How can I stop my eyeshadow from creasing?

Preparation is key when it comes to stopping your eyeshadow from creasing. A primer like No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Primer is a great way of creating a smooth base and helping your eyeshadow grip and stay in the right place all day.

Another top tip is to use a setting powder like No7 Pro Artist Set the Scene Loose Setting Powder to absorb excess oil and help your makeup last.

Using clean make-up brushes can also help (try No7 Make-up Brush Cleanser), and don’t’ forget to lock your look in place with a setting spray like No7 Pro Artist Finishing Touch Fixing Spray.

How do I blend my eyeshadow

A great way to blend eyeshadow is to use an eyeshadow brush like the No7 Eye Colour Brush to sweep your shade across your lids in a backwards and forwards motion. This will help distribute the product and blend and soften any edges. Remember to build up your product a little bit at a time,

Now you know the insider tips and tricks for putting on your eyeshadow, it’s time to go out there and make sure all eyes are on you…