Eye shadow can be intimidating.
Let me clarify. Eye shadow that is colorful, dark, intense, etc. can be intimidating. So because these things are scary and you have no idea how to apply them without looking like a makeup monster, you buy the faintest pink or nude with a beautiful sparkle-osity that screams YOU. Then you put it on and no one notices because it either falls from your eye lid to your face, or it just completely disappears into your eye skin.
Sometimes I wonder if they put all of the glitter on top of the actual eye shadow to fake me out. Then once I swipe the first swatch, every ounce of sparkle is completely gone and the rest of my little eye shadow is dull and lifeless.
Stop me if I’m wrong guys. (Please don’t stop me. It’s 10pm and my laundry still isn’t done. I need this.)
The moral of the story and reason I went to all of the trouble creating this picture collage of me awkwardly holding my head up by my hair is this: It can be hard to make that beautifully bright pigment look as good on your lids as it does in the package. The End.
Not really the end, but we’re getting there.
Finally in my ripe old age of 31, I’ve figured a way around glitter loss and I’ve now got the sparkles working for me. I’m the boss. The sparkle goes where I say it goes! (I’m not crazy, just utterly exhausted.) And it stays put.
Mkay, trick time. I guess you could call it a hack but I don’t think it’s that revolutionary. Just something I figured out by accident and it seems to work like a charm.
Apparently during the application of this I could not or would not smile. Ugh. And why didn’t I do more brow fill? Or my nails? Actually, this is a fair and honest representation of me in real life. Shrugs
ADD PRIMER TWICE! No really, that’s the trick. See, I knew it wasn’t a hack. Still pretty cool though.
Here’s the gist of it.
1. Prime your lid as you normally would (or wouldn’t if you don’t use primer) and add your base color of choice.
I go with whatever samples I have snagged for free. Sometimes I’m a rebel and I just cover my eye lid with foundation, set it with powder, then go on with my eye shadow business. BASE color I used was in the Naked 3 palette and it’s glorious, like moonlight, it makes everyone look good.
2. Add your contour shade (also optional but adds to the popping of the glitter)
just work this deeper tone into the crease and blend it ever so gently. Don’t go into your brow bone. That’s just a rule of thumb (or so I’ve been told).
3. ADD the primer AGAIN, but only to the spot on your lid where you want intense sparkle.
The general consensus is that the center of your lid is perfect for “highlighting”. Using a small brush, tap on a bit of your primer and smooth it with either your brush or your finger. I don’t care. Both will work. Be quick because you want it to be tacky when you add your shimmer.
4. Tap on your glitter/shimmer/sparkle of choice.
I will always and forever use my finger for this step because I find it to be more concentrated and easier to maneuver. Professional are possibly rolling their eyes at me and I’m OK with that. So just tap it on and blend it out slightly. It wont be too gliterific all over since you didn’t put the primer all over. It should just blend out nicely.
Lastly, add your eye liner and mascara if you so choose and that’s it. You’re done. Simple, right?
Here are the lovely links to the things I used and if you have questions about different brands, ask. I’ve used other brands to achieve the same sparkle.
PRIMER: Urban Decay Eye Shadow Potion-Nude
SHADOW: Naked 3 by Urban Decay in colors Strange, Dust, and Factory
LASHES: NYX Lash Primer and NYX Doll Eye Mascara in black
And now I’m going to sleeeeeep.
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Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words 🙂 Always love supporting fellow bloggers! <3
Love this tutorial! And your pictures are gorgeous!
I’m actually curious, what lighting equipment do you use?! Because that shit is on point!
Thanks Dana! I actually just made a DIY ring light for about 20 bucks. I have it basically taped to a mason jar at the moment (no joke) so my camera can sit right in the center.
It’s not a perfect setup but it was cheap and that’s my thing right now haha. My friend did a blog post on how to make one if you want to seeeee
http://chaddalke.com/?p=136
Dude – you are the best for sharing this!
I love the way you’ve placed all the photos like a step by step tutorial. Do you have Pinterest? You should definitely put this up there if you haven’t yet 🙂
Um…you just made my day 🙂 Thank you! I do have a pinterest! I was debating on whether it was good enough to share…and now I think I will because ya twisted my arm 😉
Aw so glad I could do that!
Oh that’s great. I’m going to follow your pinterest just so I can repin it 😀
very nice
This is great! I love sparkle….and I have some free primer samples. I’m totes going to try this. Oh, and the pictures look amazing. I agree, it’s great lighting. 🙂
You totes should 😉 I bet you would look lovely with a little glitz for the office 😉 <3
See I don’t even use a lid primer (I do own them too haha) so I will definitely start introducing that into my routine as I am a big fan of sparkly lids! You look gorgeous 🙂 xxxx
Well thank you lovely 🙂
I’m guilty of letting my lids go naked too haha But this really does keep the pretties in place and makes them pop a bit more 🙂
GIRL you’re a genius! never thought to add primer on top to the areas where I wanted highly pigmented sparkles <3!
Serene | I Am Serene L
Ahhh thank you my dear friend!!! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one that thought this was game changing lol! I just happened to stumble on it and my eyes have been poppin’ ever since 😉
I’m gunna try this trick out today 😀 ohhhhh yeah :p xoxo
Yesssss! I want pics girl!!!
Girll you’re gunna get a selfie :p hehehe xo
What a great hack! Now I wanna try this!!!
You definitely should! You have the lids for it girl 😉
Awesome tips! Eyeshadow is so difficult but just takes practice! Check out my blog https://makeupwithak.wordpress.com XOX
Exactly girl! We never stop learning 😉 Goodness, I look back on when I was in my twenties and wish I could have given my past self some HELP haha <3 Thanks for stopping by!!!
LOL!!! I wonder how I even went out in public with the things I did.
Firstly, I cannot believe you’re 31?!? I so thought you were in your early 20s! & I loved this post. I’m the worst at eye shadow so this was super helpful ^_^
Have a lovely day gorgeous.
P xo
http://www.FairyP.co.uk
I wish!! lol But thank you. Sometimes my brain still thinks I’m 22 haha 🙂 I am glad it was helpful. Eye shadow is one of those things that can get really messed up in a hurry. Hooray for hacks! <3
Amazing tip. I googled for a primer for my Mac pigments and came across the too faced glitter glow. It works wonders and will probably do the same with this glitter eyeshadow method. Love the UD primer too though 🙂
Yes! And Two Faced is always amazing! Love their stuff just as much. Thanks love!
Good to know! Thanks for sharing lovely! Btw, you look awesome! 😘 Annie | Annie’s Beauty
You’re too sweet! Thank you friend 🙂
Brilliant idea about adding primer again! This look is gorgeous and it seriously sparkles in all the right places! I never really use the shade dust from naked 3, but you’ve just taught me a new and practical way to incorporate it into my looks! 🙂
Thank you 🙂 🙂
I’m glad it’s not just me that sometimes feels like I neglect shades! For a while I never used Dust either until I decided I liked it by accident lol!
Hello! 🙂
I’ve nominated you for this award.
https://alluringprincess.wordpress.com/2015/11/25/bloggers-recognition-award/
Working a sparkle New Years look… so I’m paying a visit to this post! Now, I’m heading out to Ulta to get some extra sparkle. Not sure what I’ll come with up.. but we’ll see! I like the tutorial photos you did! Did you use your phone or camera? They came out nice!
I’ll definitely want to see what you come up with!!! I just purchased some NYX roll on glitter for eyes that I use with this trick too and it works wonders.
I used my brand spankin’ new camera but this post was my first time using it. I’m glad they didn’t look entirely amateur lol ☺️
No, the pics were really nice! what kind of camera did you get? Does it have the flip out screen?
Yes, the screen flips! It’s a lifesaver.
I bought the Samsung NX3000 and I had been using the lens it comes with and my DIY ring light but lately for instagram I’ve been using my 45 mm prime lens. Not sure which one I like better but that’s my setup!
The DIY ring light? Is that a brand or one you made? I have a big ring light… like on a stand but we haven’t done much with it yet. I can’t operate my husband’s camera. It’s too complicate and my alternative to him is my phone. LOL
As in “do it yourself” ring light which I made with the help of my photography friend! It’s not fancy…I have it taped to a mason jar as a stand…lol You take great pictures for using your phone!
Some pics (probably any that you like) are actually were not me, but Mike taking them. Or me taking them with Mike standing over and telling me how to do it!
Shhhhh! That can be our little secret. 😉