How to Apply Three Colors of Eye Shadow

In your adventures up and down the cosmetic aisle at your drugstore or favorite department store, you have no doubt seen the kits with a palette of three colors or four colors of eye shadow packed in one compact.

The manufacturers do this for you to take the guess work out of finding three hues that work together in the same color family - light, medium and dark. You can certainly use one color for your entire eye area for a simple and clean look, but once you know how to apply all three colors you will be surprised at the gorgeous eyes you will see looking back at you!

Apply eye primer to clean eyelids; this will prevent your makeup from creasing throughout the day. Over the primer, apply a flesh tone eye shadow or concealer from lash line to brow bone. The concealer serves as a base that allows the colors you use to start with flawless skin, a sort of clean canvas, in the eye area.

Apply the medium color from lash line to crease. You may use the applicator that comes with the kit, or if you have brushes, use the eye brush with a larger flat head. Brushes will offer a better shape and more control, but this is an individual preference.

Take your crease eye shadow brush (or clean the end of applicator you just used) and press the darkest color onto the crease. Those who do not have an evident crease can stipple the color onto the outer corner of the eye in a V shape. The darkest color is generally used to contour the eye so that it appears to have more depth and dimension to your eye.

Swirl a larger eye shadow brush in the lightest color. Tap off excess and apply the product to your brow bone. If you like the doe-eyed look, apply the lightest color on the inner corners of your eyes by the bridge of the nose. If the color has a shimmer to it, and you want to give your eyes additional sparkle for a night out, pat some shadow on the center of your top eyelid. When the light catches the shimmer, your eyes will be the focus.

Clean off the same brush (or applicator) with a tissue, and use the brush to blend away any hard lines in your eye makeup so where one color ends and the next one begins is seamless. You may have heard this referred to as a line of demarcation, and you do not want to see this with any of your makeup!

So with a few easy steps and few extra minutes of your time, you have created an eye look that gorgeous and glamorous.