A little while ago, I shared with you some tips I picked up after going for a Dior makeover and I told you that one of the most interesting tips I learnt was to use eyeliner as a eyeshadow base. I realised that my text instructions were a little confusing, so here is a pictorial tutorial, as it were, on how to use this very easy, very effective trick to apply eyeshadow.
Incidentally, I had a Burberry Beauty makeover recently and the makeup artist used the same trick! He did use a different coloured liner for different results, but the essence is the same. This must be some secret makeup artist trick I’ve just stumbled on and how you have access to it too 🙂
I’m still practising with this, and I can tell you that it will look better and you will accomplish this much more quickly the more you do it. So please excuse the imperfections in the images below and just focus on the essence. Also, different eye shapes will produce different results so work with your eye shape 🙂
- Bare eye. You can prep your lid with a thin layer of concealer to even out the colour.
- Take a black pencil eyeliner and draw a thick line from your lash line upwards about 1/3 of your lid. Its ok if its not perfectly straight or even.
- Use a smudge brush, sponge or your fingers to smudge out the edges.
- This is what it should look with your eye open. You sould be able to see some of the black colour. Do note that different eye shapes will produce a different result.
- There is no picture #5 because I evidently cannot count! Oops 😛
- Take a lid colour and dab it on your eyelid, starting in the center of your lid and then use the residual colour on your brush on the inner corner and outer corner. This draws attention to the center of your lid and gives your eye a 3D effect. Take a slightly deeper colour and dab on the outer corner. Its ok if its not smooth and even or has a harsh edge.
- This is how it will look with your eyes open.
- Keeping your eyes open, take a blending brush and blend away the harsh edges. Only do the edges. If you blend the lid colour, it’ll sheer out and look less intense.
- This is how it might look when you’re done.
- Take a fluffy eyeshadow brush and dab into a light highlight colour, and apply to your brow bone, starting from the arch and then blending sideways along the underside of your brow. This again gives you the 3D look.
- And this would be how it looks after you are done.
- To finish off, draw a liner on the lower lid starting from the outside to about 1/3 or half way in then blend the colour. To clean up the eye area, use an under eye concealer or illuminator and brush around the under eye area.
I was taught that if you use this trick, you may notice that your powder eyeshadow will stay on longer as the wax in the pencil acts as a base. Also, the other benefit is that you will not have to draw on eyeliner again, as the colour will naturally be deeper closer to your lashes where you started, and so it saves you one extra step. I do tightline, so when I start, I tightline and then draw in the liner. Make sure you fill up the gaps between your lashes so it looks more natural.
Another benefit is that its very quick. You can do a very impressive looking eye in just a few minutes with just 3 colours or a basic palette, and you can do this with any colour.
The fourth and final benefit is that a black base deepens the colour of eyeshadow so you get some pretty amazing lid popping colours with what you might have thought were simple, nondescript lid colours. Definitely worth a try 🙂
Do you already use this trick to apply eyeshadow? Does it intrigue you enough to try it?
I learnt at Burberry that if you want a softer look but with a similar sort of effect, use a brown pencil eyeliner. The effect is less eye popping, and if you then pair it with a cream or a brown shadow, you get a polished sort of look. Try it and see for yourself 🙂
For my daily use, I use the Guerlain Kohl eyeliner pencil in ME Black and for this post, I used the Dior Smokey Khaki palette as pictured above. My regularly used eye brushes are the MAC 239 for lid colour, Tony & Tina Blending brush (discontinued) to blend, and Sigma E55 Eye Shading brush for lid and for applying colour at the brow area because of the fluffier and wider brush head.
Paris B
wow, it really makes a difference to see each step! The colors you use look gorgeous; I need to try this!
Hope it works for you 🙂 pictures are so much easier than just trying to imagine from text, right? 😉
What an amaaaahhhhzing colour! I mean the green. This all make-up looks beautiful on You 🙂
Aww thank you Krisz 🙂 you can do the same with any khaki shade and a gold. They go beautifully together!
Fabulous tip! I will try this… I think the NYX Jumbo Pencils sort of do the same thing but I think they smudge and crease like crazy if you do not use an eyeshadow primer. Would you need to do that too which this kohl liner technique?
I think the principle of the Nyx liners is the same but I found Nyx liners a bit more creamy so they slide more. Also, you want the black base to help the colours pop so I think a matte sort of liner is best for this trick, or even a gel liner as some have suggested. You can use any normal pencil. The people at Burberry used just a regular pencil as did the one at Dior. I used the Guerlain because it’s the only one I use daily 🙂
Wah, this looks downright amazing for the small amount of effort you expended. Too bad I have yet to find an eyeliner that doesn’t run all over the place on me. Your quip about #5 killed me, btw.
It’s effortless for maximum impact! 😉 if eyeliner doesn’t work, look for a deep colored or black cream shadow. The impact would be similar 😉
I tried it when you blogged on tips after your Dior makeover. Didn’t come out that smoothly for me – but I guess more practice is required. It turned out better the 2nd time – but I find that I still need to use my gel eyeliner after the *pencil liner – smudge – eye shadow – blend* routine for a smokey effect.
More practice is needed at my end for sure especially since I really like the way it’s turned out for you in the pics and am aiming for that effect.
Practice makes perfect, JK 😉 it took me a few tries before I got the effect I wanted. I usually do this for the day ( ya I know, so drama!) so I skip the liner but if I wanted something more dramatic, then yes, additional liner will do the trick!
Hi! Yay finally! Thank you 🙂
Hope you found this useful, Anthea!
oh gosh. looks so stunning!
Super easy, Camy and you can do it with any eyeliner and shadow!
Definitely trying this, sounds great!
Let me know if it works for you Sam!
Hi there,
Anyway Great trick n Beautiful colour.
What eyeshadow is that?
Its listed at the bottom of the post – Dior Smokey Khaki Trio 🙂
From being an avid reader of your blog, this is one of the best looks you’ve done. I like all your steps until step 10. I think you blended too much off so you can’t see the effect of the black or smokey, if you were going for smokey. Otherwise, great look!
Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
The Dior Smokey Khaki palette look nice. May I know what is the number for the palette? And is it permanent series in Malaysia? Thank you very much.
Hi Sam, I believe the number is #481 and I am given to understand that it may not be available here in Malaysia anymore but is still sold as a permanent item in Europe/USA. I’m not too sure about this to be honest. But you can get it on Strawberrynet where I got mine if they still have it 🙂
I read few times for this post just to see the Dior Smoky Khaki… and I think I felt in love with it. Both the sales gal said it is not available anymore when I check out Metrojaya at the curve and Parkson at Pyramid. I was a little disappointed still I give it a last try at Metrojaya at MidValley. Guess what, I got it and I love it. Thank you for providing such an awesome post to all of us.
Hi Sam, happy to know you got your hands on it in the end! It’s a very pretty palette
Hi. May I know what palette is this? I can’t find it in any Dior counters in KL
Hi Jo, its Smoky Khaki which may no longer be carried locally. Another reader in the comments reported that she hunted one down by checking the different Dior counters in KL. It may still be available overseas or you can also get it online at Strawberrynet where I got mine 🙂 Good luck.