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Home » Eyes » Eyeliner » Tip and How To: Using Eyeliner as an Eyeshadow Base

Tip and How To: Using Eyeliner as an Eyeshadow Base

November 5, 2012 Paris B 68 Comments

easy eyeshadow tutorial

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 🙂

easy eyeshadow tutorial

easy eyeshadow tutorial

easy eyeshadow tutorial

  1. Bare eye. You can prep your lid with a thin layer of concealer to even out the colour.
  2. 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.
  3. Use a smudge brush, sponge or your fingers to smudge out the edges.
  4. 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.
  5. There is no picture #5 because I evidently cannot count! Oops 😛
  6. 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.
  7. This is how it will look with your eyes open.
  8. 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.
  9. This is how it might look when you’re done.
  10. 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.
  11. And this would be how it looks after you are done.
  12. 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

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About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

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68 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. kuri says

    November 6, 2012 at 12:27 am

    wow, it really makes a difference to see each step! The colors you use look gorgeous; I need to try this!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 6, 2012 at 11:00 pm

      Hope it works for you 🙂 pictures are so much easier than just trying to imagine from text, right? 😉

      Reply
  2. krisz says

    November 6, 2012 at 12:29 am

    What an amaaaahhhhzing colour! I mean the green. This all make-up looks beautiful on You 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 6, 2012 at 11:02 pm

      Aww thank you Krisz 🙂 you can do the same with any khaki shade and a gold. They go beautifully together!

      Reply
  3. Beauty Box says

    November 6, 2012 at 4:08 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 6, 2012 at 11:06 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
  4. Laura says

    November 6, 2012 at 11:16 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 6, 2012 at 11:43 pm

      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 😉

      Reply
  5. jk says

    November 6, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 7, 2012 at 12:03 am

      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!

      Reply
  6. Anthea says

    November 6, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    Hi! Yay finally! Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 7, 2012 at 12:16 am

      Hope you found this useful, Anthea!

      Reply
  7. Camy says

    November 6, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    oh gosh. looks so stunning!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 7, 2012 at 12:19 am

      Super easy, Camy and you can do it with any eyeliner and shadow!

      Reply
  8. Sam says

    November 8, 2012 at 9:56 am

    Definitely trying this, sounds great!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 9, 2012 at 12:16 pm

      Let me know if it works for you Sam!

      Reply
  9. Shija says

    November 9, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    Hi there,
    Anyway Great trick n Beautiful colour.
    What eyeshadow is that?

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 14, 2012 at 5:52 pm

      Its listed at the bottom of the post – Dior Smokey Khaki Trio 🙂

      Reply
  10. sunnie says

    November 12, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      November 14, 2012 at 10:47 pm

      Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Sam says

    December 8, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      December 10, 2012 at 6:43 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam says

        December 18, 2012 at 9:51 pm

        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.

        Reply
        • Paris B says

          December 18, 2012 at 10:04 pm

          Hi Sam, happy to know you got your hands on it in the end! It’s a very pretty palette

          Reply
  12. Jo says

    December 26, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Hi. May I know what palette is this? I can’t find it in any Dior counters in KL

    Reply
    • Paris B says

      December 29, 2012 at 12:40 pm

      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.

      Reply
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My Women Stuff by Paris B

Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

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