I know what you’re thinking right now as you read the headline above. 5 seconds?! Who are you kidding?! Is this going to be one of those posts that over-promise and under-deliver?
But what if I told you that it was indeed possible. You can apply and blend the perfect eyeshadow in 5 seconds or even less, and anyone can do it! Yes, even you, who are bemoaning the fact that you can never get eyeshadow to blend properly.
I stumbled on this method of applying eyeshadow one morning when I was a little pressed for time, and had a lightbulb moment. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?! I don’t know if it’s a known tip, but I hit on it quite by accident and after trying it out for a few days with great success, I knew I just had to share it with you! 😀
What you do need however, are cream eyeshadow sticks. Or maybe even cream eyeshadow. They’re easier to blend and you’ll understand why when you see my quick tutorial below. I don’t do tutorials often, so you can tell I’m really excited about this one. Enough to actually take step by step photos! LOL 😀
What you need:-
- cream eyeshadow sticks – in 2 or 3 contrasting shades
- fingers
- 5 seconds
For our purposes today, I used fairly contrasting shades so you can see the effect more clearly. I have this trio of mini Bobbi Brown Long Wearing Cream Eyeshadow sticks from last Christmas in the shades Espresso Bean (black), Smokey Topaz (brown) and Pink Sparkle (pink), so I used these. I picked a deep shade for definition, a lid shade for colour and a light shade for highlight. You can work with just 2 shades if you like – a dark shade and a lid shade.
Here are the step-by-step photos for this quick eyeshadow tutorial, which are pretty self-explanatory, and I’ll elaborate a little below.
- Use the darkest shade and draw a thick line close to your lash line. Don’t worry if it isn’t straight or precise.
- Draw 2 more lines using the lid/blending shade and highlight shade. Draw them one above the other. Again, don’t worry if it isn’t precise or if it looks odd or unblended.
- Use your finger and gently blend the shades together. I usually use the ring finger to blend the dark and lid shade, and then my little finger to blend the lighter shades so it doesn’t get too muddy. Yes I realise my finger looks a little awkward, but I’m sure you know what I mean.
- Voila! 5 seconds and you’re done 🙂 You can line and mascara after that of course. The rest is up to you.
This technique naturally assumes that you already have cream stick eyeshadows. If you have cream eyeshadow in a pot, I reckon it could work as well, but it won’t take you 5 seconds. Maybe 10 😉
Here’s how it looks (sort of) in a full face. The eyes aren’t over done and you can quite easily wear this to work. In fact, I think this eyeshadow technique is perfect for working ladies, because you literally get your eyes done in no time at all, yet look polished, as if you spent 10 minutes per eye, instead of 5 seconds 😉
I have used this technique with all the cream eyeshadow sticks I own, mixing different colours from different brands, and it’s a winner every time, because it’s just so quick and fool proof! The trick is to work one eye at a time, because these products tend to set on skin quite quickly. Once it sets, it’ll be hard to blend.
[clickToTweet tweet=”The eyeshadow trick to the fastest, most flattering eye makeup ever!” quote=”3 lines, 5 seconds, 1 perfectly blended eye look”]
I’ve worked with different shades – deep purple base (Nars Nunavut), light purple lid shade (LM Amethyst); deep blue base (Nars Glenan), bronze lid shade (BB Golden Bronze) and gold (LM Sandglow) (this one’s pretty) and a gradational brown-gold eye (LM Cocoa, BB Golden Bronze, LM Sandglow). Work with your imagination 🙂
This technique also assumes that what you want is quick eye makeup that doesn’t look too elaborate. I’m not very good at doing elaborate eyeshadow anyway, so this sort of look suits me fine. You have the gradational effect without spending too much time labouring over your eyeshadow application, and you get eye makeup that lasts all day!
The cream eyeshadow sticks I favour are the Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks and Bobbi Brown Long Wearing Cream Eyeshadow Sticks (quick comparison here). You can wait till Christmas, when both these brands may come out with holiday sets, so you can pick up a few shades at a go at a value price 🙂 I’m always picking up random colours from both brands, just because I use them fairly often. This will work with any brand of cream eyeshadow sticks, so work with what you have. I don’t own, nor have I tried many brands, only what you see here, but I’m always keeping my eyes open for more!
As much as I’ve enjoyed some powder shadows in recent times, I’ve sort of abandoned most of them after hitting upon this technique simply because I can’t get over how quick and easy it is! Haha… So, I’d love for you to try it and then let me know how you like it, or if it works for you. I actually had this brainwave because of the 5 line foundation trick I use daily. I figured, if it works for the face, why not for the eyes… and it does! 😀
If you plan to try this, or already have, please do share with me below how you liked it. I’d love to know if it works for you too!
I promise you, if you can draw 3 lines (squiggly or otherwise), and have 5 seconds to spare, you’d have a pretty eye makeup look that’ll have people thinking you spend more time on your makeup than you did; and you wishing that you could wear eyeshadow more often! 😀
p/s I cheated a little, I admit. It’ll take you 5 seconds per eye so technically you need 10 seconds to do both eyes 😉
Paris B
Same here. I love cream eyeshadow sticks when I’m a rush. My fav are the Laura mercies caviar sticks.
Ditto! Laura Mercier caviar sticks are IMO the best for quality, price and colour selection out there 🙂
ISH SO CLEVER!! I’m going to give that a go. And I thought my smudging my cream eyeshadows were quick; you’re lightning fast! Speaking of cream sticks, have you tried the By Terry Ombre Blackstars? OMGSOGOOD.
I haven’t tried the By Terry ones. Got a couple of sticks recently, but goodness me! I have to go and look for them! I hear they’re really awesome – but are they as good (or better than) the Laura Mercier ones? Those are my fave 😀 Let me know how it goes for you in the blending/layering trick 😉
wow!! so amazing and it certainly doesn’t look like a 5-sec job! i have tried cream shadows/stickshadows but somehow just can never get it right ><
Try again! Seriously idiot proof trick to perfect eyeshadow LOL!
I LOVE this! I don’t like to do intricate eyeshadow looks either and this method will save me even more time. I hear about new techniques all the time but this is one is so easy who wouldn’t want to incorporate it into their daily routine. Thank you!
Hey Tracy, did you try it? I’d love to hear what you think 😀 I’ve been doing my eyeshadow this way since I worked it out and especially for days when I want my makeup to stay on. Seriously, don’t know why I didn’t think about it earlier! 😀
I never seen this technique before. Usually I do the blend one by one not after I apply all shades! This really sounds saving more time especially when you woke up later than usual 😀 I also like the result and you emphasize on which fingers to blend do help 😀
I used to blend one by one too hehe… did you try it Fathin? Would love to know what you think!
I finally tried this technique with a little twist, haha. I did this starting early October – brand new products, I love to try at the beginning of new month LOL
I used two shades and instead of do that lines like yours, I do sort of like zig zag at upper area (the eyebrow bone and upper lid) for lighter shade and another zig zag at the crease for darker shade. Then I blend those shades together with my ring finger and I’m satisfied with the result 😀 I usually finish the look with eyeliner and mascara because I want to have full look, haha.
October is my dark makeup look so I tend to do heavier eye makeup and dark or fire-engine red lipstick and I skip blush/bronze. Channeling my vampire or witch looks, haha.
Nice job Fathin! 🙂 Whatever works for us I say hehe… It sounds like a quick and easy method as well, and I’m sure the full look is quite something! How interesting that you do deeper looks for October. I actually don’t really pay a lot of attention to the seasons, mainly since it’s always so bright and sunny here right? (well, it was before the haze hit) but I’ve actually been going light with my makeup for a while, lighter lipstick and a more Asian makeup vibe, if you get my meaning. Haha!
Hi Paris, Thank you for the great tip. I saw a Lisa Eldridge video where she promoted cream stick shadow and rewarded myself a Bobbi Brown one. When I try to use powder shadow, I end with a muddy look rather than a polished finish. Plus this is a time saver and one less brush to wash. But have been only using one colour. Didnt think of blending with other colours. Brilliant idea.
Hi Santhi, cream eyeshadow are really amazing right? I like the Bobbi Brown ones too – nice colours and not too expensive, plus very long lasting! But I would suggest that you check out the Laura Mercier ones too – even better colour selection!
Hehe! I tweeted you yesterday that I’d take the equivalent amount of time to sapu primer on my lid so should have guessed your lil trick! I guess I’d take about 20 seconds then since without the primer, it’s almost a given the the cream shadow will crease!
Aww sorry to hear about your oily lids problem, but hey at least you know you can settle that with a primer! 🙂 Yeah 20 seconds should still be ok. You’ll still be ready in under a minute 😉
This is such a brilliant trick! Sometimes i get a bit frustrated with the muddiness from layering. And a good excuse to check out cream eyeshadows too (i only own powder ones so far 🙂
I highly recommend the Laura Mercier ones, Tracy. Super easy to use and not too expensive. But since Xmas season is around the corner, wait up. LM usually does box sets of their caviar eyeshadow sticks 😉
Now, you are tempting me! I haven’t owned any LM stuff so far 🙂
Hehe… But I’m serious. If I come across any info I’ll be sure to share on IG or FB. the eyeshadow sets are really good value and these are my favourite item from LM!
Nice idea. Never thought of it. I only own nyx jumbo eye pencils n they crease since I have oily lids. If I apply eyeshadow primer b4 these jumbo pencils the effects won’t be nice. Does these shadow sticks creases?
Hi Gerrine, the shadow sticks I use don’t crease on me (I use Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier mostly) but I did experience creasing with NYX many years ago. To be fair though, some people have experienced creasing with both BB and LM as well, so I think it’ll depend on how oily your lids are.
That’s very clever, Paris! I’m going to try this. I know I need all the time saving tricks available 😀
Any time saving is a good thing! I’ve been neglecting my powder shadows 😛
I am going to try this when i wake up later! More sleep time for me if i get it right. Yay!
So did it work for you Lisa? 😉 It’s shaved minutes off my morning makeup routine = more sleep yay!
This is my default weekend eyeshadow, but with powder as I don’t have any sticks. It’s genius! Lashings of mascara and you’re ready to play!
Hurrah! Simple and quick. Who has time to mess around on weekends, really! 😉
Hi PB, thanks for the tips. All we need now is time savvy. Everything must be fast. But i am more interested with your lip color. Mind to tell me?
Hiya Tuti! Being fast and saving time is good right? Leaves us time to do other more productive things 😉 The lip shade is Rouge Dior #444 🙂 It’s a gorgeous red-pink!
I’ve always loved using cream shadows (pot and stick), they are long lasting, and so quick and easy.
I tried this technique and got compliments! I never thought of layering, I usually blend just one colour but this creates such a great look. It looked like I spent a gazillion hours doing my eye makeup! And for a change, I don’t look aged with a smokey eye, so this is a winner. Thanks for this!
Yay! Thanks for letting me know this trick works for you! I can’t get over how easy and effective it is myself haha!