Pretty much every makeup-owner will have at least one nude eyeshadow palette in their collection. It’s usually the first makeup product people are introduced to when they start delving into the world of makeup because of how versatile they are.
Sure, bright and bold eyeshadow looks really cool, but sometimes you just want a subtle and elegant look. This is especially the case for beginners who want to play it safe. Here is how to apply nude eyeshadow palettes!
What is nude color?
There is often a misconception about what the color “nude” is. Whilst people might assume that “nude” means a tone that is slightly cream, pink, and resembles a White person’s skin tone, this isn’t actually true.
Technically, there are a bunch of nude colors out there that are all intended to resemble different skin tones.
This means that there is no universal color called “nude”. Nude eyeshadow palettes usually provide a range of nude colors that are designed to suit a range of skin colors (if done correctly).
The colors will range from near-white shadows to brown and black shadows. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use colors that aren’t similar to your skin tone – instead, this diversity in colors means that everyone can explore with “nude” colored makeup to create natural and elegant looks!
I have some advice on choosing a good eyeshadow palette for great results without breaking the bank.
How do you apply nude eyeshadow palette?
A nude eyeshadow palette will typically offer a variety of nude colors that range from pale, near-white shadows, gold or pinkish shimmer shades, light to dark brown mattes, and often black.
This is to allow the user enough shades to create beautiful looks that are typically seen in everyday makeup, prom makeup, wedding makeup, and work makeup.
Here are our steps on how to apply nude eyeshadow. Of course, there’s a bunch of ways to apply eyeshadow to create an abundance of looks, but here’s the most standard way to apply nude eyeshadows.
1. Apply a Primer
Eyeshadow primer is an optional but arguably necessary step to applying eyeshadow. Primer acts as a sticky base which helps to keep the eyeshadow on for longer, plus it helps to exemplify the pigments. If you want your eyeshadow to stand out and not crease in your eyelids, eyeshadow primers are essential.
Some people like to set their primer with a translucent powder or pale eyeshadow to help with the blending process, but this is optional.
2. Pick a Transition Shade
Your transition shade should be a color that both goes with the color of eyeshadow you intend to use in the next steps and one that helps to define your crease. Some people will often skip the transition shade step, but it helps to create a general shape which is essential for those with small or hooded eyes.
Most people opt for a light brown shade for their transition shade to create the crease. The transition shade step is kind of like creating a contour for your eyes.
3. Darken the Crease
If you want your nude eye look to be subtle, most people tend to stop after the transition shade step. However, darkening the crease helps to create a better definition.
Our top tip is to start with a small amount of product and blend it out slowly with circular motions. This is to prevent yourself from accidentally putting too much in the crease, which can be a nightmare to blend.
The color you choose for this step depends on what eyeshadow look you want to achieve. For a natural look, you should use a slightly darker brown than the one you used in the transition shade step. For a smoky look, you can use several brown and dark shades to make the crease look darker.
We like to apply an even darker shade on the outer corner of the crease to make our eyes look even bigger. If you blend the crease shades into the inner corner of the eye, this can make the eyes look hooded and small. Try to keep the inner corner free of dark colors.
4. Apply a Shimmer
Here’s the fun part! Most nude eyeshadow palettes will come with some shimmers, which usually include ivory, gold, bronze, or rose gold. You can choose whatever color you like depending on the look you wish to achieve.
We like to apply shimmer shades to the lid with a finger as the oils from our fingertips help to make the shimmer look more prominent. For a subtle shimmer, use a brush.
Apply the shimmer to the main area of your lid underneath the crease shade. It’s recommended to avoid blending this into the crease, as it will make the whole eyelid look shimmery and a bit messy.
5. Highlight
We like to add a pop of the brightest shade in the palette where the tear duct resides and on top of the brow bone. This is a great way to create an illusion of bigger and brighter eyes.
6. Under the Eyes
This step is optional! Some people like to blend the transition or crease shade(s) behind the bottom lashes to make their eyes appear bigger. This is great for smoky looks! However, some people find that this can make their eyes look smaller, so use a light hand.
7. Eyeliner and Mascara
Complete the look with an optional eyeliner and mascara!
How do you blend eyeshadow?
The key to blending eyeshadow is to use a little amount of product and a light hand. Eyeshadow blending brushes are essential for creating a smooth blend. You should hold the brush lightly and use small circular motions when blending the shadow.
Some might find that when they blend their eyeshadow, it disappears. To prevent this, we like to lightly stamp on the eyeshadow first, then blend it out. You will want to gently clip the edges of the shadow so it slowly blends into your skin or the other eyeshadow shades, otherwise, you’re likely to make the eyeshadow look patchy.
The best tool for blending eyeshadows is a blending brush, which is essentially a rounded brush with lots of fluffy hairs. Think of your eyeshadow like a painting – you have to use a light hand and a little amount of product to blend the paint properly, and the same goes for eyeshadow!
