Makeup..  We all love to wear it, but do you know how to put it on?  In all honesty my biggest struggle with makeup are: eye shadows.  It’s one of my favorite types of makeup to put on; but yet the one I feel is the most difficult with.  I didn’t grow up with a mom that taught me how to do makeup; my mom is pretty simple & straightforward.  The most makeup she’ll do is an eyeliner & lipstick.  So for the  most part, applying any makeup I’ve had to learn on my own.

I’ve mentioned this before but I’m a lucky girl that I have 2 friends who are makeup artists!  And BOTH of them have given me lessons & demos on how to do my makeup!  Lately I’ve been having my friend Andy Travis, who is a MAC makeup artist, give me private lessons!  How amazing is that?

Also nowadays with the advent of Youtube, there are thousands of videos for you to check out!  I do regularly watch makeup tutorials on Youtube, but for me it was hard to find everyday makeup, as well as ones for beginners.  There are lots of them on how to achieve the ‘no makeup look’, which I’m not crazy about; because I feel if you want that look so badly, why not just not wear any?  Now, with my research I’ve listed lots of easy eye tutorials here for you!

 

The Essentials You Need:

The tools you need:

Real Techniques Starter Kit, $12

Ecotools 6 piece Essential Eye Set, $11

I think every girl should own a set of makeup brushes.  And with either of the 2 sets above, you’ve got everything you need!

 

When I want to buy individual makeup brushes, I tend to go to Real Techniques or E.L.F.  For E.L.F. I feel the quality is good & inexpensive; whereas Real Techniques the brushes feel really lush & professional.

 

 

Here I will list some tutorials for you, & scroll to the bottom for where to buy!

The Easiest Eyeshadow:

Watch the video here!

This Youtube blogger, named Alexandra, breaks it down very easily for you.  All you need are 3 shades of eyeshadow, & and an eyeshadow brush!

Sinead Cady, the blogger behind the Makeup Chair, & here she gives a demo of how to do everyday eyeshadow with only one makeup brush!  Click here to watch!

Ever seen women with great smoky eyes & just wondered how they did it?  Australian makeup artist Stephanie Lange, has a smoky eye demo for you in about 4 min!  She does use an eye stencil, which does make the process easier, but I don’t think you need it.  Click here to watch her easy smoky eye demo!

Ever want to wear eyeshadow every day, but wondered how you could do it without spending  an hour?  This Youtube vlogger named Leighann, talks you through her daily makeup routine.  And all in about 5 minutes!  Click here to watch!

Another 5 min makeup tutorial!  This Youtube blogger named LustreLux (real name: Katy), features this gorgeous eye makeup that she does in under 5 min!  She does use Urban Decay’s Naked palette, but don’t worry, you don’t need to get the same thing.  There are always substitutes that you can get instead of high end makeup.  Click here to watch her video!

And finally the last video I’m going to feature is again from Sinead Cady, from the Makeup Chair, where she too is using the eye stencil.  And here she features 2 different looks in one video!

 

 

Makeup You Might Need:

You will see in some of the videos that they do use expensive makeup.  Here I will list options for you so that you don’t need to break your wallet!  I’ve bought all different kinds of eyeshadows from high to low, and I don’t see much of a difference.  And no one looking at you will know the difference.  Get something that makes you look great & that you can afford!

Bebeautiful Eyeshadow 88 Shades Palette Matte, $10

If you want to play like a real makeup artist, get a palette that has every shade of the rainbow!  And only $10!

Makeup Revolution Flawless Ultra 32 EyeShadow Palette, $15

Would you like something smaller?  Makeup Revolution has lots of different palettes for only $10 or $15!  If you don’t like this one, you can check out what other palettes they have!

For a portable nude palette: L’oreal’s Color Riche La Palette Nude 1, $20

Nude shades are always great for they go with all skin tones, match all colors, & you can wear them for any occasion!  I think this is a dupe for Urban Decay’s Naked palette, which is $54!  Save yourself some money & get this one!

For a shimmery palette: Maybelline’s The Rock Nudes, $12

Brand new on the market, Maybelline’s tag line is that this palette will bring out ‘your inner rock star’.  With a mix of nudes & metallic colors, you can wear it to work, or for your nights out!

For a portable palette but yet has a nice variety of colors: Makeup Revolution’s Essential Day to Night Redemption Eye Shadow Palette, $7

Ok I’m featuring some palettes by Makeup Revolution; But I love how many colors I can get for the price!  And they offer this palette in other colors as well!  Click here to check them all out!

 

For the girls on the go:

Almay’s Intense I-Color Party Brights, $8 each

For me personally, I love portability.  I love the fact that I can take it anywhere & pop it out for a touch up.  As wonderful as big makeup palettes are, they’re inconvenient to bring around.  This is wonderful for touch ups, or when you’re traveling, etc.  And Almay offers them in lots of colors!  Click on this link & you’ll see 12 different mini palettes to choose from! (they have them grouped in 3 categories)

Revlon’s PhotoReady Primer & Eyeshadow, $11 each

Another portable option!  And they’ve shaped the palette on where you should put the colors!  It doesn’t get any easier than this!

 

Things You Will Most Likely Need:

Eye Primer:

Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer, $9, Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer, $7, E.L.F.’s Eye Primer & Liner Sealer, $3

And what is that?  Eye primer is like a foundation for your eyeshadows: you put it all over your lid, & the goal is to get your whole lid to be the same color (most people are not), & as well as to make your makeup last longer.  Ideally you should be using a primer that is close to your skin tone.  The problem is that not many eye primers come in a variety of colors.  Solution?  Use a concealer instead!  Concealer also works as a primer.

 

Mascara:

Maybelline’s Colossal Volum’Express, $7, Rimmel Scandal Eyes, $6, Neutrogena’s Healthy Volume Waterproof Mascara, $7

My favorite mascaras!  When you feel like your lashes need a boost, you should always stick to waterproof.  And what I love about the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara‘s wand is that it lifts up your lashes while applying.  Which is amazing!  And I find that most mascaras can be really drying.  If you feel the same way, get the above mascara from Neutrogena which is infused with olive oil, so that your eyelashes don’t dry out!

 

Waterproof liquid eyeliner:

Maybelline’s Eye Studio Master Precise Ink Pen Eye Liner, $8

I love liquid eyeliners that have a tip like this: they remind me of calligraphy pens, where you can just brush on your eyeliner like a pen or brush.  And in my opinion eyeliner should always be smudge / waterproof.

 

Waterproof pencil eyeliner:

Rimmel’s Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer, $5

Whether you get them in the standard black or brown, I feel like a waterproof eyeliner pencil is an important staple for every woman.  And I always prefer pencils that I don’t need to sharpen.  This is great for lining your waterline & tight line; making your eyes look more open.  And for something so close to your eyes, they had better be waterproof!

 

Eyelash Curler:

Sally Hansen’s Eyelash Curler, $5

Why spend $20 on something that you could spend $5?  I only use this on special occasions; & when you do use mascara / false lashes you do need an eyelash curler.  Comes with refills, simple & gets the job done!

 

Optional:

False lashes:

E.L.F. a pair of false lashes, $2

If you go into Target, you can get a pair for only $1!  Again, I bring this out on special occasions.  They can be a pain to apply, but with mascara, & eyelash curler; they make your eyes look AMAZING!  No need to spend $20, $30 on 1 pair.  Get a pair for $1!  Tip: Get some eyelash glue, some rubbing alcohol to clean it, & you can reuse them again!

 

I hope this has broken it down easily for you on how to do eye makeup.  And most importantly, don’t be scared.  I used to intimidated by makeup, simply because I was not very familiar with them.  But like anything else in life, it gets easier with practice.  I’ve given you demos, & as well as the tools that you would need to get it done.  Now go out there & put your best face forward!