Easy Eye Tutorial Using Only 2 Eye Shadows | Beginner + Hooded Eye Friendly

STEP 1 | Prep

You’ll Need | Eye Cream + Eye Shadow Primer (or concealer)

The best eyeshadow results always happen with proper prep. I keep it simple for this technique with eye cream tapped on to my upper eye lid and below my eyes and then eye shadow primer over both lids.

STEP 2 | Liner

You’ll Need | Eye liner

Taking my sharpened eye liner (always sharpen before applying!) I get the liner as close as possible to my lashes on my upper lid.

To lift up the look of my eyes, I flick the liner up subtly at the outer edge.

For my lower waterline, I usually use a skin tone shade liner to brighten my eyes and make my eyes appear larger. You can also use the same liner from the upper lash line on the lower lashes, for a smokey eye.

STEP 3 | All-Over Shadow

You’ll Need | (1) fluffy lid eyeshadow brush + (1) lighter eyeshadow

Using a slightly larger and fluffy brush vs my typical lid brush here allows me to apply color and blend quickly.

You can use any color you want for this step, I generally prefer a lighter shade that is only 1-2 shades deeper than my skin tone.

I have hooded and downturned eyes, so I start by tilting my head back slightly, so my lid is smooth to work on.

Then I tap the shadow into the outer corner, so that it goes on the lid and above the crease. If you don’t have hooded or downturned eyes, you can go right into the crease).

Repeat this on the other eye, so that the shadow positioning is in the same spot on each side.

STEP 4 | Lid Blending

You’ll Need | (1) fluffy lid eyeshadow brush

Now, with swirling or wind shield wiper motions, and without dipping the brush back in to your shadow color, start to pull that shadow in to the crease and then down across the lid. You can always build up the color as much as you’d like.

Lower Lash Line: If you like to have shadow on your bottom lash line, then grab your pencil brush and dip it in the same shadow and buff that in to your lower lash line, connecting it with the upper shadow.

This will give you a nice horizontal “V” shape at the outside of your eye.

STEP 5 | Smudge Liner + Shadow Melt

You’ll Need | (1) Smudge Brush + (1) Deeper Eyeshadow

Grab a smudge brush and a slightly deeper shade than your original eyeshadow. It should be fairly close to the shade of your eyeliner.

Smudge directly over the liner, to soften it and set the product.

STEP 6 | Corner Shading

You’ll Need | (1) Smudge Brush + (1) Deeper Eyeshadow + (1) Pencil Brush

Then, take your pencil brush and tap it lightly into the same deeper shade we just used for setting the liner.

Starting at the outer corner on the upper lid, place it down over the liner and pull in. Repeat this motion, pulling the shadows in, to blend the darker shadow in with the lighter shadow.

STEP 7 | Blending

You’ll Need | (1) Angled Blending Brush + (1) dome shaped pencil brush

I always like to make sure the edge of my shadows are really blending into my skin for a seamless look, so I grab two clean brushes with no product on them.

I prefer a fluffy angled brush for the upper lid and a small dome pencil brush for blending the lower lash line. Gently blend until there are no harsh lines between your skin and the shadows.

If the shape has gotten a little too blended at the outer edge, you can also always grab a concealer brush and a tiny dot of concealer, drawing a line with the concealer up-and-out, to clean up an sharpen that edge.

BONUS TIP | Setting

To prevent shadow from creasing (and mascara from flaking!), spray a bit of setting spray lightly over the lids after shadow is finished but before mascara is applied. Spray an extra spray directly into your pencil brush and run this over the inner corner and lower lash line to set your liner and shadow here.

Let me know how how this eyeshadow technique works for you!