Makeup is a form of self-expression, and there’s technically no right or wrong way to do it. Yet it sometimes becomes quite a task to decide what to begin with.
One of the most highly debated arguments in the makeup world is what should go first; eye shadow or foundation? After doing various research, we’re here to settle the debate and come to a general consensus.
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Quick Answer
We don’t go by rules in makeup, but many makeup artists have a common belief that eye shadow should be applied before foundation; this makes it easier to wipe off the fallout from the application of eye shadow. This approach is specially adopted when you’re creating those dramatic glittery eyes. The product dusts off and gets stuck in your foundation, leaving you with no choice but to do your foundation again.
There is still a diversity of opinions on this controversial makeup order, and we’re here to elaborate on the topic. Also, if you would like to learn some pro-tips to level up your makeup game, keep reading!
How do you decide which one goes first?
How to go about your makeup is entirely personalized. You can switch between ways to suit your style better.
- Eye shadow applied before foundation.
If you’re going for some dramatic eye makeup looks, like glittery eyes or winged eyeliner, it’s ideal to follow this order. Considering how messy dramatic eyes can get, when it comes to application, you wouldn’t want to do your foundation over and over, right?
Once you’re done with your eyes, take a makeup-removing swab and gently rub off the visible fallout of eye shadow pigments or glitter chunks. Fix your eyes with a setting spray if they’re all done, and then move on to your concealer and foundation.
It’s recommended to leave your mascara and eyebrows for the last, as the foundation tends to get stuck in your fine hair.
- Foundation applied before Eye shadow.
If you’re going for a simple everyday look, and your choice of eye shadow is between light to neutral tones, it’s safe to apply foundation first.
As we said, we don’t go by the book when it comes to makeup. If this order is your preferred choice, there’s no harm in going with eye shadow after foundation.
Some makeup artists also keep their eyes for the last. They begin with moisturizing the skin and putting on a primer layer for a longer stay. Once they are done with the foundation, they begin contouring and let the foundation bake.
While the foundation is set, they move to eye makeup, and once that’s done, they finish off the look with lip color, highlighter, and some setting spray.
Can foundation be used on eyelids?
Foundation on eyelids is quite commonly applied to conceal the eyes. While a complete range of concealers is available, some makeup freaks find it convenient to conceal their eyes with a foundation. But here’s a catch, creamy products like foundation and concealer tend to crease your eye shadow easily.
For a prolonged and finished stay of your eye shadow, you can either dab your eyelids with translucent powder after applying foundation/ concealer; or get a matte eye shadow primer for a longer stay and darker pigments.
If your eyelids tend to get oily too soon, consider avoiding using foundation on your eyelids as the eye shadow will come off way too quickly.
Can foundation be used to conceal under the eye?
Foundation behaves like a base layer of your makeup. It helps to even out your tone on the entire face and, preferably, your neck. So you technically are applying it under your eyes. Yet, a foundation cannot conceal your eyes, and it will not make an apparent difference to your dark circles.
It’s better to use the right products to conceal uneven skin. As we said, there’s a wide range of products available to conceal your under eyes, blemishes, and pigmented skin.
How to use primer for eyes?
The world of makeup has evolved with time, and one of the blessings of this advancement is a primer. Believe it or not, primer can make a visible difference in prolonging the stay of your makeup.
Primers are now available for both face and eyes. It acts as a layer on your skin that blocks the oil released from your pores and creases out the makeup layer. Primer for eyes can be used on eyelids, while the primer for face is supposed to go under your eye.
All you have to do is moisturize your face, dab a layer of primer, conceal wherever needed, and apply your foundations. If you follow this order of application, you can have crease-proof makeup all day long!
How many eyes shadow brushes should I have?
One of the most important elements of a makeup kit is makeup brushes! It’s nearly impossible to know what each brush does, but when it comes to eye shadow brushes, here’s what you must have:
- Blending brush
A blending brush is a must-must-have! This soft brush with fine long bristles perfectly blends all the eyeshades. This versatile magic wand smoothes out the transition layers helping you create spectacular eyes.
- Tapered crease brush
A crease brush is round, with denser bristles tapered at the end. It is smaller than the blending brush and helps to create a transition layer between brows and eyelids that makes your eyes pop. You can also use this brush to press on the shadow to create deeply pigmented eyes.
- Flathead brush
A flathead brush is much smaller and is not used for blending. This brush can easily pick the eye shadow to add base color under the transition shade. It can also be sued to secure the powder to create deeply pigmented eye shadow looks.
What are the must-haves for an everyday makeup look?
There’s no limit to owning makeup! But it’s better to have proper knowledge of the products you wish to get. For an everyday go-to look, the following products will be more than enough:
- A moisturizeraccording to your skin type.
- A primer, either matte or dewy, as per your skin.
- A concealer, two tones lighter than your foundation or correctorif you have highly pigmented skin.
- Powder or cream blush
- Bronzer, two tones darker than your skin shade
- Highlighter, liquid, or cake.
- Mascara, to naturally volumize your eyelashes
- AnEyeliner, gel, or liquid.
- Eyebrow pencil with a brush.
- Eye shadow palette, with basic neutral shades
- Lip colors of your choice.
- A set ofmakeup brushes.
We can go on and on with the list, but you can easily create an everyday makeup look with the products mentioned above.
How to wash my makeup brushes?
Believe it not; makeup artists have designated days to bathe their makeup brushes. How frequently you should wash your makeup brushes depends on the frequency of use.
If you’re a regular, you must wash them out every week at least. The product stuck on your brushes reduces their longevity and can be a trouble for your skin too.
Here’s a simple way to wash your makeup brushes:
- Take a small bucket or bowl, fill it up with warm water, and pour in some generous amount of liquid soap. Please give it a slight shake till you see bubbles.
- Now submerge all your brushes in the soap water and leave it for 15-20 minutes.
- Now grab a makeup washing mat and gently rub each brush against it under a tap with flowing water. You’ll see all the makeup wash away; keep rubbing until it’s all gone.
- Now soak your brushes in freshwater for 5 -10 minutes.
- Take a soft dry towel and pat dry your brushes, and leave them to air dry for a few hours.
Wrap Up
You can always apply the eye shadow and foundation in whichever order you like, yet the makeup experts recommend applying eye shadow before foundation to save you from the extra effort to fix your foundation later.
Makeup is all about variation, and we would all have our way of expressing ourselves through it. So grab your makeup brushes and do your magic. But don’t forget to let us know which order did you follow; eye shadow first and then foundation or first foundation and eye shadow later?