Tips & Tricks: Shimmer Eyeshadow

Hello!

Do you love shimmer/glitter eyeshadow? I do! The sparklier the better. Would you like to know the best way to apply shimmery, sparkly eyeshados for maximum impact? Or are you looking to introduce shimmery eyeshadow into your beauty routine? If so, this is the post for you!

Recently I've had a change of heart when it comes to eyeshadow application. I used to be all about the sparkle, everywhere. From lash line to brow bone, I would use whichever shimmer/glitter eyeshadows took my fancy (examples below).

Look 4 from my Naked Palette series
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/series-naked-palette4.html

Look 6 from my Naked Palette series
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/series-naked-palette6.html

That's still fine, but it's a very full-on look which doesn't allow any particular eyeshadow to take centre stage. That's why I've started to change it up. I realised that the impact of a shimmery eyeshadow is at its greatest when it commands all the attention in an eye look- meaning that some of the eyeshadows around it have to be less shimmery or even matte.

When I first started, I wasn't sure how to mix shimmer and matte shades so that it looked good. So here are my suggestions for combinations that will help your shimmery eyeshadow stand out.


If you're using a shimmery shadow on the mobile lid (my favourite way!):

• Use a matte shadow in the crease with:
•  a matte shade on the inner corners of the eyes to highlight and a shimmer shadow on the brow bone to highlight or;
• a shimmer shadow on the inner corners of the eyes to highlight and a matte shadow on the brow bone to highlight
  
• Use a shimmer shadow in the crease with:
• a shimmer shadow on the inner corners of the eyes to highlight and a matte shadow on the brow bone

A gold and grey look from my Vice Palette series
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/series-vice-palettegold-and-grey.html

• a matte shade on the inner corners of the eyes and under the brow bone

A St. Patrick's Day look
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/st-patricks-day-look.html

                                    

Alternativey, if you're only just geting into shimmery shadows and you want to find a way to incorporate them into your daily routine, here are a some options when you're using a matte shadow on the mobile lid:

• Use a matte shadow in the crease with:
• a shimmer shadow on the inner corners of the eyes to highlight and a matte shadow on the brow bone to highlight 
• a matte shadow on the inner corners of the eyes to highlight and a shimmer shadow on the brow bone to highlight

A neutral day look witha pop of teal
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/eye-look-pop-of-teal.html

You might have noticed didn't give a matte lid + shimmery crease option. Simply put, if you want your shimer eyeshadow to be the focus, you don't put it mainly in the crease. Also, even if you're looking to just introduce shimmer, this is a bad option for people with drooping eyelids because it further emphasises the area.
What's your favourite way to use shimmer eyeshadow? Did you find these tips helpful?

xo
Anna