6 Reasons Why Your Eye Makeup Looks Bad
Have you found yourself studying YouTube tutorial after tutorial, yet still unable to nail those coveted eye makeup looks?
Well, don't beat yourself up over it—learning how to apply makeup effectively is quite the process. But if you feel like you've given it your all, and still can't seem to get the looks down, it may be a bigger issue than your ability to pay attention.
Keep reading for six reasons why your eye makeup looks bad.
1. You're Using Poor Quality Brushes
We all want to save a buck or two, but certain products are worth the spend. Makeup brushes, in particular, are worth the splurge because a quality brush can make all the difference in your ability to blend. Quality brushes will also have angles and cuts that help target specific areas and create special eye makeup looks. It's certainly not to say you can't find useful brushes at a lower price point, but unlike with mascara and certain lipsticks, you can't really improvise with poor quality brushes. When it comes to makeup as a whole, starting with well-made brushes is key—and just because a brush set is cute doesn't mean it's quality.
2. You're Using Poorly Pigmented Eyeshadow
Regardless of price point, most eyeshadow palettes look vibrant on the surface—but don't be fooled just because you see a bold shade. Even though there's a striking magenta or a deep brown, it doesn't mean the color will appear that way once applied to the eyes. To test pigment, simply take a finger and swipe the color onto your wrist. One swipe should help determine the pigment, or depth in color tone. If it doesn't show up vibrantly on your wrist, it surely won't on your eyelids. And even multiple swipes won't give it much staying power. Morphe, Huda Beauty and Urban Decay are a few examples of brands known for their highly pigmented hues.
3. You're Blending Different Brands of Shadow
Many eyeshadows are advertised as being "blendable," but from our personal experience, that really only pertains to other shades in that same brand family. We've attempted to blend even the best of the best, but unless they're both in the MAC family, or ColourPop family, for example, they don't contain similar formulas that make it easy for them to merge together seamlessly. When we blend two different brands of shadow, we can usually see the exact point where each shadow start and ends, instead of seeing them come together as one shade.
4. You're Forgetting Eye Primer
Primer is the perfect foundation to hold your look. Much like primer for the face, eyes need that special layer, too. We recommend using a light layer of heavy-duty concealer, a la Tarte Shape Tape.
5. You're Not Applying a Base Shade
Primer is key, but so is a base shade. Think of the base shade you apply to your nails—this is similar. Select a super neutral shade to go over your primer and then take your look from there. This will also help set the rest of your look.
6. You're Not Washing Your Brushes Frequently
Yes, first and foremost, washing your brushes frequently prevents bacteria, so you should be doing this no matter what—but that aside, this also pertains to makeup application. Remember how swiftly your brushes worked when they were fresh out of the package? That's because they weren't filled with gunk and build-up. Keep them good as new by washing them. Additionally, when you have leftover pigment on them, it could add unwanted color to parts of your eye.
Now that you know how to up your eyeshadow application game, click HERE to find out the perfect shade to apply, based on your hair color.