Makeup Tutorial: How to Fix Eyeshadow That's Gone Wrong

Tools and materials:

• Foundation
• Eyeshadow palette
• Makeup brushes
• Eyebrow pencil
• Mascara
• False lashes
• Concealer
• Setting powder
• Blush
• Highlighter
• Contour
• Lipstick

1. Apply foundation

To prep the skin for your eye makeup, apply foundation to your face.

Use your fingers for application and then blend with a makeup sponge for an airbrushed finish.

2. Apply a shimmer shade to the inner corner

Highlight the inner corners with a pink and beige shimmery shade.

Work it in so it looks less frosted and more like a soft shimmer.

Pull what’s left on the bristles underneath and across the tear duct.

3. Apply a transition shade to the socket

Apply a light peach shade with a matte finish through the socket.

This is the transitional shade so you will take it the highest. Use a big blending brush to make it nice and quick.

4. Apply a medium shade to the lid and socket

Apply a medium, peachy brown shade slightly more intense than the first color to the outer third of the mobile lid and into the socket.

Use the same brush and buff it in circular motions into the shade you already applied.

5. Apply the smokey shade

This is where things took a turn. I took a medium chocolate brown and pat it onto the outer third of the lid with a flat, shader brush.

This is where I was initially going to build up the smokey eye, but it started to get a little patchy.

This tends to happen with cheaper eyeshadows, though it can happen with more expensive ones.

6. Use an eyebrow pencil to rebuild the shade

The arrow points to the area where the eyeshadow wasn’t sticking to like I wanted it to.

To fix this, I went in with an eyeshadow pencil to build up the shade.

7. Blend

With a flat shader brush, work the chocolate brown powder over the pencil with a patted motion.

Use what’s left on the bristles to blend out the seams slightly. This will be more difficult to blend since you’ve applied it over powders already.

8. Buff over the seam with a peachy brown

Don’t take the brown too high. Instead, use a medium-toned peachy brown for the socket shade.

Buff it over the seam of the chocolate eyeshadow. It will soften the seams between the two shades and give you a nice gradient to the two shades.

This should put you back on track.

9. Apply shimmer tones to the lid

Apply a bronze-gold shimmer tone to the center of your eyelid with your finger.

Use what’s left on your finger to bounce it into the brown eyeshadow and create a gradient.

Layer the inner corner shade over it to brighten it up and give a subtle difference in tone.

Use a swiping motion when applying it for a softer shimmer. This will also help the eye look less warm.

10. Apply a bone color to your brow bone

Sweep a bone color over your brow bone to flatten and brighten the area. This can also hide any blending mishaps.

11. Mimic the eyeshadow look on your lower lash line

To frame the eye, mimic the colors on your top lid under your lower lash line.

Apply the medium-peach tone to your lower lash line, and the chocolate brown tone closer to the root of the eyelashes.

12. Apply eyeliner

Apply a black pencil along the waterline to get rid of the pink tone and enhance the smokey eye.

Use an angled brush to run a very light coat of eyeliner along the top lash line.

Pull the color upwards so it’s slightly thicker on the outer edge.

13. Apply mascara and lashes

Apply a light coat of mascara as a base.

The lashes are optional.

14. Apply concealer

Apply concealer under your eyes to clean up the eyeshadow and anywhere to reduce redness.

15. Set

Set with a sheer setting powder.

16. Contour

Apply a light amount of cream contour where you’re not powdered.

Blend for a softer finish.

17. Apply blush

Apply blush to your cheeks.

18. Highlight

Apply highlighter to your cheeks.

19. Powder your face

Powder the center of your face to remove any shine where you don’t want it.

20. Apply lipstick

Apply matte lipstick.

Then, apply a bit of concealer to the center and blend it out.

How to fix eyeshadow

Here’s the finished makeup look! Now you know how to fix eyeshadow when it goes awry.

Let me know if these tricks helped you in the comments.

Next, check out my post on 5-Minute No-foundation Makeup Look Tutorial.