Confused By Your Eyeshadow Palette? These 5 Foolproof Tricks Can Help (2025)

Mastering the art of eye makeup application can be a challenge, especially for beginners. From choosing the right shades for your eye color and skin tone to figuring out which brushes you actually need (and which are worth it), there's a lot to consider.

That's why we've created a comprehensive five-step guide to help you navigate the world of shadow application and demystify how to use that eyeshadow palette.

What you'll need:

• A fluffy eyeshadow brush
• A domed eyeshadow brush
• A flat, short-bristled eyeshadow brush
• A small, precise eyeshadow brush
• An eyeshadow palette (or 3-4 colors ranging from pale to deep)

1. Start with great makeup brushes.

There’s a reason famous artists don’t finger paint: it’s much harder to create a masterpiece without the proper tools. Invest in a few good cosmetic brushes for even, precise and hygienic makeup application.

For an elevated or everyday shadow look, we recommend a core set of four brushes: A fluffy brush to dust all over the lid, a domed brush for the crease, a flat and dense brush for the lashline and a small brush for highlight.

You don't have to drop a bundle for the best brushes on the market: Our pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab found that affordable synthetic brushes are almost always preferable to their pricier natural-fiber counterparts. (Psst: All of the top performers in our Lab tests here are synthetic; the pros couldn’t differentiate them from pricier natural picks!).

2. Apply a base eyeshadow to the lid.

Use your second-lightest or a medium toned shade to sweep a wash of color over your entire lid to add dimension or to lay the canvas for a more dramatic look.

How to: Using your eyeshadow brush, sweep your base shade onto your eyelid using back-and forth motions from inner to outer corner. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can bring this base color all the way up to your brow bone in preparation for a more dramatic smoky eye, or you can stop at the crease of your eye for a basic, everyday look.

3. Concentrate darker shadow in the eye crease.

Placing a darker tone of shadow in the crease of the eye makes your eyes pop by adding depth and dimension in the exact right spot.

How to: Dip a domed brush into the second-darkest shadow you have and sweep it right along the eye socket, following the shape of your eye between your brow bone and eyelid. A deep brown is a universally flattering choice, no matter your eye color.

If you have hooded eyes, you will have to play with different, higher placements for crease shadow (if you simply apply it along the eye socket, the color will disappear when you open your eyes). Instead, place the color just above the natural crease when your eyes are open, and work down toward the lash line, smoothing out any hard lines and focusing pigment on the outermost corner of the eye in a "V" shape.

4. Rim your lash lines in a super-dark color.

To make your lashes look thicker and make eyes pop, rim a super-dark eyeshadow around the eye, top and bottom.

How to: Use a flat, short-bristled brush to press the darkest color you have along the edges of your upper eyelid where your eyelashes begin, and along the lower lash line. If you like to wear eyeliner, you can trace this line or even rim your waterline with one of our favorite waterproof eyeliners, below:

5. Highlight with a pretty shimmery shadow.

Make your brows pop, add lift and finish the look by strategically adding a shimmery pale eyeshadow, or the lightest color shadow you have.

How to: Using your finger or a precise brush, tap the lightest color in your arsenal directly under the arch of your brow. Add the same pearly light color to the inner corner of the eye to brighten things up, too.

Finish with a few coats of our favorite mascara, and you're good to go. Still feeling stuck? We love how TheMakeupChair breaks it all down.