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What's your go-to tools & techniques for applying eyeshadow?
For putting eyeshadow on the lid, I usually reach for a dome-shaped, medium-sized brush with moderate density like Chikuhodo GSN-099, MAC 239, and Smith 253. I’ll push and pull my brush against the eyeshadow’s surface and then pat on and only sweep the edges slightly. I use these crease brushes going smaller when I want more precise application and larger when I want softer color over a larger area: Wayne Goss 17,
Wayne Goss 18, Hakuhodo G5522, Chikuhodo Z10, Tom Ford Crease Brush, and a lot of others but those were first to come to mind! I usually place my color first in the crease and then slowly pull and sweep the color beyond and use buffing motions to diffuse the edges.
— Christine
My overall favorite eyeshadow brush is Sigma E25. I have two of them. I use one for lighter shades and one for darker shades. But first, I use an old, cheap, small fluffy brush (no idea what brand it is) and sweep on a light dusting of MAC Blanc Type over eyeshadow primer. Then I take the first E25 and apply a transition shade into my crease and blend up. I take the second E25 and pick up a medium-dark shade and put that on my outer lid and blend up and into the crease. I work back and forth with these two shades and brushes, adding color and blending, until I get a good look. Using a small smudge brush (i have one by IT and one by e.l.f.), I apply a dark color very sparingly to the outer lid and into the crease to give my hooded eyes a bit more depth. I take another brush, such as Sigma E56, and apply a color to my lid, often a satin or shimmer. I use a Sigma E40 to do some very light final blending with a windshield wiper motion. At this point I add color where needed or I set with UD setting spray.
I use a lot of different brushes for eyeshadow, but I’ll only comment on one, because I want to make a plea to WG, hoping he reads here or someone messages him, to bring back some of the brushes he originally marketed.
I over plucked my eyebrows in the 90s, and now I have a lot of territory between my crease and brow. Additionally with age, I’ve gotten partially hooded. So, I had two problems and I solved them both with one brush: The original WG #16. I didn’t think I’d like this brush at all, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I use a lot of very pigmented eye shadows, so I really don’t need to pack them on, excepting the mobile lid. This brush is quite large, but I can both apply shadow only using the tip and then blend it like a wind-shield wiper perfectly. It’s so easy, easy, easy. I’d be absolutely lost without it.
So WG, should you ever read this comment, PLEASE bring it back. And, the original fan brush! And the original #14. New is good! I’m not knocking new.
But your classics are sorely missed!
I wonder why WG changed that brush. So the white one sold as #16 isn’t the same shape/size? Or are the bristles different? Or both?
I’ve been using the Urban Decay Pro Large Blending Brush lately when I want my brush to cover a larger area. I use it to apply the shadow between my brow and crease and then later on to blend everything out. It looks maybe similar to your HG WG #16, except perhaps the WG 16 is a bit rounder. I realize it’s probably not the same as your beloved #16, but thought I’d mention this as something to look at if you’re interested. 🙂
The new #16 is white goat (I assume not synthetically mixed) and it”s not as large and dense. It’s also very tapered. The classic #16 that I have is pretty darn unique. I’ll take a look at your UD brush. That’s sweet of you to mention it.
I usually use a few different brushes for applying eyeshadows and they come from all different set that I have picked up over the years.
A small flat brush
A thicker brush
A fluffy brush and whatever else I need.
I have one eye that’s way more hooded than the other due to a long-running skin issue on one side (long story) that left my eye swollen for a couple years. Now the skin is loose. My droopy eyelid eats all my eyeshadow, leaving my lids with an uneven fade, typically 20-30 minutes after applying eyeshadow (both lids eat my es just one side will leave less on my mobile lid). Does anyone else have this issue with their hood sucking up all eyeshadow very quickly and have you been able to find a workaround? I’ve tried primers and setting sprays and nothing works.
My eyes are both very hooded and I had the same issue. The thing that has helped me the most is changing the technique I use to apply my shadow and always keeping my brows down in their natural position when I’m putting on shadow. When my brows are raised, I can’t tell what’s going to sink into the hood, but this way let’s me applynshadow on top of the hood instead of inside of it. I also find that using a tiny amount of shadow at a time on a crease brush helps me place the shadow in the right spot. Hope this helps!