PRO. EYESHADOW PALETTE-ARTISTRY

Without a proper base, your eye shadow look, no matter how beautifully applied, will be fleeting. Make-up artists stress the importance of doing prep work before opening your palette, specifically using a primer to make your eye shadow last. Apply a thin layer of primer with your ring finger, a Q-tip, or a small flat brush. If you want to effectively prevent colour from travelling to places it shouldn't, apply it all the way up to your brow bone and even beneath the lower lash line. In general, silicone-based primers will work well with most eyeshadows and skin types, but if you're working with a powdery eyeshadow, look for more liquid formulations.

Whatever your eye colour, flesh-toned and neutral shades will either suit you or serve as a good base for other colours you may want to layer on top. But suppose you want to bring out the natural colour of your eyes by experimenting with shimmers, accents, or a monochrome shade buffed over the lid. Most colours are flattering on those with brown eyes, but golds and purples are especially so. Blue eyes stand out against oranges, champagnes, and terracottas, while green eyes are at home in muted browns, greys, and mauves. If you have grey eyes, however, you should use similar colours: silvers, stormy blues, or even a smoky black.

If you don’t already have one, it’s a good idea to start with a palette of neutrals just to get you going and assume the status of everyday staple. Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Soft Glam palette, made up of beiges, bronzes and pink-hued golds, is a perfect starting point for those searching for a versatile, broad range of colours and finishes.

While eyeshadow palettes may appear to be a kaleidoscope packed into a small box, even the most disorganized array of colours has order. Most eyeshadow palettes are divided into three colour categories: light, medium, and dark.

While the soft copper and sienna colours appear too muted for glam looks, they can also be used to create a smoky eye. Building an eye makeup look around a rich dark pigment that blends well is the key to a powerful smoky eye.