How to use a 3-color eyeshadow, a step-by-step eye makeup guide — Alix Avien blog image

How to Use a 3-Color Eyeshadow: A Step-by-Step Eye Makeup Guide

Table of Contents

    The 3-color eyeshadow technique deepens and brightens your eye makeup, because it makes your eyes look lifted and bigger. When you create a color gradient in your eye makeup in particular, your gaze becomes deeper. Let's look at how to prep for eye makeup and how to use a 3-color eyeshadow.

    1. Before you start your eye makeup, use an eye makeup primer. This moisturizes the eye area and, together with the primer, boosts staying power.
    2. Apply a light shade to the upper part of your eyelid, including the brow bone. The goal here is to create a light base.
    3. Create a "V" with the medium shade toward the outer part of your eyelid. Gently blend the eyeshadow toward your crease.
    4. Apply the dark shade along your lash line and at the outer corner of your eye.

    Alix Avien Rejuvenating Eye Base Cream

    A richly formulated eye base cream that helps reduce the look of dark circles, under-eye bags, and wrinkles, moisturizes the eye area for comfortable application, and brightens the under-eye area.

    What Is the Logic Behind a 3-Color Eyeshadow Palette?

    A 3-color eyeshadow palette is designed around a light-medium-dark shade logic. These shades also come from the same color family. Since using a 3-shade palette creates color gradients, harmony between the eyeshadow colors matters. This makes for an application that's both practical and adds dimension to your eye makeup.

    Alix Avien Expressive Harmony Eyeshadow Palette, Quad Palette

    A highly pigmented eyeshadow palette that doesn't clump, leaves both shimmer and matte effects, lasts all day, and spreads evenly on the skin.

    How to Do Everyday Eye Makeup With a 3-Color Eyeshadow

    For everyday eye makeup with a 3-color eyeshadow:

    1. Use an eye makeup primer.
    2. Sweep the light shade over the entire upper part of your eyelid.
    3. Use the medium shade slightly toward the outer part of your eye and into your crease.
    4. Since this is everyday makeup, make sure the dark shade isn't too heavily pigmented. Apply it lightly along your lash line.
    5. Also dab the light shade onto your inner corners.

    How Do You Make Eyeshadow Transitions Look More Natural?

    Applying eyeshadow blending techniques correctly makes eye makeup look natural. If you choose the right makeup brushes for your eye makeup, you can make your color transitions look more natural. For professional eyeshadow application in particular, you should use a variety of eye makeup brushes. Fluffy brushes are usually used for light shades, while brushes with short, dense bristles are used to apply dark shades along the lash line.

    How to Apply a 3-Color Eyeshadow for Your Eye Shape

    Once you have analyzed your eye shape, it's time to apply! Let's use a table to see how you can change the look of your eye shape when you use the right eyeshadow techniques:

    Eye Shape Goal Light Shade Application Medium Shade Application Dark Shade Application
    Round Eyes Creating an almond eye shape. Apply to the center of the eyelid. Apply horizontally along the crease. Extend the dark shade horizontally from the outer corner of the eye.
    Small Eyes Making the eyes look bigger. Apply to most of the eyelid. Apply very subtly along the crease. Apply to the outer corner of the eye and along the lower lash line.
    Large Eyes Making the eyes look smaller for a balanced look. Apply to the brow bone. Apply clearly along the crease. Apply to the outer corner of the eye and along the upper lash line.
    Hooded/Downturned Eyes Lifting the eyes. Apply to the entire eyelid. Create the crease line slightly higher up. Apply upward from the outer corner of the eye.

    How to Get a Professional Look With a 3-Color Eyeshadow

    A 3-color eyeshadow may not give a professional result every time you use it. The secrets lie in natural transitions, your color palette, and your application tools. So how do you do professional eye makeup with a 3-color eyeshadow?

    1. Use an eye base cream to create a smooth base.
    2. Apply the light shade to most of your eyelid.
    3. Apply the medium shade to your crease.
    4. Apply the dark shade along your lash line.
    5. Use a makeup brush to keep the transitions natural.

    What Is the Most Effective Way to Keep Eyeshadow From Creasing During the Day?

    Using an Alix Avien eye primer before you start locks in the eyeshadow's pigments and prevents creasing, keeping your look fresh all day.

    Which Type of Brush Gives More Professional Results in Eye Makeup?

    Using a fluffy-tipped Alix Avien blending brush is the best choice for melting colors together and erasing harsh lines.

    Where Should the Dark Shade Go in a Three-Color Eyeshadow Application?

    To define and frame your eyes, the dark shade should be applied only along the lash line and at the outer corners of the eyes.

    How Can I Tell Whether the Colors Go Together When Buying an Eyeshadow Palette?

    Alix Avien palettes with shades from the same color family (for example, warm browns or dusty rose tones) that include both matte and shimmer options always give a more balanced result.

    Is There a Technique to Prevent Fallout While Applying Eyeshadow?

    Tapping off the excess after picking up eyeshadow with your brush and pressing it onto your eyelid with patting motions keeps powder from falling onto your face.

    What Are the Most Common Eyeshadow Mistakes and How Can You Avoid Them?

    Most Common Mistakes What the Mistakes Cause Avoiding the Mistakes
    Not using an eye base cream. Prevents a smooth base from forming. Using an eye base cream boosts your makeup's staying power and keeps it from settling into fine lines.
    Not using makeup brushes. Prevents natural transitions. There are brushes with different tips designed for eye makeup. Using these brushes as your application tools gives your makeup natural transitions.
    Not choosing the right color combination. Prevents a balanced makeup look. An eyeshadow palette makes it easy to use colors from the same family in your makeup.
    Applying too much product along the lower lash line. Keeps the eyes from looking lifted. Applying lightly along the lower lash line, sweeping up and out, can make the eyes look more lifted.

    Which Brushes Make 3-Color Eyeshadow Application Easier?

    To bring a 3-color eyeshadow look to life, you need to keep in mind both how to use makeup brushes and an eyeshadow palette guide. We believe that when the right color combinations meet the right application tools, professional eye makeup is the result.

    Let's take a look at the makeup brushes that make 3-color eyeshadow application effortless:

    Professional Brush Options

    Alix Avien Blending Brush: Because the blending brush melts the shades into each other, it spreads eyeshadow evenly across the eyelids. It offers maximum comfort.

    Alix Avien Eyeshadow Brush: Spreads eyeshadow evenly across the eyelids and gives an opaque finish without leaving brush marks.

    Alix Avien Pencil Brush: Its narrow tip gives you natural, controlled application. It's a small-tipped pencil brush for blending.

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