If you love making up your eyes and have nailed the art of shimmery eyeshadow, we suggest investing in a few matte hues to change things up. Matte eyeshadows require more time, patience and blending than sheen formulas, but the results are worth it.
In order to make your matte eye dreams come true, you’re going to need a few bits and bobs in your kit. An eye primer, for example, is a necessity. It plays a massive role in making the colour of your shadow pop, along with the longevity of your make-up. Next up is a trusted blending eyeshadow brush to assist with application. Forget using your fingers because matte shadows will stain. Before delving into the bold shades, play around with soft neutrals – they’re much easier to apply and that way you’ll be able to see if matte eyeshadows are for you.
The Primer:
Wondering why your eyeshadow hasn’t been lasting until lunchtime? It could be because you’re missing a crucial step in the application process: eyeshadow primer. This game-changing product from MAC does it all: it’s rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, prevents shadows from fading and creasing and is super lightweight, prolonging your eyeshadow for an impressive 24 hours. It’ll keep your make-up looking fresh too. Apply the product all over the eyelid and wait for a minute for it to dry. Then apply your desired matte shadow. Thank us later.
The Brush:
If you’ve never owned an eyeshadow brush, consider this your sign to *add to cart*. This innovative brush from Dior was used backstage during fashion week shows and gives us the opportunity to have perfectly blended eyes. It has a slight, flat angle to help you get into the creases of the eye when blending. We also love the white bristles – it helps you see how much product you’re applying. Remember to wash your eyeshadow brush at least once a week using a gentle, cleansing shampoo to keep them clean and in tip-top shape.
The Eyeshadows:
The opportunities are endless with this gorgeous eyeshadow palette from Catrice. It contains eight different matte shades, which are highly pigmented. And the formula? Silky soft. Mix and match the different hues to create custom-made styles, from easy-to-wear day looks for the office to sultry, smokey eyes for after-work drinks. Use the lighter shades as a base colour to neutralise your eyelid (after you’ve applied primer) and to conceal veins or spots. This will also allow you to build your colour and enhance your main matte hue to its fullest potential.
Are you still on the fence with the matte eyeshadow trend? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. You’ll notice there are six different hues on this palette – four of them are matte and the other two are glossy, so you’ll still have your fix of shimmer. If you love rich, chocolate browns and shades of gold, you’ll adore this palette. Experiment with the darker colours on their own or layer from light to dark to create a signature look. Remember, when in doubt, blend. Blend the deepest colour into the crease of your eye, using a circular motion to create more depth for your look.
Introducing the perfect eyeshadow hue for spring: Best Of Me. Once applied to the lid, it creates a diffused, ‘cloud-like’ effect, which gives you an ultra-soft look. Subtle and silky soft, the eyeshadow melts into the skin thanks to its Cream Matrix Formula. The reason for its blurring-type finish is the Soft-Focus Filter Technology found within the pigment. This shadow also lasts for hours on end, doesn’t fade and won’t settle in your eye creases. As always, we still suggest using a primer in order to make this colour pop even more on your lids.
The Mascara:
You didn’t think we’d let you get away without a few slicks of black mascara, did you? The best and only way to finish your one-of-a-kind matte make-up look is with a trusted black mascara, like this one from Maybelline. It adds oomph to each lash with volume and length and makes zero clumps.
