10 different uses for shadow

1. Highlight:

A light shimmery shade of shadow can be used to bring light to your best features. In other words, highlight them. This isn’t just for your brow bone, inner corner, outer corner and centre of your lid. A light shimmery shade of shadow can also be used on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, centre of your forehead, on your Cupid’s bow and even down the centre of your legs to make them look longer!

2. Contour:

A matte brown shade of shadow that’s a few shades darker than your skin tone can be used as a contour powder and this isn’t just for defining the crease of your eyelid. Use it to add more dimension to your face under your cheekbones, around your temples and down the sides of your nose.

3. Brow enhancer:

A matte shade of shadow that matches your brow colour and used with an angled brow brush can be used to define your brows. Generally if you have dark hair you should opt for a shade that is one shade lighter than your hair colour and for light hair the opposite is true, meaning you should opt for a shade one shade darker than your hair colour.

4. Lip color:

If you love experimenting, mixing a little bronze or purple eyeshadow in with a clear gloss or lip balm will give a gorgeous tinted sheen to your lips.

5. Eyeliner:

If you don’t like the harsh effect that pencil, liquid and gel eyeliner can sometimes give, a shadow liner may be perfect for you as it tends to give a softer finish. Either apply the shadow dry or use a small amount of mixing medium and an eyeliner brush for extra precision. (You don’t just have to use black or brown! Green, blue and purple are great if you want a pop of colour.)

6. Nail polish:

Got a shade of shadow you would NEVER use or just isn’t that great in terms of formula? Turn it into a nail polish instead! For this just mix a small amount of crushed up or loose eyeshadow with some clear polish on a piece of plastic.

7. Cheek colour:

Perhaps you have a pink eyeshadow (or even an orange, plum, or red) that you don’t really feel comfortable using? Make it a blush instead! Just use a standard blush brush to apply, or if the colour is pigmented use a stippling brush instead.

8. Subtle shadow:

If you have a shadow that you simply love but find it’s not suitable for some occasions, apply it using a fluffy blending eyeshadow brush, the colour appears much more subtle and wearable.

9. Dry shampoo:

Perhaps you need a few more days out of your last blow dry or are just prone to oily roots? Fix this by dusting a little matte shadow that’s close to your hair colour over your roots (bonus: if you have a small amount of regrowth showing, this can help cover it!)

10. Setting powder:

A sheer matte white shadow can be fantastic for setting certain areas of your make-up such as your concealer and your t-zone. It’s also great for setting cream shadows or your eyelid primer for more intensity and staying power.