Simple Eye Makeup for Beginners: Shadow, Liner and Mascara in Three Steps

Before You Start: Prep the Eye Area

Start with clean, dry eyelids. Leftover makeup or moisturizer on the lashes can stop mascara from gripping properly and may cause it to slide or smudge sooner.

A thin layer of concealer or a neutral eye product helps eyeshadow adhere better and last longer. You do not need a separate primer to begin, though a primer can make the surface more even if your eyelids tend to get oily.

• Wipe the lids and lash line gently with a clean tissue or cotton pad.
• If you use concealer as a base, blend a very thin layer and let it set for a moment before shadow.
• Keep the under-eye area dry. If you apply eye cream, give it time to absorb first.

Sources: Maybelline New York, Beauty Box, The Beauty Breakfast Club (Nina Ubhi)

Choosing One or Two Neutral Eyeshadow Shades

For a first eye look, choose neutrals. Beiges, creams, and browns are commonly recommended for beginners because they are easy to blend and forgiving if your placement is not perfectly even.

A basic beginner trio is a neutral that matches your skin tone, a paler neutral for the brow bone, and a darker neutral for depth or liner. You do not need all three to start. A single well-blended shade can create a simple wash of color if you add a little definition in the crease.

If you prefer cream eyeshadow, it can be applied with a finger and buffed into the lids. It can be left as a single light wash or layered to build intensity. Powder eyeshadow can also be applied with fingertips if you do not have a brush.

• One shade: sweep a neutral over the lid and blend the edge upward.
• Two shades: use the lighter one on the lid and the darker one in the crease.
• Skip bright or very dark colors for your first few tries. They show uneven placement more easily.

Sources: Maybelline New York, Clarins USA

Placing Shadow on the Lid and Crease Simply

Apply eyeshadow to closed lids. This keeps the product out of your eye and gives you a steady surface to work on.

For powder shadow, whisk your brush across the pan two or three times, then tap off the excess before applying. Sweep from the inner corner of the eye toward the outer corner, staying between the lash line and the crease.

For a simple two-shade look, start with the lighter neutral over the entire lid. Then take the darker neutral and place it in the crease, the hollow area just above the lid. Blend with small back-and-forth motions so there is no hard line between the two shades.

Brow bone and lower lash line placement are optional. A light shade on the brow bone can lift the area, and a light shade in the inner corner can make the eyes look wider and more awake.

1. Close the eye you are working on.
2. Load the brush lightly and tap off excess powder.
3. Sweep the lighter neutral from the inner corner to the outer corner of the lid.
4. Place the darker neutral in the crease with a small brush or your fingertip.
5. Blend the crease edge with small back-and-forth motions until it looks soft.
6. Repeat on the other eye, then check both sides in a mirror in natural light.

Sources: Maybelline New York, Clarins USA

Light Liner Along the Lash Line

Eyeliner is not required for an everyday look. If you want a little more definition, a light line along the upper lash line is the simplest place to start.

Use a soft pencil or a small angled brush with a dark neutral shadow. Draw short, connected dashes close to the lashes rather than one long stroke. This is easier to control and less likely to look uneven.

If you are not used to liner, keep the line thin and only on the upper lid. A thick line or a wing takes more practice and is not needed for a tidy beginner look.

• Rest your elbow on a table for a steadier hand.
• Look slightly downward into a mirror so you can see the upper lash line.
• Start at the outer third and work inward if you find the inner corner tricky.
• Smudge the line gently with a small brush or fingertip to soften it.

Sources: Maybelline New York, Clarins USA

Applying Mascara Without Clumps

Mascara clumping is commonly caused by applying another coat before the first one has dried and by not wiping excess product off the wand. Wipe the wand against the rim of the tube or a tissue before the first stroke.

Curl your lashes before mascara, not after. Curling after mascara can pull lashes and cause clumps.

Apply one coat from the base of the lashes to the tips. If you want a second coat, wait a few seconds for the first to set, then apply it. Most smudging happens on the lower lashes, so use a lighter or thinner coat there, or skip the lower lashes entirely.

1. Wipe excess mascara from the wand.
2. Curl lashes if you use a curler.
3. Wiggle the wand at the base of the upper lashes, then sweep to the tips.
4. For a second coat, wait a few seconds, then repeat.
5. Apply a light coat to the lower lashes only if you want more definition. Avoid the root of the lower lash.
6. Let mascara dry completely before touching the eye area.

Sources: Beauty Box, The Beauty Breakfast Club (Nina Ubhi)

Fixing Common Eye Makeup Problems

Smudging under the eyes is often related to a hydrated or emollient under-eye area, lashes touching the skin during the day, or natural skin oils breaking down the formula. Lightly setting the under-eye area with a finely milled powder before mascara creates a drier surface and can reduce transfer.

If your mascara smudges often, a tubing formula may help. Tubing mascaras are described as forming small tubes around lashes and as generally less prone to smudging than creamy volumizing formulas, which tend to stay emollient. Waterproof mascara can also resist smudging, but it may be drying and harder to remove.

If eyeshadow looks patchy, tap off more excess powder and build in thin layers instead of pressing down hard. If the crease line looks harsh, blend with a clean brush in small circles. If liner looks wobbly, keep the line thinner and closer to the lashes, and remember that a soft smudged line hides unevenness better than a sharp one.

• Patchy shadow: less product, more layers.
• Harsh crease: blend the edge with a clean brush.
• Smudged liner: soften with a small brush or fingertip.
• Clumpy mascara: wipe the wand and wait between coats.
• Under-eye smudging: set the under-eye area lightly before mascara and use a lighter coat on lower lashes.

Sources: Beauty Box, The Beauty Breakfast Club (Nina Ubhi)

A Three-Step Routine You Can Repeat

The routine below is the simplest version of a beginner eye look. You can do it in any order, but shadow first, then liner, then mascara keeps the eye area clean and lets you fix mistakes before the final step.

If you want to build from here, the makeup application order page explains how eye makeup fits into a full face routine. The beginner makeup mistakes page covers common slip-ups and how to correct them.

1. Step 1: Sweep one or two neutral eyeshadows over the lid and through the crease.
2. Step 2: Add a thin line of liner along the upper lash line if you want more definition.
3. Step 3: Apply one or two coats of mascara to the upper lashes, and a lighter coat to the lower lashes if desired.

Sources: Maybelline New York, Clarins USA, Beauty Box