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Much like most makeup basics, eyeshadow isn't only reserved for embellishing the lids — makeup professionals all over will agree that these tiny pans of pigments actually offer a number of versatile and unconventional uses. For example, utilise a neutral palette to fill in your brows, brighten your cheeks, mattify your pout, and even contour your features — the list of skillful eyeshadow hacks that you can uncover by simply playing around are endless. Read on as we showcase five palettes worth investing in, along with a few handy and foolproof makeup tips that will put all your eyeshadows to good use.
1. UOMA Beauty Black Magic Palette Colour Palette in Poise
Melding buttery mattes and molten metallics, UOMA Beauty’s Black Magic Colour Palette is the epitome of night and day — allowing you to blend out both subtle and smokey eye creations.
Hack #1: Use a shimmery gold or bronze eyeshadow as a highlighter to spotlight the high planes of your face.
Lightly apply the shades ‘Regal,’ ‘Le Sirêne’ or ‘Magical’ onto your brow bones, cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, and the bridge of the nose to help accentuate these areas. Do this as a finishing touch using your fingertips or a small blending brush. Amplify this gleam by layering two or more shimmery shades together for three-dimensional and light-catching strobes.
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2. Fenty Beauty Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette in Deep Neutral
This clutch-bag-friendly palette is the perfect summer accessory. It features six rich and warm hues in matte and pearly textures that can either be worn solo or combined to fashion more custom blends.
Hack #2: With an angled cheek brush, blend the shade ‘Fiya Freak’ onto the apples of the cheeks for a soft flush of citrus colour. Then enhance this with a delicate film of shimmer using the shade ‘Heaven Cent’ for a radiant, lit-from-within finish.
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3. Pat McGrath Labs Mothership III Eyeshadow Palette in Subversive
Pat McGrath brings together a variety of high-impact eyeshadows in the most luxurious satin, metallic, holographic, and iridescent hues. When it comes to colour payoff, this palette is a winner. We recommend using your fingers when applying these to the lids for a more saturated tint.
Hack #3: Mix McGrath’s ‘Deep Shade’, a rich brown, with ‘Xtreme Black’ for a customised dark brown colour that you can use to fill in and shape your brows. Once sculpted, sharpen and clean up any uneven edges with a full-coverage liquid concealer.
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4. Beauty Bakerie Breakfast in Bed Eyeshadow Palette
Beauty Bakerie’s palette offers an array of matte and shimmery neutral shades to help transition your nude eye makeup from day to night with zero hassles.
Hack #4: Use a shimmery pink or light brown eyeshadow as a lipstick topcoat.
Once you’ve lined and filled in your lips with a pink or brown lip colour of your choice, immediately follow it up with an adequate coating of shimmery eyeshadow like ‘PaJAMas’. Dab it onto the centre of the lips to seal and highlight your pout.
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5. Coloured Raine Queen of Hearts
This is another gem for transitional eye makeup looks as it incorporates morning and evening-friendly shades in both subtle matte and dramatic foil finishes.
Hack #5: Create a DIY tinted lip balm by simply dabbing on some pink, rouge, or orange eyeshadow directly over it for a gradient lip stain.
And that’s it — five quick and easy hacks that will help you get the most out of your eyeshadow palettes. The great thing about makeup is that there are no set rules or limitations on how you approach a look or product. So, play around and get creative — you’ll be surprised at the myriad of tricks you’ll stumble upon that will save you both time and money.
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