How to Apply Natural-Looking Eye Shadow: The Complete Tutorial

What better time to play up natural-looking eye makeup than during the summer? This time of year, you likely don’t want to wear a ton of makeup on your face or risk having bright colors fade halfway through a humid day. You’ve already made a few wardrobe changes in favor of the warmer weather (we see you tank tops, shorts, and flip flops!), so why not let your makeup follow suit? When you play up your natural features with a series of gray, taupe, gold, brown, olive, and burnt orange eye shadow shades, you can embrace a no makeup, makeup look that’s totally on trend. Ready to rock a seasonally appropriate au naturel eye makeup look? Below, we share how to pull off natural eye makeup based on your skin tone. And while this eye makeup look is great for summer, you can rock it all year long!

HOW TO APPLY NATURAL-LOOKING EYE MAKEUP IF YOU HAVE LIGHT SKIN

If your skin is on the fair to light side, follow this natural eye makeup tutorial below utilizing light eye shadow shades and brown eyeliner.

Step 1: Apply eye primer

Eye primer is essential for any eye makeup look, including natural eye makeup. Eye primer can help No eye on hand? No problem! Just apply a dab of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Glow Concealer to help create an even canvas for your eye shadow application.

Step 2: Apply taupe eye shadow

To add the faintest wash of color to your lids, swipe some of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Rich Monos Eye Shadow in Mix and Matte or Pain Au Chocolat from your lash line up to your crease. Since this is supposed to add just enough natural-looking color, you don’t want to extend either eye shadow beyond the upper edge of your crease. What’s more, you don’t want to apply eye shadow so heavily that it creates a harsh line of demarcation. For that reason, it’s best to apply your eye shadow with a fluffy blending brush, as you can use it to gently swipe on color without creating lines.

Step 3: Add dimension to create bigger, brighter-looking eyes

One of the easiest ways to create the appearance of wide-open eyes is to apply a light shimmery eye shadow shade to the center of your lid, directly over your pupil. To get the look, apply the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Paris Beach with a tapered blending brush so that it won’t stray all over your lid.

Step 4: Shape eyes with eyeliner

Instead of drawing on a harsh unnatural-looking black line, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Brown. To keep your eyeliner natural-looking, apply it closely to your upper lash line and leave your lower lash line bare.

Step 5: Finish with mascara

Again, instead of reaching for black mascara, try using the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Black Brown for a set of lashes that look naturally full.

HOW TO DO NATURAL EYE SHADOW…IF YOU HAVE MEDIUM OR OLIVE SKIN

Does your skin fall into the medium or olive range? Then follow our natural-looking eye makeup tutorial below for your beautiful bronze-y skin tone.

Step 1: Start with eye primer

A tiny bit of eye primer or concealer can help make it easier to apply eye shadow. So, regardless of your skin tone or the type of eye makeup look you’re trying to achieve, this should be the first step in your eye makeup routine.

Step 2: Apply olive eye shadow.

A soft, shimmery olive color looks beautiful and natural when paired with olive skin. To get the look, start off by applying a very thin wash of olive green eye shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Green Promenade, to your lid, between your lash line and crease. Next, add dimension to your eye by darkening your crease with the same eye shadow. Make sure to blend between with your finger for a more natural-looking fade.

Step 3: Line your upper lash line in olive.

A thin line of olive green eyeliner can help define your eyes just enough that they’ll pop.

Step 4: …And your lower lash line in gold.

Tracing your lower lash line in a gold eyeliner can help brighten the appearance of your eyes.

Step 5: Finish with mascara.

Since you have slightly darker skin, you can get away with black mascara while still looking natural. To coat your lashes to perfection, pick up a tube of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Black and get to work.

HOW TO DO NATURAL EYE SHADOW…IF YOU HAVE DARKER SKIN

Darker skin tones look particularly stunning in brick eye shadow shades. Try our natural-looking eye makeup tutorial below for your best look yet.

Step 1: Prime those lids, ladies!

Want an eye makeup look that wears more evenly? Don’t skip this step. Use an eye primer to get started.

Step 2: Apply a burnt orange eye shadow.

Darker lids look gorgeous dusted with rich brick colors, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Matte-ison Avenue or Acro-Matte. Confine the eye shadow of your choice to your lids and you’ll have a beautiful, earthy, natural-looking eye makeup look on your hands.

Step 3: Create dimension.

Use a tapered blending brush to apply some of a light brown eye shadow shade to the center of your lids.

Step 4: Line your lids to perfection.

It’s time to break out the liquid eyeliner! Simply trace the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Liquid Eyeliner in Black from your inner corner out to the edge of your lash line.

Step 5: Finish with mascara.

Reach for your darkest mascara to emphasize your lashes and top off your natural-looking eye makeup look. A few swipes of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Blackest Black will do the trick.

The Best Makeup to Pair with Natural-Looking Eye Makeup

Since you’re keeping your eye makeup relatively natural-looking, you should keep the rest of your makeup looking natural, too. Use a matte foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation, for a flawless finish, and apply a layer of nude lipstick. Be sure to check out our article, Our Best Nude Lipstick for Every Skin Tone, to find your perfect match.