How to Apply Natural-Looking Eye Shadow

What better time to play up natural-looking eye makeup than when you’re transitioning your makeup routine into fall? You’ve already made a few wardrobe changes in favor of an earthier color scheme, 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? Ahead we share how to pull it off based on your skin tone.

How to Apply Natural-Looking Eye Shadow…if You Have Light Skin

If your skin is on the fair to light side, follow this eye makeup tutorial below.

Step 1: Apply eye primer. No eye primer 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 it 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 liner. 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 shadow tutorial below.

Step 1: Start with primer. A tiny bit of eye primer or concealer can help make it easier to apply eye shadow.

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 the lighter olive shade of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Eye Shadow in Army Camo to your lid, between your lash line and crease. Next, add dimension to your eye by darkening your crease with the darker end of the shadow. Make sure to blend between the colors with your finger for a more natural-looking fade.

Step 3: Line your upper lash line in olive. A thin line of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Green Ivy can help define your eyes just enough that they’ll pop.

Step 4: …And your lower lash line in gold. Tracing your lower lash lines in the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Gold can help brighten your appearance.

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 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.

Step 2: Apply a burnt orange 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 eye makeup look on your hands.

Step 3: Create dimension. Use a tapered blending brush to apply some of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Pain Au Chocolat to the center of your lids.

Step 4: Line your lids to perfection. Simply trace the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Paints Eyeliner in Black Party from your inner corner out to the edge of your lash line.

Step 5: Finish with mascara. A few swipes of the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara in Blackest Black will do the trick.

If you’re seriously in love with this natural eye shadow look, be sure to check out our article, The Best Nude Lipstick for Every Skin Tone.