Three Secrets to Blending Eye Color Like A PRO!

“MUDDY” – The reference used when you blend two, three, or even four different eyeshadows and end up with a HOT (muddy) MESS.

Have you ever tried to use all of the colors in an eyeshadow trio or quad, and ended up with a muddy grayish/bluish disaster?  Yes, you have… we all have. In our defense, sometimes it’s not our fault. Sometimes, you can legitimately blame the texture and “blendability” of a bad eyeshadow. Other times, however… as hard as it is to admit, it's user error. Either way, the “muddy” end result is pretty frustrating (especially if you needed to be out the door ten minutes ago).

Here are a few tips that I’ve learned about blending. They’ve already saved me a ton of frustration, and you’ll find that the more you practice them, the smoother your blending will go (and the more you’ll want to experiment!).    

1. When you start to practice blending, try to use two colors that are beside each other on the color wheel. These colors will automatically blend easier and complement each other. This, my friend - will improve your blending confidence.
2. Practice blending by using this beginner technique – apply each color where you want them on your eye (without blending). Now take your brush and take a little of each color that you want to blend and blend them together on the back of your hand - - not directly on the eye. Take the mix of the two colors from the back of your hand and apply the blended color right between the two colors on your eye. With a few strokes, you’ll have a very pretty transition from one color to the next, and this will help eliminate the urge to over blend.
3. When you’re trying to perfect your blend, try to keep your brush strokes going in one direction. This will help keep you from the “furious blend” (crazy back and forth strokes with your brush) that end up looking like gray-brown blah.

Colors sitting next to each other on
the color wheel will blend more easily.

Add unblended color

Blend both colors on back of hand

Apply the blended color between the two for a subtle fade from one
color to the next without overblending.

Remember that the goal of blending is to eliminate the imaginary line that shows where two different shades meet. It should be subtle and gentle - - if you end up with neither color being identifiable,  just stop. Something has gone wrong. Take a deep breath, pull out that silicone based eye makeup remover and hit the reset button.

Now get a few bright colors and impress yourself with your mad blending skills!

Gettin’  Beauty Schooled,

Rita