Using every shade in a palette is easier than you think

“Really!”

 

Duos, trios, quads- palettes! I own just about every variation of eyeshadow palette you can imagine and use approximately none of them. Best case scenario, I end up regularly using one color from each. It’s the same story every time: somewhere or another I come across a new palette – stop – spot a certain color, zoom in, subconsciously fall in love with that color, zoom out, notice the harmonious composition of all the colors together and begin fantasizing about what wonderful oeuvres I will create with them on my eyes. Meanwhile, my hand has already begun silently reaching for the palette.

 

“A gentle twitch in my left eye tells me I will never ever use this palette.”

 

And so I dutifully purchase the thing, position it proudly in my bathroom and leave the room with a satisfied smile, trying my best to ignore the gentle twitch in my left eye – the harbinger of a realization that the next time I lay hands on my lovely new palette will be when I dust the bathroom counter. A moment of fleeting intimacy made possible thanks only to the fact that I don’t have a cleaning lady.
And so, my current options seem to be: either ignore my increasingly strange beauty purchasing habits, call myself a collector and hope they go for a sum in some London auction house in a few decades time, or once and for all decipher the matrix of the eyeshadow palette.

In aid of my mission, I tried out the Essential Shadow Palette ‚Luna‘ from Ilia Beauty (shades from top left to bottom right: Pyrite, Slate; Copper, Onyx).

 

Look 1
Upper eyelid: Apply Copper all over your lid using a fluffy brush and now with that same brush pick up some Pyrite (the Champagne shade) and apply it on top of Copper right in the center of the eyelid. This will give the eyes a lot more dimension and make them pop like cristalls.
Lower lash line: Using a thinner brush apply copper on the lower lash line and Pyrite on top center again. Finish off with Pyrite as an inner corner highlighter.
Perfect with: coffee to go, while you take the longer, sunnier way to work.

 

Look 2
Upper eyelid: Copper all over the eye lid.  
Lower lash line: Apply Slate close to the lash line using a wet brush and blend gently. Repeat to build up the colour.
Perfect with: a night at the bar filled with good conversation and even better moments of eye contact and perfect silence.

 

Look 3
Apply Pyrite all over upper eyelid using a wet brush. Also highlight inner corner lower lash line and cheekbones. You deserve this!
Perfect with: no mascara, bold lips, blazers and your job as a CEO!

 

Look 4
Apply Slate using a wet brush then top with Onyx. Repeat on lower lash line. We drew a pretty clear line here. Just do what suits your eye shape.  
Perfect with: gallery openings with free drinks for the pre-party, followed by dancing the night away under the shine of a disco ball.

 

What do you say? Did we do a good job? Do you use your palettes? Which ones can you recommend?

 

Photo & Makeup: Powder Paper