@bufferingbetty

If you've ever gotten discouraged when applying your makeup, there is a possibility you are using a product that just is out of your skill range. Especially when it comes to eyeshadow. Your eyelid is such a small canvas that learning to apply eyeshadow can be pretty tricky! Matte shadows are not the easiest to work with either. If your blending needs some work, it can be very obvious without the shimmers and glitter to soften it. Here is a guide to helping you find the right matte palette for you.

Remember:
Makeup is fun.
Practice makes you better.
Makeup never has to be anything more than you want it to be.

Match your skill level + find your perfect palette!

The Newbie:

Your go-to-look usually consists of mascara and a nude lipstick. You probably just bought your very first concealer and never knew you could look so wide awake. Now, you're ready to embark on the journey to blended creases and smokey lash lines.

**Kiss New York Professionals**
Hexa Eyeshadow Palette in Matte Nude; $9

This Hexa Matte Nude Palette from Kiss New York Professionals is a great product to practice with. The shadows have a buildable pigmentation. This allows you to learn how to control the shadow while not being overwhelmed with color. When you're new to wearing eye makeup, even the smallest amount of color can feel like you have a 2004-emo-kid smokey eye. Think Gerard Way in Helena. The Hexa palette gets you accustomed to seeing some depth being added to your eyes. These shadows blend easily for a beginner. If you find yourself having trouble, soften the amount of pressure you are applying with. The bristle of your brush shouldn't be fanned out and flat against your skin but gently grazing the skin to softly blend the shadows. Be careful not to over blend -yeah that happens sometimes and you eye shadow look just ends up being brushed away.

This palette is available in 4 color choices **here ⇀**

Easy:

You know what the 'outer v' is but you're still learning the proper eyeshadow placement that will be the most flattering to your eye shape. You also just realized that eye shapes are a thing. You're ready to start trying your hand at new eyeshadow styles, add some color, and figured out what do people mean by a halo eye.

**Morphe**
12NB Natural Beauty Eyeshadow Palette; $12-15

This 12 pan eyeshadow palette from Morphe (pronounced more-fee) is an affordable and super user-friendly palette anyone can master. The quality is very similar to the Kiss palette but just tiny bit more pigmented. There is more color deposited on your eyelid when you apply these shadows, however, it doesn't stay that pigmented when you blend them so creating gradients are more simple. The shades in the palette help you learn how to build depth to a look. Practice your cut-crease, the halo eye (personal fave for puffy-hooded eyes), or a classic rounded smokey eye. Incorporate new brush techniques for application. If you find you have trouble getting a seamless blend, try a patting blending motion instead of windshield wiper motions. I find that it creates a more beautiful gradient that won't make all of the colors indecipherable from one another that still doesn't look like color blocking.

Morphe has about 4 of these 12 pan eye shadow palette **here ⇀**

There are some shimmers in this palette, however, they BARELY shimmer. There is a slight sheen. If you're not used to seeing reflects on your eyelids, this a good starting point. Try these on the inner corner or just on the center of your lid. It plays up the shape of your eye just a bit.

This IS called the natural palette so don't hold the slight sheen against them too much.

Intermediate:

You are comfortable with just about anything on your eyes but you are still trying to identify your style. You often like how your eye makeup looks but you are trying to figure out how to get it to the next level. You know a ton of makeup techniques, but you just need more practice. My favorite time to practice is before I go to bed. I'll take off any eye makeup I have on and try something new or just build on to what is already on my eyelid.

**Urban Decay**
Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette, $54

This palette is basic only in name. Stunning packaging and beautiful colors. The Urban Decay Ultimate Basics Palette carries a range of cool and warm toned shadows. For lesser experienced users, the pigmentation of this palette can be daunting. A little bit of product goes a long way. If you made a mistake while creating your smokey eye, the lighter shades in the top row of this palette are great for correcting it. Look at them as a softener. How many times have your looks gotten away from you and you ended up with eyeshadow half a centimeter away from your brow? Yeah, me too. Choose a shade that matches the tone of your look. Using a fluffy blending brush, pat the shadow over the edges of your look. You won't ever have to start over again.

Urban Decay also carries 2 smaller Naked Basics palettes that have less color in them. **Here ⇀**

Experienced:

Honey, you got this. You can find an eyeshadow look on your Instagram feed and mentally break down the steps to recreate it. You're so versed in makeup that you recognize the shade on the lid is actually a blush from that limited edition palette that came out last year. Winged eyeliner can be done while having a conversation and you can cut a crease without using the concealer trick.

**Kat Von D**
Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette; $48

The Kat Von D eyeshadow formula is not for the faint of heart. If you have never applied eyeshadow, this is not the palette for you. You don't have to be a pro, but you should at the very least have a few blending techniques and a light hand. These eyeshadows are so richly pigmented that building the color carefully and slowly is not a suggestion; it is a necessity. The benefit of this level of pigmentation is that you won't have to worry about your eye makeup expiring before your night is up. The shadows create such depth. The black is the darkest you could imagine. The white shade is so bright, it confuses your iPhone camera. If you find that you are having some trouble blending these shadows, adjust where your hand is holding the brush. The closer your hand is to the bristles, the more pressure you are applying. Slide your hand away from the ferrule (usually the metal part of the brush) and cradle the brush more delicately in your hand. It's a small difference that can really improve your makeup.

Kat Von D has a shimmer version of this palette!!! **Here ⇀**

Pro

You're an artist. Bridal, runway, film, lighting, skin type - you know all of the things that have an effect on makeup and you know how to work around them to still get exactly what you want. Eye shape? Irrelevant. You make eye shapes. Not only does your makeup look effortless, you can do the same for any client.

**Mehron**
iNtense Pro™ Pressed Pigment Palette; $54

Just for reference, the Mehron palette is a professional palette and the Kat Von D palette is STILL more pigmented.

This is a very easy palette to work with. The colors are pigmented but not so much that you have to be super careful. The reason it is a pro product is because it goes beyond eye makeup. "iNtense PRO™ Pressed Powder Pigments are also versatile enough to be used in multiple ways on the hair or body for that theatrical and dramatic effect" (Mehron). A great way to use this palette is by gently scrapping some product out of the pan. Use a mixing medium that will spark your creativity. I blended the reddish shade with a lip balm for a beautiful lip shade. I have used these powers on my face for a fun contour - GRL! how these colors blended!!! I once mixed some of the green shadow into a fair - light foundation for a cool Halloween costume. The possibilities only end where you creativity does.