12 rules for choosing shadows for gray eyes

Gray eyes add mystery and mystery to the image of a woman, especially if you choose the right makeup eyeshadow. The advantages of gray eyes are that almost the entire color palette can be used for make-up, which opens up great opportunities for experimenting with images. Professional make-up artists shared with journalists the intricacies of choosing and using cosmetics for eyes with gray irises. You will find their recommendations and tips in this article.

Shadows for gray eyes in accordance with the color type of appearance

There are two main color types of appearance – warm and cold. Therefore, makeup for a blonde and a brunette or brown-haired woman with gray eyes will be different. This means that you need to decide on your type of appearance before choosing shadows. To find out your color type, take a box of powder of pink warm and pink cold shades, bring it to your face, stand in front of the mirror. Evaluate how these colors suit you, how they affect your appearance. If your complexion becomes earthy or unhealthy when combined with a cold or warm shade, this is not your option. If the look is positively transformed against the background of a cold / warm tone, then you have a cold / warm color type.

If you cannot decide on your type of appearance, then makeup artists give a little hint. The warm color type usually includes women with peach, pink skin and red, red-brown, straw, golden, honey hair. For such girls, if they have gray eyes, brown, yellow, golden, almond warm tones of cosmetics are suitable. However, contrasting cold gradients – blue and blue in all forms, greenish, lilac will help to shade the skin and emphasize its beauty.

The cold color type usually includes women with fair skin, which may have a pinkish or bluish undertone. The color of natural hair of such girls is cold blond, black, light brown, ashy or brown without a hint of red. Girls with gray eyes of this type should not use too bright or too pale tones. In the first case, the eyes will simply be 'lost' against the background of cosmetics, and in the second case, the image will be faded and somehow painful. But inconspicuous bed gradients like yellow-brown, coffee, azure, peach or beige are ideal for gray eyes.

Remember that when you dye your hair or get a tan, your color type changes. In accordance with this, you need to use other shadows that are more suitable for your current image.

Choosing the right eye shadow will help highlight the iris of gray eyes.

Gray eyes have an amazing feature – they can change their shade. Depending on the lighting, the woman's mood, the color of clothes and accessories, the iris may not appear gray, but gray-blue, gray-green or gray-brown. And well-chosen shadows can further enhance this chameleon effect. Therefore, make-up masters advise to choose cosmetics in this way:

1. In order to emphasize gray-blue irises, pastel, heavenly tones, silvery blue and all shades of blue are suitable. And also khaki, olive, ash pink.

2. In order to emphasize the gray-green irises, you can buy cosmetics of the blue range, deep gray, graphite, variations of maroon, terracotta and copper shades, plum-purple, green tones.

3. To accentuate the gray-brown irises, use all shades of beige and brown. The shades of ocher, olive, and dark green go well with gray-brown eyes.

How to choose shadows for gray eyes depending on your skin type

Makeup artists' recommendations for choosing makeup for gray eyes and different skin types:

1. If a girl has oily, rash-prone skin, or vice versa, dry, reddening-prone skin, she should avoid all shades of red. Shadows of light pink, red, pink-purple tones will help to draw attention to problem areas of the skin. In this case, it is also not recommended to use all the green gamut options.

2. If a girl's skin has a natural yellowish tint, she should not use cosmetics of yellow, orange and purple colors.

3. If a girl's natural skin tone is too pale or bluish, orange and blue shades will not work for her.

4. If a girl has naturally dark or tanned skin and gray eyes, shadows of warm chocolate, beige, caramel and golden shades will help to emphasize the features of her appearance. But it is better not to use products related to the pink or purple range.

It is important to consider that the condition of the skin is constantly changing. For example, in winter the skin is paler than in summer, young girls are more likely to have rashes than women in middle age, etc. Therefore, you need to buy several shadows that are suitable for gray eyes, from which you can choose, taking into account the current state of the skin on the face.

General tips for choosing cosmetic products for gray eyes

Experts give such advice on the selection of decorative cosmetics for gray-eyed girls:

1. Shadows can be of different tones, but not the same color as the color of the iris, otherwise the eyes will become inconspicuous, and the appearance will be blurry and unattractive.

2. Carefully apply pink, lilac shades. Experiment with this scale and you will see if these tones suit you.

3. You don't need to combine blue and green gradients in one make-up.

4. In any case, a win-win for gray eyes – all variants of silver and gray, graphite and smoky.

5. To make the make-up interesting and rich, combine 2-3 similar tones – from lighter to darker. The application technique can be different and depends on the characteristics of the appearance and goals, but the borders of the shades should always be carefully shaded.

These are the basic recommendations of makeup artists that will be useful for all women with gray eyes, regardless of hair color, skin and general color type.

Choice of shadows for gray eyes, depending on the finish

Finish is the type of finish or effect that occurs after the eyeshadow is applied. The finish can be different:

1. Matte – The eyeshadows have an intense opaque hue, but no sheen or shine. They do not reflect light. Matte shadows are applied to areas that need to be 'hidden' from the attention of others. For example, they are used by women with such features of appearance as drooping eyelids or large eyes slightly protruding. But in general, matte products are universal, they are suitable for both daily and holiday makeup.

2. Satin is a semi-matte versatile shade that can be used to achieve a light and soft iridescent shine on satin fabric or silk.

3. Veluxe is usually a creamy makeup. They provide minimal shimmer comparable to the sheen of a velvet finish.

4. Velvet – matte eyeshadows interspersed with single small glitters.

5. With the Frost effect, these are pearlescent shadows that create the effect of frost shining in the sun. These eye makeup products provide a shimmery finish with a medium to high sheen. Professional makeup artists often use these options as a highlighter. Pearlescent eyeshadow can be used for daytime makeup if applied in moderation and in a tasteful way. And also for ceremonial and artistic make-up. But they are not recommended for women over the age of 45, since pearlescent products allow you to focus not only on the eyes, they draw attention to aesthetic skin defects (wrinkles, age spots, etc.).

6. With Luster effect – the brightest and most luminous shadows with large pearlescent particles in high concentration. Provides an ultra-fine metallic luster effect.

Usually, girls buy several options for eye shadows with different types of finish at the same time. The cosmetic bag should contain at least one matte shadow and additionally one shadow with a shine effect.

How to choose shadows depending on their texture

When choosing eye shadows, the texture of cosmetics is not the last thing. The ease of application, and the durability of the makeup, and the brightness of the shade, and the finish depend on it.

Types of shadows by texture and form of release:

1. Compact dry eyeshadow like a pressed powder for the face. Such products have a high concentration of pigment substances. They lie evenly on the skin of the eyelids, blend perfectly, they are easy to mix, achieving the desired shade or eliminating the boundaries of different tones. Such cosmetics can be applied with brushes (both dry and wet), applicators, even with your fingers. It is convenient to store it, they take up a minimum of space in a cosmetic bag or purse and do not spread. On sale you can find palettes with different amounts of dry shadows – from 1 to 6 and more options. They can be used as the only decorative cosmetics for eye makeup, or in combination with a base under the eyeshadow, pencils, creams, which allow you to achieve a richer shade.

2. Loose eye shadow in jars. Usually, such products have a high concentration of pigment, which allows you to get both light and rich shades. This type of cosmetics fits well on the eyelids, does not roll, does not crumble, and shades well. Loose eyeshadows are applied mainly with natural bristle brushes. The only minor drawback of such products is that they can spill out of the package, especially if they are worn in a cosmetic bag every day. And it is not very convenient to use them outside the home. Otherwise, loose shadows are a great option for both everyday and evening makeup.

3. Creamy eyeshadows in tubes and jars are vibrant and effective shades. A flawless, weightless finish can be achieved by using a synthetic or mixed bristle brush that is less absorbent. Or make a base for applying dry eyeshadows, providing greater durability and color saturation of cosmetics.

4. Liquid eyeshadow with a more fluid texture than creams. Convenient to use at home, applied with a brush, applicator, fingertips. They mix well and shade, do not dry out, do not cause the effect of tightness, do not roll, do not crumble.

Which eye shadow texture is best? In principle, in this matter, you can be guided by your own taste, but there are general recommendations of makeup artists on how to choose the texture of eye makeup, depending on the type of skin. If you have dry skin, liquid products, dry compacts, oily pencil eyeshadows and baked products will work. If you have oily skin, you can buy cream, dry, loose products.

Additional features of the choice of decorative cosmetics for the eyes

When choosing shadows, you need to focus not only on eye color, but also on a number of other criteria. Experts shared with our readers the rules for choosing decorative cosmetics for eye makeup:

1. Brand. Makeup masters advise against buying cosmetics from unknown manufacturers. Even if you read positive reviews about the products of such companies on the forums, it is better not to risk it, to give preference to proven and reliable options.

2. Place of purchase. Avoid buying eye shadow and other types of makeup from the market or non-specialized stores. This is because there is a risk of buying a fake or low-quality product. The storage conditions of cosmetics in such places are also questionable.

3. Cost. Even if you buy cosmetics from well-known brands, it doesn't have to be expensive. Now you can find eye shadows of any price category – from mass market to luxury and pros. For example, Oriflame cosmetics have proven themselves well. And this company produces both budget lines of goods and luxury series.

4. Component composition. Be sure to read the information on the label. The composition should not contain harmful synthetic components or allergens. It is desirable that the ingredients of the eyeshadows are predominantly natural or gentle (oils, glycerin), do not dry the skin and fix the pigment on the eyelids.

5. Persistence of eye shadow. In principle, all modern eye makeup products have sufficient durability so that you can not tweak your makeup during the day. But there are super long-wearing eyeshadows that can be used in exceptional conditions. For example, if you put on makeup in the morning before work, and after a hard day, without stopping home, you plan to go on a date or a party. In this case, you will need a long-lasting eyeshadow that will last longer than eight to nine hours.

6. Shelf life. In order not to harm the delicate skin of the eyelids, make sure that the eye shadow has an appropriate shelf life, shelf life after opening the package and first use. Expired cosmetics are not only harmful to the skin, it does not fit well, rolls and crumbles, and has an uneven shade.

How not to make a mistake with a purchase

Test your eyeshadow before purchasing if possible. To do this, apply a small amount to the skin on the inside of your wrist. Shadows suit you if:

1. You love the way the pigment looks on the skin and blends in with its tone.

2. You like the structure of the product, it is comfortable to 'wear'.

3. From the first application, it was possible to obtain the shade indicated on the package; there is no need to apply a second layer.

4. The shadows lay evenly and without gaps.

5. If you choose cream products, they should be applied to the area of ​​the skin that will not come into contact with clothes for 30-60 minutes. During this time, the shadows should not be smeared, the color should not lose saturation.

Features of the choice of shadows and other cosmetics for evening makeup for gray eyes

Experts assure that for a festive or just evening make-up of gray eyes, you can choose shades of brighter shades. But only on condition that the girl has an even skin tone without flaws. If there are still minor aesthetic defects, they can be masked with a primer, corrector, foundation and powder.

For gray eyes, rich sapphire or turquoise gradients, including sparkles and shimmer effects, are great. Arrows can also be drawn with colored eyeliner – green, blue – depending on the overall make-up style and image. In this case, the main focus is on the eyes, emphasizing their unique shade, shape and natural beauty. The intense colors of the eyeshadows are perfectly combined and complemented by nude or just neutral lipstick and a well-defined brow line.

The technique of evening make-up for gray eyes may not differ from the technique of everyday make-up. They just change the shades of the shadows from pastel to more juicy and bright. An alternative option for gray-eyed girls is Smoky eyes makeup. Gray eyes, surrounded by a haze of shadows, look mysterious and attractive.

Smoky ice for gray eyes

For this make-up technique, pearlescent or shimmery shades of plum, lilac, graphite, burgundy, purple, eggplant tones are suitable. The technique of applying cosmetics does not cause difficulties even for girls who do not have much experience in makeup:

1. Let's say we have chosen a shade of shadows that are several tones darker than the iris color – graphite, wet asphalt, etc. After applying the primer, you need to use shadows, applying them to the lower half of the movable eyelid closer to the lash line. The width of the strip that is painted over expands slightly closer to the outer corner of the eyes. The shadows are shaded to create a hazy effect.

2. The agent of the chosen shade is also applied to the lower eyelid, shading it, you need to connect the line of contact of the shadows on the lower and upper eyelids so that the shape of the eyes is surrounded by shadows without unpainted areas. The outer corners of the eyes should be painted over more intensely than the inner ones.

3. With black (dark gray, graphite, silver) eyeliner or a soft kayal pencil, you need to draw arrows along the border of eyelash growth on the upper eyelid and along the mucous line on the lower eyelid, connecting the arrows into a single continuous line. In the outer corner of the eye on the upper eyelid, an elegant arrow is drawn, extending beyond the eyelid area by 3-5 millimeters.

4. By blending the line drawn with the eyeliner, you can achieve the maximum 'smoky' effect. After that, mascara is applied to the eyelashes, corresponding in color to the used shadows and eyeliner. If smokey ice is done as an evening make-up, you can curl your eyelashes with special tweezers to make your look even more expressive and seductive.

Choosing eyeshadow for daily makeup for gray eyes

Experts recommend making everyday makeup for gray eyes as natural as possible. For this, you can use the shadows of nude tones. A dark gray or gray-green pencil (or eyeliner) will help to emphasize the expressiveness of the look, and give the appearance a zest.

You can use those colors that you like and suit you, based on the sequence of making a make-up for a girl with gray-green eyes:

1. A primer is applied to the upper eyelids, that is, a base for cosmetics, which will make the makeup more resistant.

2. Throughout the upper eyelid, a basic or main nude tone is shaded – pale beige, milky, flesh.

3. To make the look more expressive and deep, you can apply a darker shade, for example, sand, along the crease of the eyelid.

4. A third, even darker pigment, for example, chocolate, is applied to the outer corner of the eyelid, slightly affecting the crease. All gradient transitions are feathered in such a way as to hide the borders, but not to 'smudge' the shadows into a single color spot.

5. Along the lash line on the upper eyelid and between the hairs, draw a line with a gray pencil. The lower eyelid can be brought up with a pencil in an unobtrusive greenish shade.

6. Under the line of growth of the eyebrows and, especially, on the area under the tips of the arches, basic light shadows or highlighter are applied.

7. The finishing touch to gray eye makeup is the application of mascara to the upper and lower lashes. Ink color – black or graphite.

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