How to Apply Cream Eyeshadow: 9 Tips & Tutorials (2024)

Cream eyeshadow may be the best kept makeup secret for achieving a gorgeous eye look. They’re great for beginners because they’re easy to apply and offer rich pigmentation. Cream shadows layer beautifully and allow you to create looks that range from a soft, subtle effect to dramatic, vibrant lids. You can apply them with a brush or sweep them on with your fingertips, and they’re super easy to build and blend. Want our best advice on how to apply cream eyeshadow? Check out these tips and tutorials!

1. Prime Your Lids
Before applying any type of eyeshadow, you should be setting your base by placing concealer on your eyelids. This will help prevent the shadow from creasing or fading, and help the colour stay vibrant throughout the day. It also helps cover up any discolouration or veins, which creates an even canvas for you to work on. If you find that your concealer is affecting the colour of the cream shadow, use an eyeshadow primer instead.

2. Prep with Translucent Powder for Oily Skin
Cream eyeshadow tends to work best on normal to dry skin. It can smudge on oily skin, however if you have a natural dewy complexion, you can combat this by adding a layer of translucent setting powder over your eye primer/concealer. This will allow the cream shadow to go on more smoothly and stay put throughout the day. It will also help the pigment show up better.

3. Keep It Simple
Cream eyeshadow formulas are buildable, but they tend to be more difficult to layer with other products than powder shadows due to their strong pigmentation and thick consistency. When using cream eyeshadows, stick to simple shadow looks with one or two colours, rather than something more complicated like a cut crease.

4. Use Your Fingers
One of the best things about cream eyeshadow is that you can apply it with your fingers! After washing your hands, dip the tip of your finger into the shadow and then use your finger to press it in and glide it all over your lid. Apply it from the inner corner to the outer corner and up into the crease. Once you’ve layered it to achieve the pigment you want, clean off your finger so there’s no longer any shadow on it. Then, press/tap your clean finger to blend the outer edges of the shadow.

5. Or Use an Eyeshadow Brush
If you don’t want to use your finger or your nails are too long, you can use an eyeshadow brush to apply cream shadow. Use a brush to paint the cream shadow onto your lid, keeping it within your socket area. Again, layer it until you get the pigment you want. Then go in with a clean brush to blend it into the socket and very lightly drag it out to soften the edges.

6. How to Apply and Blend Cream Eyeshadows | Nina Ubhi

In this tutorial she shows you how to apply and blend cream eyeshadow with your finger as well as with a brush. She explains why she loves cream shadow so much and why it’s so easy to use- especially for beginners. She goes through the texture and tells you how and why to apply it in the way that she demonstrates. She uses a pretty gold shimmer cream eyeshadow and preps her eyes with concealer and translucent powder.

7. How to Apply and Blend Cream Eyeshadows Like a Dream | Smitha Deepak

This tutorial shows you how to blend cream and stick eyeshadows for a gorgeous, dewy shadow look. She gives you her best tips for using cream shadow throughout the video and shows you exactly how she applies and blends. She preps her eyes with a shadow primer and uses the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in multiple shades, using her finger to diffuse the colour. She also uses a powder shadow from the bareMinerals Mineralist Eyeshadow Palette for a transition shade to soften the edges of the shadow.

8. How to Use Cream Eyeshadow Sticks 2 Ways | Marnie Goldberg

If you love the idea of cream eyeshadow sticks, she shows you two ways to apply them in this tutorial. She has hooded eyelids, so if you do as well, you’ll get tips on how to best apply it to your eye shape. She also mentions that using a cream stick is really handy to help you learn proper eyeshadow placement and get it precisely where you want it. She uses the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in various colours, the Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer, and the Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush.

9. 4 Reasons Your Cream Eyeshadows Don’t Look Good | Shelbey Wilson

We love this tutorial because she explains four mistakes you may be making with your cream eyeshadow and how to fix them so it looks polished and defined. From applying too much, to using the wrong brush or wrong formula, you’re going to love her insight. She also gives you her tips for getting the multidimensional look and how to mix cream eyeshadows with powder ones.

If you want to start using cream eyeshadows, we hope these tips and tutorials help you achieve the gorgeous eye looks you’ve been wanting to create!

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How to Apply Cream Eyeshadow: 9 Tips & Tutorials (2024)
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