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10/17/12

Tutorial: Eyeshadow Application Using Only Fingers

I know that good make-up brushes are so expensive. I know. I've had my eye on these cute cute makeup brushes for a long long time, but they're just so frickin' pricey! 
So, I thought I'd do a tutorial using only my priceless God-given tools. Hopefully, it'll come in handy to students & those who don't want to waste 'fashion' money on brushes.
I've been wearing this look a lot lately, and it's very very easy to do! Takes me about 2 mins to do everything. Both eyes.

Products used:
Eyeshadows: Maybelline On And On Bronze Color Tattoo, Urban Decay Blackout & Half Baked from Naked 2 Palette, Inglot #30 shine from my Candy Palette
Eyeliner: Maybelline Master Precise Ink Pen Eye Liner, Rimmel Extreme Definition Two-Tone ye Definer black.
Eyelash Curler (not shown): QVS 
Mascara: Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Definition (pink tube)  


  1. Stick a 2-inch sellotape on the outer part of your eye, as shown. I wanted the upper shadow to meet with the shadow on my lower lash line. Important: Dab sticky side a few times on the back of your hand to take off excess glue, so it doesn't spoil your foundation or leave any residue.
  2. Ring Finger: Apply a shimmery bronze cream shadow all over lid all the way to the sellotape edge. I used Maybelline On And On Bronze Color Tattoo.
  3. Ring Finger: With the same finger, gently pat a gold shimmer eyeshadow on top of the base color, but leaving the edges so the base color still peeks. Blend any harsh edges with the finger gently. I used Urban Decay Half Baked.
  4. It should look something like that.
  5. Pinky Finger: Take a matte black eyeshadow and apply on the outer 1/4th of your lid starting from the sellotape edge, stroking the black inwards. I used Urban Decay Blackout.
  6. Keep layering the black as dark you want it to be.
  7. It'll look like that, but we'll get back to it again in a bit.
  8. Pinky Finger: Apply a shimmery cream gold highlight color on the inner tear duct areas, and blend it into the lid color. I used Inglot #30
  9. Pinky Finger: With the pinky again, apply the same bronze shadow on your lower lash line.
  10. Pinky Finger: Apply the same matte black shadow on the outer half of lower lash line on top of the bronze.
  11. Line your eyes with black liquid/gel liner. To wing it or not depends on you. I winged it just a little. Winged Eyeliner tutorial here
  12. Peel off the sellotape. Tada! Your eyeshadow line will look neat & sharp as if you've used a brush.
  13. Line waterline with black kohl pencil all the way to the tear ducts. Also Tightline your upper lash line
  14. Pinky Finger: Now it's time to blend in the black shadow again. If you can do this while the sellotape was still on, even better. I pat some more shadow & took it a little more towards the middle. [Out of habit, I wanted to rush to the end, and come back to the middle. The same when I'm reading a magazine.]
  15. Apply a generous amount of black mascara on top lashes, and a coat of it on lower lashes.
  16. DONE!
*If I made any mistake with the explanations (as always), I will come back to edit later =) 



Right eye- with sellotape, Left eye- without sellotape. 

The sellotape does prevent clumsy smudging, especially if you have chunky fingers. But without sellotape makes my eyes look more rounded & natural
Don't forget that you can always use other colors. Try a green base color- super pretty!  
If you want the Leona Lewis eyes, with your pinky apply & smudge the black shadow on your top lash line & use a pencil or gel liner instead.
*Not that I think it looks that great, but I swear to God I didn't cheat & blend anything with brushes... haha!
Hope this was helpful! Full look with these eyes coming shortly. 2 birds =D
*UPDATE: Full look here 

♥ Cynthia Z *.* 

 

64 comments:

  1. Loved it CZ! Y do u think it dsnt look great??? I sure find it fab!

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  2. The Color Tattoos are so perfect for using with fingers aren't they? I've been using the same bronze shade ever since I got it a few weeks ago practically, it's so easy to just slap on with my finger and it's dimensional enough that I don't need too much more on my eye, just a bit of brown liner. Great tutorial, I like the tape idea! Might have to try it. :)

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    Replies
    1. The are! Fingers are best applicators for them. Thanks...ya, the tape makes it so easy...and fun! :)

      ♥xx♥

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  3. u are awesome Cynthia... :) I am surely trying this :)

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    1. Aww thanks Priti...do try it out and let me know how it goes! :)

      ♥xx♥

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  4. Do u read minds?? :O I was just wondering the other day "what if I have to run somewhere from office and I am not carrying an arsenal of brushes how will I do my eyes in office?" :D
    Thanks! this is a great tutorial!!

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    Replies
    1. Haha...maybe I do! :P I know, I also worry so much about brushes that I have a set for my handbag =\

      Thanks! Glad u liked

      ♥xx♥

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  5. I am not able to do this with brush even, this is so perfect!!!

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    Replies
    1. LOL Shikha! :D C'mon you can do it! :) Thank u!

      ♥xx♥

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  6. woah! this is pretty impressive considering you just used your fingers! gonna give this a try, I hope I won't suck at it...lol

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  7. It looks amazing :D
    xoxo <3

    http://littlemisssinner.blogspot.in/

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  8. I reread twice. So in all I read this tutorial 4 times!
    I'm so trying this out!
    Blending without brush,can't really imagine.
    You're eye makeup Goddess CZ :D
    No I'm not kidding =)
    I want to see more and more of such!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL really??? I edited it that many times too, coz I made so many mistakes :D

      That's so kind of you to say! Very encouraging...Thanks! Will do a lot more for sure :)

      ♥xx♥

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  9. Pretty eyes and neat detailed tut Cynthia :)

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  10. Looks great...and all without brushes! Love the way u've explained it, u make it sound and look so easy. Im surely going to try this out. Hope it turns out half as neat as your look :) Btw, which concealer do u use/recommend for undereye dark circles?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! Yes, do try it...very easy to do, I'm sure it'll turn out great. I actually don't have dark circles (Thank God), so I don't really need one. I heard Bobbi Brown Corrector is good. I've used Laura Mercier Undercover Pot and liked it a lot. If u have oily skin, do check out the Lakme Absolute White Intense Concealer. I've used it and it has nice coverage. Also, Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch is nice.

      ♥xx♥

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  11. yey ! thats a super duper awesome post CZ ! will try out..sometimes am just lazy to pick up the brush n go all la-di-da-di-dah :P

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  12. great one indeed :) you rock CZ... god gifted !

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  13. This is definitely helpful.

    We seem to forget that we can apply eyeshadow with our fingers! I just love the finishing result, it looks nicely blended.

    Maybe I shold try this before I head into MAC and spent ridiculous amounts on brushes. Why are brushes SO expensive? We live in a crazy world.

    xx

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    Replies
    1. I know! So crazy! Esp MAC brushes.

      Thanks Halima

      ♥xx♥

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  14. The only problem i would have trying to do eye shadow using fingers would be contouring.. You have done it beautifully!

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    1. Thanks Karishma! Contouring my crease, I use my powdered pinky...totally forgot to show it here! :)

      ♥xx♥

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  15. Oh myyy, wow!! <3
    This looks great! Most of girls cannot do make-up this nice even with brushes! :D

    ♥♥♥

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  16. owh CZ!! I do that all the time, but i always thought that no one else will do it, so i let it low. now that u have revealed the technique to the world, i can do my make up wherever i am! thanks a lot for the tutorial though :)

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    Replies
    1. Hehe...I'm sure a lot of people do this :)

      ♥xx♥

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  17. Gorgeous :D The blending is great! Oh and I have a question for you :D Is it possible to do a cut crease look if you have monolids/very small hooded lids? You know the one with the pale lid and brown crease everyone seems to be doing? I've tried but it just looks funny, since I don't have the lid space :(

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Christine. Hey, it's like u read my mind! I was gonna do a tut on that next :O
      Yeah it's possible. I think you're talking about lids that are almost like mine, right? The trick is to contour the hood/fold first with a light brown shade. Let me do it tomorrow and get back to you :)

      ♥xx♥

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    2. YAY, thank you!! Yeah kinda like yours (for my right eye. My left one has monolid tendencies, and pretty much just does what it wants. Craaazy) :p Haha you know what they say about great minds ;)

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  18. looks amazing CZ!!!i do this sometimes wen im in a hurry n dont wanna go over n over with brushes.....learnt it from tanya burr aka pixi2woo......

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  19. amazing super loveeeeeeeee!!!i feel at times fingers are so much better to bring the perfection desired!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks...I sometimes wish I could use them all the time :D

      ♥xx♥

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  20. So so so pretty. <3 You are a pro CZ. With or without the brushes. ;)

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  21. Wow great tutorial.... Thanks a lot Cynthia.

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  22. I am worried will I be able to do this, but I will practice, practice and practice!

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    Replies
    1. hey, why not?! You will be able to! Yes, practice x 10 :)

      ♥xx♥

      Delete
  23. Why do you even need brushes!?! This is perfect. As for me, I can't do eyemakeup even with brushes. :'(

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    Replies
    1. Thank U! U just need to practice, and it'll get easier

      ♥xx♥

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  24. very pretty & neatly done..al d eye makeup u do are so prefect!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sunaa! Not always perfect, actually :D

      ♥xx♥

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  25. as always....a very neat and nice look with a great tutorial to the rescue of beginners like me..:)! it will really take a long time to learn that art...but yesh i wil keep practising!!!....can u suggest a cheap(500 or less) well pigmented eyeshadow pallete/quads coz ur tutorial has REALLY really inspired me to play around with colours...:D:D:D:D!!!

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    Replies
    1. Happy u found it useful & inspiring Gauri :) Under 500 bucks, u could check out Colorbar single eyeshadows and Faces & Lakme Quartets. Those are all I know of that seem to be decent quality.

      ♥xx♥

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  26. The QUEEN of pictorials!!! <3 <3 <3 You should start Youtube. :) I'd be subscribing in no time. xx

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    1. Aww sweet! You think so??! Thank you! I have a Youtube channel but only one mediocre video! Haha...it's tough work...but I may be working on something soon ;)

      ♥xx♥

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  27. Is the eyeshadow quality more important or the brush quality? Average eyshadows do well with good brushes or good shadows with average brushes?

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  28. GREAT job! Will definitely try this..I am very clumsy when it comes to doing makeup..this should help, especially the sellotape ;)

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  29. i tried with the balm nude-tude palette, it was messy at first but it gone well after few corrections (with brush:D), Thanks for the tutorial.

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