When it comes to makeup and its application, nothing is more important than how you apply your powder eyeshadow. Eyeshadow has the power to make your eyes look closer set, further set, smaller or larger. Eyeshadow can also either make your look, or BREAK your look so it’s important to choose the right kind of powder eyeshadow so you can achieve the look you’re going for.

There are some different types of powder eyeshadow out there, each offering their own benefits.

Shimmer Powder Eyeshadow

Nothing is sexier than a well applied shimmer eyeshadow! Shimmer eyeshadow will brighten your eyes, make you look more youthful, and really highlight features you want to bring attention to – without being obvious. Some fantastic shimmer eyeshadow shades are pearl, silver, or gold shades. These look great when applied over your entire eyelid, to the corner of your eye, or even along the brow bone.

Sheer Powder Eyeshadow

Sheer eyeshadows are meant to just give you a touch of color. If you are looking for a very natural, understated look then sheer eyeshadow is the way to go.

TIP: Sheer eyeshadow may not look so “sheer” in the packaging. Bear in mind that, when in the container, the eyeshadow will look significantly darker so make sure you test it out before you buy it so you know you are getting the color you’re expecting.

Matte Powder Eyeshadow

Matte eyeshadow is bold, bright, and strong. Matte eyeshadows are perfect for anyone looking to have that “dramatic look” or wanting to make a true statement with her eyeshadow.

TIP: Sheer and matte powder eyeshadows work well together. Before applying a matte eyeshadow, dust some sheer powder eyeshadow over your eyelid. When you apply the matte shadow, it will now stay on more evenly than it would without the sheer shadow underneath.

The key to powder eyeshadow is making sure that you blend it all together very nicely. You can do this with a few strokes of a professional eyeshadow makeup brush (try to avoid using the sponge applicators that tend to come with a lot of the different powder eyeshadows out there).

There are some other types of eyeshadows apart from powder eyeshadows that you will find out there, though these ones are best saved for those with a lot of experience with makeup application. One of these include:

Cream Eyeshadows

If you want that “glossy” look, then go for a cream eyeshadow. You can easily apply a cream eyeshadow with your finger tip and simply blend it up towards the crease. If you have dry skin, then cream eyeshadows may be ideal as they will help keep your skin supple and hydrated. Just be sure to keep the lid sealed tightly, as cream eyeshadows tend to dry out quickly when even the smallest amount of air is allowed inside the container!

Liquid Eyeshadow

Rather than use a shimmer powder eyeshadow, you can choose a liquid eyeshadow. The drawback to liquid eyeshadow, however, is that there are not a whole lot of different colors to choose from and they are not very effective for those with oily skin.