How to Do a Gray or Silver Eye Shadow

The perfect blend of gray and silver can lead to a dramatic eye.

Makeup trends are like fashion, they change with each season. Gray and silver eye shadow colors, though, tend to resurface each year. The high-pigment silver or muted gray are transitional colors that are worn effortlessly from summer into fall. They pair nicely with any eye color, making them a must-have for any woman's makeup kit. Whether you want to wear gray or silver shadows only, the application process is uncomplicated. Because there are different shades of gray and silver, try playing around with the shadows before going out.

Things You'll Need

• Eye shadow primer
• Dark gray or slate eyeliner
• Smudging brush
• Highlighter eye shadow
• Mid-tone gray eye shadow
• Deep gray eye shadow
• Large eye shadow brush
• Flat, angled brush
• Silver eye shadow
• Small eye shadow brush

Instructions

1. Apply a thin coating of eye shadow primer to the entire eyelid. Primer will prepare the surface of the eyelid for eye shadow so it remains on throughout the day or night. Without a primer, you run the risk of the eye shadow smearing or rubbing off.

2. Line the upper lash line with a dark gray or slate eyeliner. Start at the inner eye and use short strokes on the lash line to trace the entire upper lash line. Curve the eyeliner upward slightly once you reach the outer corner. Line the lower lash line with the gray or slate eyeliner.

3. Smudge the eyeliner with a smudging brush. This softens the eyeliner line for a smoky effect.

4. Apply a highlighter shadow just under the brow bone. Start at the center of the brow bone and work the shadow along the bone until you're parallel to the outer corner of the eye. This will make the eye appear larger.

5. Blend a mid-tone gray shadow onto the eyelid from the lash line to the center crease. This is the first layer of gray and silver shadows.

6. Apply a deeper gray tone to the eyelid, starting at the center of the lash line and working up to the outer crease corner. Use a large eye shadow brush to blend the mid-tone and deeper shades.

7. Wet a flat, angled brush and squeeze out moisture. Dip the brush in the silver eye shadow and trace along the lash line, over the gray or slate eyeliner line. The wet brush enhances the pigments in the silver shadow, creating a more prominent look. Wait for the line to dry completely before opening your eye fully.

8. Dip a small eye shadow brush in the silver shadow and carefully put shadow in the corner of the eye. Use a blending brush to blend the silver with the mid-tone gray shadow.

9. Apply the deeper gray shadow to the crease by dipping the flat, angled brush into the shadow and following along the crease line. Start at the center of the crease line and follow until you're parallel with the outer corner of the eye. Blend the colors together.

Tips & Warnings

• Play around with the eyes by using all gray shadows or all silver shadows. Add mascara to the eyes after you finish applying the eye makeup. Apply eye makeup before using foundation. This will make eye mistakes easier to clean up. Substitute a cotton swab for a smudging brush or eye shadow applicator.

• Avoid sharing eye makeup. Wash hands before applying eye makeup to prevent getting bacteria into your eyes.