How to Apply Dark Eye Contour

Eye shadow contouring involves darkening the crease of the eyelid and highlighting the brow bone. This technique creates definition and depth, making eyes appear brighter and larger. To create sexy contoured eyes and avoid looking like a raccoon, follow the simple instructions below.

Things You'll Need

• Base shadow
• Contour shadow
• Brush

Instructions

1. Apply a base eye shadow. This shade should be a color slightly brighter than your natural skin tone. It should be applied all over the eyelid. A cream base works best for blending.

2. Choose a contour color. The color you choose should look like a shadow and be a dark, contrasting color to the base. Popular colors include taupe, dark brown or charcoal.

3. Lift the skin above the eye by gently lifting the brow with a finger on the opposite hand than the one you're using to apply the contour. Lifting the eye will open up the crease.

4. Load the shadow brush with the contour color and sweep the contour in the crease of the eye. Start sweeping the shadow from the outside of the crease in, fading the color as you move toward the eye. Use a light touch to gently sweep the shadow back and forth until the desired amount of color is achieved. When you release your lift of the eye, you should be able to see the color above the crease.

5. Blend the contour. Use a new brush or clean the brush you used in Step 4. Lift up the eye again, and blend the contour shadow by sweeping the brush back and fourth until no harsh shadow lines are visible.

Tips & Warnings

• If the contour shade is dark and specks of shadow are falling to your under eye area, apply loose powder liberally under your eyes. When you're done applying the contour, simply sweep the shadow from your under eyes, and there'll be no shadow smudges.

• The contour color you choose should be darker, but it doesn't have to be a dramatic dark shade.