One Palette, Three Looks: How to Use a 6-Color Makeup Palette

A compact six-colour palette is one of the most useful things in a makeup bag. With a light shade, a couple of mid-tones, a deeper shade and some shimmer, you can create anything from a no-makeup eye to a soft smoky look. This guide explains how to "read" a palette and gives you three looks to start with.

Read the palette before you start

Most six-colour palettes can be split into roles:

• Base shade: the lightest matte, used all over the lid to even it out.
• Transition shade: a soft mid-tone for the crease that blends the other colours together.
• Depth shade: the deepest colour, for the outer corner and lash line.
• Shimmers: for the centre of the lid and the inner corner, where light hits.

The Swan Ballet Six-Color Makeup Palette, for example, combines four mattes with two shimmers, and comes in 01 White Swan, 02 Black Swan and 03 Pink Swan. The Snow Ballet Six-Color Satin Makeup Palette (01 Music Box, 02 Romantic Waltz, 03 Crystal Ball) and the Bunny Garden 6-Color Makeup Palette (01 White Bunny, 02 Moon Serenade, 03 Ruby Berry) are other good choices. Check each product page to see how the shades are laid out.

The tools you need

• A flat shader brush for packing colour onto the lid
• A fluffy blending brush for the crease
• A small pencil brush or your fingertip for shimmer and the lower lash line

Look 1: Everyday soft eye

1. Sweep the base shade over the whole lid.
2. Blend the transition shade into the crease with small back-and-forth movements.
3. Press a little of the same shade along the outer half of the lower lash line.
4. Finish with mascara. Done in under five minutes.

Look 2: Soft shimmer

1. Start with Look 1.
2. Pat a shimmer onto the centre of the lid with a fingertip; fingers give the most sparkle.
3. Touch a lighter shimmer into the inner corner of the eye.

Look 3: Evening smoky eye

1. Blend the transition shade into the crease, slightly wider than usual.
2. Press the depth shade onto the outer third of the lid, forming a soft sideways "V".
3. Blend the edges with a clean fluffy brush until there are no hard lines.
4. Smudge the depth shade along the lower lash line and connect it at the outer corner.
5. Add a thin line of liner; the Snow Ballet Liquid Eyeliner comes in 01 Deep Black and the softer 02 Tea Brown. For a smudgier line, try the Bunny Garden Gel Eyeliner.

Want more shades?

If you enjoy experimenting, a nine-pan palette like the Little Angel 9-Color Eyeshadow Palette gives you even more options. See all palettes in our Eyeshadow Palette collection.

FAQ

How do I stop eyeshadow from creasing?

Keep the lid free of heavy moisturiser, apply a thin layer of concealer or a matte base shade first, and build colour in light layers.

Why does my shimmer fall onto my cheeks?

Tap off excess before applying, and press the shimmer on rather than sweeping. Doing eye makeup before base also lets you clean up any fallout easily.

Can I use the palette's shades on my face?

Some makeup palettes include shades for both eyes and cheeks. Check the product page to see which shades are intended for which area.