Behind the Glazed Eyeshadow Trend

The glazed eyeshadow trend, drawing inspiration from the art of glass and all things shiny and glazed, has been changing the way we approach eye makeup as of late. With its smooth, gel-like texture, and a range of reflective finishes, glazed eyeshadow captures both the subtlety of a watercolor wash and keeps things fun. Plus, it’s letting us use more of our makeup products in a multipurpose way. Like, using liquid highlighter on our eyelids.

Instead of using a shimmery or metallic eyeshadow by itself, the glazed eyeshadow trend is a little more complex. It’s not hard to achieve by all means, but it does require the right products. The flecks of glitter won’t be sparkling, but rather your glazed eyelids will have that ‘wet look’ to them. Almost like that dewy sheen you see when you walk out from a facial or find the perfect skincare.

How to Get the Glazed Eyeshadow Look

Step 1: Prime Your Eyelids

Start by prepping your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer or a concealer that matches your skin tone. This will create a smooth base for the glazed eyeshadow and help it adhere better and prevent fallout for the glazed look.

Step 2: Choose Your Shades

Select a range of complementary eyeshadow shades with a glossy or metallic finish. The key to achieving a mesmerizing glazed effect is to opt for shades that are similar in tone but have varying levels of shimmer or metallic intensity.

Step 3: Apply the Base Shade

Beginning with a mid-tone shade, sweep it across your entire eyelid using a flat eyeshadow brush. This will serve as the base color, providing a canvas for the glazed effect. We like to use a matte powder eyeshadow for this before we put our pigmented colors on next.

Step 4: Layer on the Shimmer

Using a denser brush or your fingertip (we love to use this method), pick up a shade with a higher shimmer level or a metallic finish. Apply it to the center of your eyelid and gently blend it towards the outer corners. The goal is to create a focal point that catches the light everywhere you go.

Step 5: Add Depth and Dimension

Choose a darker shade, preferably in the same color family, with a rich metallic or shimmering finish. Concentrate this shade in the outer corner of your eye and blend it towards the crease. This will add depth and dimension to your glazed eyeshadow look.

Step 6: Highlight the Inner Corners

This is optional, but to further enhance the glazed effect, dab a light, shimmery shade onto the inner corners of your eyes. This will create a beautiful contrast and make your eyes appear more awake and luminous. You can ever use a white eyeliner pencil.

Step 7: Blend and Soften

Take a clean blending brush and softly blend the edges of the eyeshadow shades together. This will create a seamless transition and help melt the colors together, giving them a glazed appearance.

Step 8: Add Finishing Touches

Complete your glazed eyeshadow look by defining your lashes with mascara and, if you’d like, adding eyeliner for extra definition. Opt for a neutral or subtle eyeliner shade to keep the focus on the glazed effect. We love the MAKE Continuum Gel Eyeliner as all of the shades have a nice touch of sparkle within them. The formula is waterproof, smudge proof and long lasting.

Step 9: Shine Even More

For an intensified glazed effect, apply a glossy eyelid topper, highlighter stick, or even a small amount of lip gloss to the center of your eyelid. This will enhance the shine and create a high-shine, glass-like finish.

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