Practicing Makeup Looks with an Eyeshadow Coloring Book

You’ve probably been to a department store or seen makeup face charts at your local department store beauty counter. But if you’ve ever picked up a blank face chart, you probably have no idea where to start.

There’s definitely a learning curve with completing a makeup artist face chart. Plus, there are so many different eye shapes out there, it can be a little bit overwhelming to find something that will work for you.

An eyeshadow coloring book is a great option because you will get lots of different sheets (so there’s no pressure to be perfect) and they typically include lots of different eye shapes so you can practice looks on eyes that actually look like yours!

What Is An Eyeshadow Coloring Book?

An eyeshadow coloring book is a type of coloring book that contains illustrations of different eyes and eye shapes. Putting together a really great eye makeup look is tough, not just because you have to blend the shadows well or know where to apply everything. You also have to carve out the brow bone structure to get the look you really want. This is something that professional makeup artists know how to do. But for most people who are just applying eye makeup for everyday, it might not be as familiar.

If you’ve ever copied a makeup tutorial and felt frustrated that the end result wasn’t anything like what you saw in the video, this is probably why. It takes a lot of practice to master, and unfortunately, it’s really hard to practice on yourself.

That’s where an eyeshadow coloring book comes in super handy! Plus, it’s really fun. You get to be as creative as you want, which is something that we don’t get to experience a lot as adults. We’re so worried about whether or not something is “practical” and we don’t let ourselves just play and experiment.

How to Use an Eyeshadow Coloring Book

Eyeshadow coloring books are so much fun, whether you want to practice your eyeliner application to create different eyeshadow makeup looks or try out different eyeliner trends. You can use colored pencils, markers, or paint to fill in the illustrations and create their own unique eye makeup designs. You can even use eyeshadow! I have done this, and it was so fun to use my makeup in this way. It’s especially great to use those older shadows that you would otherwise throw out.

Some coloring books may also include tips and tutorials on how to apply eyeshadow and create different looks. It can be a fun and creative way for makeup enthusiasts to experiment with different eye makeup styles. And, you learn something at the same time. What I love about them is they’re for everyone… just like makeup is for everyone!

Eyeshadow Coloring Books Are Great For…

Kids of All Ages

An eyeshadow coloring book is a great way for kids to play with makeup in an age-appropriate way. It allows them to explore their creativity and experiment with different colors and textures without the pressure of having to apply it to their face. Additionally, it’s a great way for them to use up old and expired products that may not be safe for use on the skin.

have had so much fun with these kinds of coloring books and so has my daughter. It has been great to bond with her over something she loves (coloring) and something I love (makeup). It isn’t about teaching young kids that they have to wear makeup or anything like that. It’s just about having some fun together!

Professional Makeup Artists & Aspiring Makeup Artists

Makeup artists can also benefit from an eyeshadow coloring book. It’s a great tool for creating client briefs, as they can experiment with different color combinations and see how they interact with one another. It’s also a great way for them to practice blending techniques and see how their brushes blend the colors.

The book provides a low-pressure, no-commitment way to learn and experiment with different makeup looks. You can try out some fresh ideas without having to “put yourself out there” with a real client in case it doesn’t work out the way you envision it.

Brides-to-Be

An eyeshadow coloring book can be a great resource for brides who are starting to plan out their wedding day makeup look. They can “try out” all kinds of different styles to see which one resonates with them the most. Then, they can take their favorite looks into their makeup bridal trial appointment and work with their makeup artist to determine which style is going to be best for their features and overall wedding look.

Makeup Enthusiasts & General Stress Release

Coloring books, in general, are a great way for people to release stress and unwind. There’s something mesmerizing about playing with makeup, even if it’s on pages and not faces. It’s a fun and creative outlet that allows people to express themselves and forget about the stress of their everyday life.

So, whether you’re a kid, a makeup enthusiast, a beauty newbie, or just someone who loves playing with makeup, an eyeshadow coloring book is a great way to have fun and be creative.

Makeup Coloring Books vs. YouTube Videos

You may have a hard time following along your favorite makeup artist tutorial. I know I do, and I’m a professional makeup artist! There is a lot of editing and “television magic” that happens in those videos because let’s face it, they want the products they’re demonstrating to look like they’re the best thing that’s ever existed (because they’re almost always getting some kind of kick back from the brand, and they want to make sure they make the brand happy).

But also, it’s hard to follow along with a tutorial when you’re applying makeup to your own face because you can’t watch a video and apply makeup — especially eye makeup — at the same time (unless you’re some kind of superhuman). Applying products to a page in your eyeshadow coloring book is WAY easier… and then you don’t have to wash it all off afterwards!

Eyeshadow Application Techniques to Practice

Keep in mind, there are an infinite number of color combinations, shapes, and colors. You can apply the same eye makeup on one eye shape and eye color and it’ll look totally different on another eye shape or eye color.

For example, a soft pink on blue eyes is really going to enhance the blue eyes but not necessarily make them pop. Whereas that same soft pink on green eyes will have a more dramatic effect. That’s because pink and green are a complementary shade to one another (I could go on and on about color theory and makeup but if you’re interested in this, you can check out my blog post here).

The best way to learn how to apply shadow and understand color theory is simply to practice. And when you practice on paper face charts, or in this case, paper eye charts, you get to really see the side-by-side comparisons, which I think is really helpful.

If you’ve never played around with an eyeshadow coloring book before, here are some things you could try:

Sheer Color: This technique involves applying a light, sheer layer of eyeshadow to the eyelids. It is the simplest technique and requires the least amount of skill or precision.

Gradient: This technique involves blending two or more shades of eyeshadow together to create a graduated, or ombre, effect. You would typically see this as a light shade moving into a dark shade. It requires a little more skill and precision than a sheer wash of color does, but is still relatively easy to do.

Smokey Eye: This technique involves blending dark shades of eyeshadow into the crease of the eye and along the lower lash line to create a smoky, dramatic effect. It requires a moderate level of skill and precision to achieve the desired result.

Cut Crease: The cut crease technique involves creating a defined line between the eyelid and the crease and then blending a contrasting eyeshadow into the crease. This is more difficult than the other techniques as it requires a steady hand and practice to achieve a sharp and clear line.

Winged Eye: This technique involves applying eyeliner in a winged shape at the outer corner of the eye. It requires a steady hand, a good sense of symmetry, and practice to achieve the desired result. This can be considered as the most difficult technique among the listed above.

Circular Motions: Applying your eyeshadow in a circular motion is a great way to get a really nicely blended look, but it does take some practice. Use the pages of an eyeshadow coloring book to practice applying shadow in small circles. Then try the same technique with larger circles!

Curved Line: Have you seen this minimal, modern eye makeup look? It’s basically just a single curved line of color across the crease of your eyelid and not much else. It’s a bold look but with practice, you could totally pull it off.

Image Credit: Joshua Rondeau via Unsplash

Eyeshadow Makeup Design: Eye Chart Coloring Book by Natalie Setareh

I’ve been going on and on about why I love these kinds of makeup coloring books but I’ve been saving my really big news until the end… I recently published my very own eyeshadow coloring book and I am SO excited to share it with you! It’s called “Eyeshadow Makeup Design: Eye Chart Coloring Book” and it contains over 30 different eye shapes and sizes so you can let your creativity can run wild.

My passion is makeup education, and I’m always trying to think of fun, new ways I can teach basic makeup techniques that isn’t just a boring tutorial on YouTube. That’s already been done about 50 million times (probably way more than that, actually, but you get my point).

I’ve purchased makeup coloring books before and I’ve had fun doing them — and so have my kids. But there were always downsides to the ones I found online. For example, they would always have designs on both sides of the page. This is frustrating because when you flip the page over to do the other side, your art gets all messed up. Plus, what if you wanted to frame your art? I love hanging makeup art up in my studio, but the double sided pages aren’t good for framing.

What’s Inside…

In my eyeshadow coloring book, each eye shape is printed on single-sided paper. This makes it easy to use and easy to frame your finished designs if you want. You could even put them together and create a museum-quality gallery wall. That would be so cute!

This book would be so much fun for a “girls night in” or bachelorette party. Honestly, I could think of so many “excuses” to get your friends together to work on something like this! But, it’s also perfect for a quiet night at home or for de-stressing after a long day. Remember the coloring book craze that happened 7-8 years ago? It’s kind of like that, but you’re also learning something at the same time!

This is actually my second makeup coloring book. I also created a lipstick coloring book called “Make Your Own Lipstick Art Coloring Book” that’s perfect if you want to practice different lip looks. I made sure to include a range of unique lip shapes in the book for variety and representation, which is something that is so important to me. Not everyone’s lips or eyes are the same shape and it’s important that people see themselves in these kinds of products. Again, makeup is for EVERYONE and that is something I strongly believe.

Have you ever used a makeup coloring book before? Is this something that seems like fun to you? I would be so honored if you would try out one of my makeup coloring books. As always, I am open to your feedback and thoughts. I am here to help you and I always want to make sure I’m providing you with makeup education that speaks to you and empowers you to put your best face forward! Stay beautiful!