Eye shadow

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An eye with heavy purple eye shadow

Eye shadow is a cosmetic that is applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows. It makes the wearer's eyes stand out or look more attractive^{[citation needed]}.

Eye shadow adds depth and dimension to one's eyes, complements the eye color, or simply draws attention to the eyes. Eye shadow comes in many different colors and textures. It is usually made from a powder and mica, but can also be found in liquid, pencil, or mousse form.

Civilizations across the world use eye shadow - predominantly on females, but also occasionally on males. In Western society, it is seen exclusively as a feminine cosmetic, even when used by men. On average, the distance between eyelashes and eyebrows is twice as big in women as in men. Thus pale eye shadow visually enlarges this area and has a feminising effect.

A powder eye shadow palette with brown shades for normal day wear; the two center colors are sparkly while the purple and white shades are for creating shadows and highlights.

In Gothic fashion, black or similarly dark-colored eye shadow and other types of eye makeup are popular amongst both genders.

Many people use eye shadow simply to improve their appearance, but it is also commonly used in theatre and other plays, to create a memorable look, with bright and even ridiculous colors. Depending on skin tone and experience, the effect of eyeshadow usually brings out glamor and gains attention.

Eye shadow can be applied in a variety of ways depending upon the desired look and formulation. Typically application is done using sponges, fingers, and/or brushes. The most important aspect of applying eyeshadow, and makeup in general, is blending well. An eyeshadow primer or base can be applied to prevent the shadow from fading or migrating to the crease. Many eyeshadow sets come with three colors, the lightest being the highlighter while the darkest is used in the crease. To apply, first lightly blend the base (medium) color all over the lid and then smudge the darker color from the lash line up to the crease. Once the two colors are thoroughly blended, sweep highlighter onto the browbone and blend. Finish with eyeliner and mascara if desired.

To remove eyeshadow, a commercial eye makeup remover can be utilized, or a rich face wash will usually remove all traces of color. Generally it is easy to remove, and simple water and soap can also be used. Eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara may also be removed using baby oil.