Tulip placement tutorial

So today’s look is going to be a “tulip placement” tutorial.

Tulip eye shadow placement involves darker shades around the inner and outer perimeter of your eyes, with a pop of lightness or colour on the center of the lid.  This eye shadow placement typically looks its best when on people who have a generous amount of lid space, but it’s gradually becoming my go to favourite.  

You can use any shade range you’d like, from soft and light neutrals to bold contrasting colours, but what is important is seamless blending.   The center of the lid must be blended believably into the inner and outer corners, and the crease must be blended out softly for a flattering and finished look.

So let's get started!


1.  Prime your eyelids and apply any necessary base for your colours to pop.  Primer extends the life of your eye look and keeps your lids from creasing, and a base provides either a texture for pigment to grip to or a lighter colour to really make the eye shadow you apply brighter.

2.  Start with your transition colour.  Apply it into your crease with a large fluffy brush then take this on your inner and outer corners to help transition the colours there later.

 
3.  This is really your choice because it can be done with blending or with multiple shadows.  You can either apply your dark colour and blend or use a medium then darker shade in the same tone.  I’m taking a shade darker than my transition colour but lighter than my final colour to help keep the blending soft and seamless.  I apply the heaviest amount of pigment on my very outer corners and blend inward with a denser blending brush.  Finally with a larger blending brush and no product blend this into your crease to darken it up.  Apply more shadow into your crease if need be, but keep it softer than the inner and outer corners.

4.  Taking my darkest shade I apply this concentrating on my outer and inner corners and then blending inwards using the same brush on step three.  If it’s too dark and the edges are too harsh, I will take my medium toned shade and use that to blend out the darkest shade some more.  Take your large fluffy brush and again blend this into your crease.  We still want the crease to be lighter so don’t apply anymore colour just blend what you’ve already laid down.

5.  Time for your pop of colour! Take the shade you’ve chosen for your lid, and pat it on.  To help blend it, take some of the shades from your inner and outer corners and blend inwards to the new colour, or blend outwards with the new colour into the darker colours.    Blend it all out with a light shade above your crease to keep it fading to your skin tone.

6.  Mascara, liner (if you choose to) and lashes.  Smudge the colours in a similar pattern under your eyes.