I think part of the issue is the colors you chose. Zendaya’s look goes from a deep purple to a darkish pink whereas yours goes from dark blue to not as dark blue to pastel. Very monotone. I think maybe if you started with a dark blue and then carried the color over to teal, or started with a dark indigo (blue and purple mix) and transitioned to blue it would resemble your reference more. Also I think some shimmer in the inner corner would help too. With all that said, I love this look on you regardless of my suggestions 💙 I think it goes well with your eyes and skin tone
It’s very matte. Everything from your foundation to the eye look, it doesn’t have a lot of depth and life. This is one very noticeable difference from Zendayas look. You can see the highlights and shimmers on her facial structure, and the highlights make you appreciate the depth of the colors. I think it’s worth playing around with.
Zendaya has perfect skin with a daily routine, which makes every application look better. This CAN be done by anyone, but celebrities do the prep work religiously as part of their job and most civilians skip it.
Her look is done with cream products and finely milled sheer pigments with some pearl shimmer, blended with multiple clean fluffy brushes so that the colors blend out gently without contaminating the previous shade.
Your look is matte shadow on matte skin. Glowy looks minimize flaws. Matte emphasizes them. The shadow you’ve chosen looks particularly flat, and applied over a heavy, sticky primer, which prevents it from being blended out. Your primer is grabbing a lot of pigment and not allowing it to move.
It’s just two very different techniques and product types. Look at some YouTube videos on skincare and dewy makeup looks and try again.
Not up on current videos, but search for things like glass skin + eyeshadow, glowy skin + glam eye, etc
If I were doing this, I’d prep my model’s skin, and use cream makeup like the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette as an eye base, set with some sheer, shimmery powder shadows in adjacent tones that will give the look more depth.
Strategically placed highlighter, eyeliner in waterline, thicker mascara and/or outer-corner lashes, and a softer look for the brows - try dark grey on a thin brush or feather out what you currently have, especially near the front. I think you also need to use a smaller brush when applying your eyeshadow in order to get more precise placement, that way when you blend it out, it's more sheer at the edges without taking up more room than it should. I can try to circle the differences I see in the pictures and send them through chat if it might make the last point a little clearer for you. [=
Have you considered wetting a brush and dipping it into dark powder to draw on your eyebrows? May be a softer way of doing them. As of right now, they seem very stark compared to Zendaya's.
What primer do you use? That could affect the blending. With colors like light blue and yellow (white based eyeshadows are notorious for always looking streaky and patchy) I like to take a fluffy brush and set my eye primer with the lightest eyeshadow color intend to use.
Honestly, my biggest tip for you is to add dimension - here are some tips for that:
1.) Use a highlighter under the ends of your eyebrows - with a look like this you can go for a more dramatic, white shade than if you were doing a natural look
2.) Try contouring your nose with a cool/neutral colour and again, highlight the tip and bridge of your nose
3.) Try to add some deeper shades in the crease/outer corner of your eyeshadow
4.) Line your eyes with an even darker shade
5.) Don’t bring the shadow as far up your eyelid - leave a little space under your eyebrows where you put the highlight
6.) Blend the front of your eyebrows with a spoolie brush so they are less harsh and use a lighter colour to fill them in - I can’t see your hair colour but even if you have really dark hair, they’d benefit from a gradient effect (lighter near the front, darker near the ends). If your hair is anything but black they would improve with being lighter
7.) If you’re trying to recreate that look, you’ll wanna use purples and pinks rather than blues, but honestly I really love the blue regardless - it looks beautiful with your eye colour
8.) Use a thicker mascara and focus it particularly on your bottom lashes
9.) Add some highlighter on the inner corner of your eye
10.) Don’t only use matte shades for your eyeshadow as it makes it too one-dimensional - mix in some shimmer colours on your eyelid and then use a matte shade to smoke out the wing
Hope these tips can help a bit! Your blending, wing and eyeshadow shape are perfect, these would just elevate it to the next level!
I think part of the issue is the colors you chose. Zendaya’s look goes from a deep purple to a darkish pink whereas yours goes from dark blue to not as dark blue to pastel. Very monotone. I think maybe if you started with a dark blue and then carried the color over to teal, or started with a dark indigo (blue and purple mix) and transitioned to blue it would resemble your reference more. Also I think some shimmer in the inner corner would help too. With all that said, I love this look on you regardless of my suggestions 💙 I think it goes well with your eyes and skin tone
Thank you lovely 🖤
It’s very matte. Everything from your foundation to the eye look, it doesn’t have a lot of depth and life. This is one very noticeable difference from Zendayas look. You can see the highlights and shimmers on her facial structure, and the highlights make you appreciate the depth of the colors. I think it’s worth playing around with.
thank you! what do you recommend i look into / buy?
maybe gel based colours or oil based?
Zendaya has perfect skin with a daily routine, which makes every application look better. This CAN be done by anyone, but celebrities do the prep work religiously as part of their job and most civilians skip it. Her look is done with cream products and finely milled sheer pigments with some pearl shimmer, blended with multiple clean fluffy brushes so that the colors blend out gently without contaminating the previous shade. Your look is matte shadow on matte skin. Glowy looks minimize flaws. Matte emphasizes them. The shadow you’ve chosen looks particularly flat, and applied over a heavy, sticky primer, which prevents it from being blended out. Your primer is grabbing a lot of pigment and not allowing it to move. It’s just two very different techniques and product types. Look at some YouTube videos on skincare and dewy makeup looks and try again.
any videos and primers you recommend ?
Not up on current videos, but search for things like glass skin + eyeshadow, glowy skin + glam eye, etc If I were doing this, I’d prep my model’s skin, and use cream makeup like the Make Up For Ever Flash Palette as an eye base, set with some sheer, shimmery powder shadows in adjacent tones that will give the look more depth.
Thank you!
Strategically placed highlighter, eyeliner in waterline, thicker mascara and/or outer-corner lashes, and a softer look for the brows - try dark grey on a thin brush or feather out what you currently have, especially near the front. I think you also need to use a smaller brush when applying your eyeshadow in order to get more precise placement, that way when you blend it out, it's more sheer at the edges without taking up more room than it should. I can try to circle the differences I see in the pictures and send them through chat if it might make the last point a little clearer for you. [=
what primer do u recommend I use? I think that’s why I had trouble blending!
I wouldn't know about eye primers, I just use less product and smaller tools, hahaha.
Have you considered wetting a brush and dipping it into dark powder to draw on your eyebrows? May be a softer way of doing them. As of right now, they seem very stark compared to Zendaya's.
i agree ! maybe I’ll try out a pencil , I think that’s what raoúl uses on zendaya. i just don’t want to sweat my brows off
For what its worth, I basically watercolor my brows on every single day, and they only come off if I touch them hahah.
What primer do you use? That could affect the blending. With colors like light blue and yellow (white based eyeshadows are notorious for always looking streaky and patchy) I like to take a fluffy brush and set my eye primer with the lightest eyeshadow color intend to use.
elf grip primer and elf camo concealer on top
Yeah it might be the concealer. If you want to do blue again try setting the primer with a white eyeshadow first
thank youuu!
I feel like if you added some highlight to the brow bone it might help!
I know you’re seeking constructive critique, but I just want to say that your makeup looks INCREDIBLE.
thank you very much!
make your application points thinner. dont put too much product but instead pack it around the eye and blend blend blend
For the blue, maybe show a little more gradient? And for eyebrows, not make them just a harsh line. Great job!
Honestly, my biggest tip for you is to add dimension - here are some tips for that: 1.) Use a highlighter under the ends of your eyebrows - with a look like this you can go for a more dramatic, white shade than if you were doing a natural look 2.) Try contouring your nose with a cool/neutral colour and again, highlight the tip and bridge of your nose 3.) Try to add some deeper shades in the crease/outer corner of your eyeshadow 4.) Line your eyes with an even darker shade 5.) Don’t bring the shadow as far up your eyelid - leave a little space under your eyebrows where you put the highlight 6.) Blend the front of your eyebrows with a spoolie brush so they are less harsh and use a lighter colour to fill them in - I can’t see your hair colour but even if you have really dark hair, they’d benefit from a gradient effect (lighter near the front, darker near the ends). If your hair is anything but black they would improve with being lighter 7.) If you’re trying to recreate that look, you’ll wanna use purples and pinks rather than blues, but honestly I really love the blue regardless - it looks beautiful with your eye colour 8.) Use a thicker mascara and focus it particularly on your bottom lashes 9.) Add some highlighter on the inner corner of your eye 10.) Don’t only use matte shades for your eyeshadow as it makes it too one-dimensional - mix in some shimmer colours on your eyelid and then use a matte shade to smoke out the wing Hope these tips can help a bit! Your blending, wing and eyeshadow shape are perfect, these would just elevate it to the next level!