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How Confident Are You in Your Blending Skills?

March 25th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette 2013
A super-blended, blown-out eye look with the Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes

I feel like I do OK when it comes to looks that I’m very comfortable with. If it’s something smokey or super blown-out, I think what I end up with is not completely hideous.

But I definitely feel like I have A LOT of room to grow, because I tend to over-blend (I JUST CAN’T STOP!), which makes things like cut-crease looks very challenging.

At least with makeup, the practicing is fun. 🙂

What about you? How confident are you in your blending skills?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just in case no one has told you yet today, you’re wonderful, and don’t you forget it.

How Confident Are You in Your Blending Skills? / Originally published March 25th, 2014

There are 32 comments on this post. Leave yours.

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Comments

  1. Brittany says

    March 25th, 2014 at 8:37 am

    I feel kinda the same as you. If I’m comfortable with what I’m doing and it’s a look I’ve done before then I am fairly confident in my blending ability but if it’s something I’m trying for the first time, I will really take my time in case it doesn’t turn out the way I want it to!
    Bea x
    Bea’s Beauty Blog

    Reply
  2. Cassy says

    March 25th, 2014 at 8:47 am

    I’m not totally UN-confident, but I know I’m no master. I actually prefer a cut crease because if I try to blend I know I over-do it and wind up making things muddy. Things that are more defined are easier for me. If I look back at old looks I have done vs recent looks, though, I can definitely see I am getting there. I think that means by the time I’m in the old folks home, I will have this down!
    Cassy recently posted … Ipsy (March 2014)

    Reply
    • Fieran says

      March 25th, 2014 at 9:36 am

      Hahaha, your comment cracked me up! But seriously, it would look so cool if you’re rocking perfectly blended eyeshadow looks at the old folks home 🙂

      @Karen – You know, there’s a certain beauty in properly blended looks, especially how you wear your eyeshadows. I noticed I can only get that result if I use Urban Decay shadows as they are so blendable. With the rest, it’s a bit of a hit and miss for me. I think I need to work on my skills more.

      Reply
  3. Fancie says

    March 25th, 2014 at 8:48 am

    I’m the same way! I feel I do pretty okay when it comes to looks I’m comfortable with but I definitely have room to grow.
    Fancie recently posted … Ready, Set, Tone!

    Reply
  4. Shannon says

    March 25th, 2014 at 9:17 am

    I feel like my blending skills are *meh* – I’m just too lazy to keep blending and blending until it all looks perfect! It’s also difficult for me to blend evenly – that is, to get my eyes to match. I feel like I’ll add too much shadow to one lid, and then have to compensate on the other, which throws them out of whack again… sigh. So I keep it pretty simple, typically.
    It would probably also help if I cleaned my brushes more regularly, sigh… I hear they’re easier to work with when they don’t have any product build-up! 😉 (also: just thinking about my brushes is triggering nasty-face-reaction. I really need to clean them ASAP. bleh!)

    Reply
  5. Gowthami says

    March 25th, 2014 at 9:34 am

    I over blend sometimes for cut-crease looks! As you said I have a lot of room to grow! 🙂
    Gowthami recently posted … Bridal Archives Vol.18: Rajesh Pandey Photography | Candid Wedding Photographer

    Reply
  6. Daniel says

    March 25th, 2014 at 10:05 am

    I don’t have any confidence on my blending skills. I think I’m very bad at blending and applying eyeshadow (it never seems to have enough color), but I don’t know if it’s my brushes, my lack or primer or my lack of skills.

    Reply
  7. Chris25 says

    March 25th, 2014 at 10:16 am

    I’m pretty confident. I think it takes practice and the right brushes. I love Sephora Blending brush for this.

    I have a little method I like: I dab the darker color onto the outer v, then I blend a little in between. The trick is to just blend a little, and don’t stray too far away from that line between the light and dark colors.
    Chris25 recently posted … Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids Lipcolor in Orange Edge, On Fire Red and Neon Red

    Reply
  8. Vineetha says

    March 25th, 2014 at 10:17 am

    I gues I do okay. But Yup overblending is an issue too! 😉
    Vineetha recently posted … Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation Review, Swatches

    Reply
  9. Shreya says

    March 25th, 2014 at 10:37 am

    I really need to improve my blending skills.
    btw loved your look you have excellently blended both the shades
    <3
    Shreya recently posted … L’Oreal Paris All Night Blue Infallible Eyeshadow Review, Swatches and EOTD

    Reply
  10. Alison M says

    March 25th, 2014 at 11:14 am

    For me it is all about the brushes. I love blending, but like you have a tendency to overblend which wears down the color and depletes the look.
    Alison M recently posted … Monday’s Most Wanted – Vol 19 Sephora VIB Edition

    Reply
  11. Mich says

    March 25th, 2014 at 11:27 am

    I’m not very confident. I can never get it to blend out the way I want it to. I was thinking maybe it’s my brushes so I looked for your post with your favorite MAC brushes and ordered a few a couple of days ago. I can’t wait to get them!

    Reply
  12. Iris says

    March 25th, 2014 at 11:52 am

    You’re wonderful too! 🙂

    I’m not very confident with blending. I tend to do simple looks with one or two colours.

    Reply
  13. Kiss & Make-up says

    March 25th, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    Pretty confident 🙂 I rock a smokey eye pretty much every day of the week, so I blend my eyeshadow on autopilot.
    Kiss & Make-up recently posted … A budget-proof make-up look with the new e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow Palette & e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick

    Reply
  14. Rhea says

    March 25th, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    I’m okay at simple in the crease blending but need to work on smokey eyes and other styles in blending.
    Rhea recently posted … MMFD Episode 7 Reaction and Commentary

    Reply
  15. Sylirael says

    March 25th, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    To be honest, I don’t really think about it 😛 If I thought about it, I’d have a perfectionist panic attack, because I suspect my blending is probably not quite what it could be 😛
    Sylirael recently posted … The Search for The Holy (Foundation) Grail Part 2: YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Compact in BR20

    Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    March 25th, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    I thought you were talking about blending foundation, which I struggle with. I spent $20 on one of those bright pink egg-shaped beauty blender sponges everyone has been raving about and really couldn’t tell a difference between that and my regular flat sponge. I haven’t tried a brush yet for applying my foundation although every swears by the brush too. Have you done a post on foundation tools? I’d love to read it if you have.

    Reply
  17. Kaelyn says

    March 25th, 2014 at 2:19 pm

    I feel pretty confident as a blender of my eye makeup, definitely more so on my than on others. Where I am not as confident is with my cheek colors. Those I struggle with for some reason :-/

    Reply
  18. Ana says

    March 25th, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    I tend to get quite lazy with blending, but I do my best when I’m going for darker looks 😛
    What do you think is the best eyeshadow blending brush out there?

    xoxo
    Ana
    Ana recently posted … Which is the best nail colour for you?

    Reply
  19. Nadia A says

    March 25th, 2014 at 2:50 pm

    Hi Karen!
    You are an awesome woman! Always remember that!

    Reply
  20. Deanna says

    March 25th, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    I just started getting better at blending this year, because I forced myself to practice more.

    Actually, the video that you posted of Victor doing your makeup at the MAC store helped me a lot. I really like his “little circles” method of blending eye shadow in the outer v. Before I learned that trick, I really struggled to get my eye shadow exactly where I wanted it in the outer v. It would look perfect on my right eye, but for some reason I wouldn’t put my shadow in the same area on my left eye! I wonder if other people struggle with that, or if it’s just me being crazy.

    Anyhow, swirling my brush in little circles in the outer v has definitely improved how my eye shadow looks. I still need more practice, though!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 26th, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      It’s not you being crazy! I struggle with the same thing too. For me, it has to do with how I hold my brush. I’m right handed, so I always use my right hand to apply eyeshadow on both my right and left eye. When my right hand crosses over to the left eye, I hold the brush at a slightly different angle than I do with my right eye. So, I have to compensate the change and adjust the angle. Does that make sense? Anywho, it took me a while to figure this out. The little circles help a *ton*! What brush are you using? A MAC 224?

      Reply
      • Deanna says

        March 27th, 2014 at 9:06 am

        It’s nice to hear that I’m not the only one who struggles with that! And yes, that makes sense. From all of your amazing eye looks, it seems like you’ve mastered getting your brush angled just right. 🙂 I’m currently using a Sephora crease brush from their Prestige Luxe brush set. I really like that brush, but maybe I should try a MAC 224 at some point. I love/worship my MAC 217, so I need to give the 224 a try.

        Reply
        • Karen says

          March 27th, 2014 at 9:14 am

          Oh gosh, you can’t go wrong with the 217. I love, LOVE that brush so much that I keep a few around. It’s really great for the outer corner. Little circles 4 life, LOL!

          You know what might help? (And this is going to sound silly, but…) If your phone has a camera, take a selfie when you’re done with your makeup. I usually just place it in front of me and take a quick snapshot with my eyes closed. For some reason it’s easier to see what you need to fix in a photo, go figure. This has really helped me with the even-ness issue, which I still struggle with!

          Hope you’re having a nice Thursday so far. It’s a little overcast here in the Bay Area, but at least it’s not too cold.

          Reply
          • Deanna says

            March 27th, 2014 at 2:08 pm

            Right? The 217 and I are BFFs!

            That sounds like a really great idea–not silly at all! I think the horrible lighting in my bathroom could also be partially to blame for my blending mistakes, so a photograph would definitely be helpful.

            It has been a busy day, but good overall. It’s still a bit cold here in Maryland. Actually, it snowed here on Monday! Can you believe it? I dream of moving to a warmer state someday! If I think about it hard enough, maybe I can make it happen LOL.

  21. Kim says

    March 25th, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    I tend to over blend as well.. But I figure that it is better than under blending!

    Also, since the sephora Chic week is fast approaching I was wondering if you were planning on doing a wish list for us to see.. Or even recs for products we should snatch up.. I rock NC42 skin as well and your recs have yet to fail me!

    Reply
  22. hanna says

    March 25th, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    I don’t think I’m too bad at it.
    hanna recently posted … First Day Back After Spring Break

    Reply
  23. Chelsea says

    March 25th, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    I’m an overblender. My blending skills are a’ight, but I could use some assistance. I have a makeup artist friend who does lessons on how to apply makeup properly, so I was thinking I’d take my BFF (who I owe majorly for doing my wedding photography) to do that, along with a spa day of some sort.

    Reply
  24. Danielle says

    March 26th, 2014 at 6:12 am

    I have definitely come a long way, but there is still room for improvement. I have bad OCD when it comes to blending and I like everything to be very soft looking.
    Danielle recently posted … Green Polish for Spring & Summer | 2014

    Reply
  25. Erin says

    March 26th, 2014 at 11:23 am

    I don’t think I have the right brushes. I’m ok at it but by no mean pro.
    Erin recently posted … Altos Del Plata 2011 Malbec Review

    Reply
  26. Sam says

    March 26th, 2014 at 10:06 pm

    I love all of your eye looks but I have to say a smokey eye really suits you. Your blending is perfect. I always try to recreate your eye looks but I still need practice in the blending department. I think that I’m okay at blending in general but I’m still working on achieving the soft gradient that goes along with a smokey eye. Also I tend to over extend at the outer v(always more so on my left eye) My left eye is a little bit bigger with the brow being a little higher. I struggle with trying to make both eyes look the same but the fact is they aren’t even without makeup.

    Reply
  27. Laure says

    March 27th, 2014 at 9:14 am

    I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I think overall I’m okay at blending.
    Laure recently posted … Travel | Quick hello and what’s to come.

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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