Eye Shadow

Nothing gets more use in your makeup bag than the basics, which is why the Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Eyeshadow Quad in Desert ($67) is a beauty must have. The iconic Dolce & Gabbana leopard print makes this packaging even more chic, and the coordinating shadows, a nod to the outer design, are the perfect warm neutrals for everyday use. Featuring an assortment of matte powders, a shimmering gold accent provides a touch of the brand's glamorous roots. You can wear the darker shade as an eyeliner or use it to build more drama to a warm smoky eye. It's easy to get in touch with your wild side when the colors are just that easy to wear.

Last night, Rihanna was crowned queen (yes, royalty!) of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, and she sported semiprecious eye shadow for the auspicious occasion. Take a cue from the pop star for a Fall metallic makeup look that's dazzling, not disastrous. To start, apply a deep matte shadow in chocolate tones on the outer half of the lid. Then sweep a bronze or gold-flecked shade from the inner corners to the center of the lid. Try BareMinerals Ready 2.0 Palette in Epiphany ($20), which has both colors in one. Finally, use a larger brush to blend the two colors together. To complement this high-shine eye look, pick a subtle peach blush. But you can add drama with a matte bold lipstick like Rihanna's signature cherry red. Now if only keeping up with the star's constant hair changes was as easy as re-creating her makeup look.

Highlighter-bright eye shadows are more wearable than you'd think, as demonstrated by Coco Rocha's surprisingly attainable two-toned palette. Her electric blue shadow, paired with a slightly winged liner and matching blue nails, looks cool and not the least bit tacky. The secret? Use the same rules that you would use with any other shadow.

Coco started off with her base color, a stripe of bright azure blue similar to Bobbi Brown Shadow in Blue Bell ($21), which extended from the beginning of her lash line past the outer corner of her eyes. She then blended a lighter shade of blue into the inner corner of her eyes, as you would a white shadow with a neutral-colored palette. The white shadow along Coco's lower lash line helps to open them, keeping her overall look from being too top-heavy. Pink cheeks and lips finish the look off. Thinking of trying the look out yourself? Just treat your brights like you would your neutrals, and you'll look modern instead of overdone.

Summer eye palettes are filled with pastels and fluorescents, but now it's time to dim the brights for Fall. In addition to swapping your foundation and lipstick, give your eye makeup a changeup. Check out these eye-catching color pairings to update your shadow collection this season.

Over the past few months, mineral makeup authority Bare Escentuals has been adding pressed-powder formulations to its traditional lineup of loose-powder makeup. And the results have been astounding. The recently launched Bare Minerals Ready 2.0 Eye Shadow Palette ($20) contains two shades that glide on as smooth as silk. Borage oil helps to hydrate the skin, while cucumber assists in quelling puffiness. But it's the color payoff that truly impresses. The pigments are richly hued and long-wearing, and are even resistant to creasing and clumping.

While there are over 20 palettes from which to choose, The Hidden Agenda (pictured) is a standout. This combination features Stealth, an apricot chiffon, and Undercover, a glistening granite with soft plum undertones. Not your color duo of choice? We're also fans of The 15 Minutes, which features Page Six (a sandy-pink sheen) and Most Requested (a burgundy sparkle), two shades that will make any eye tone pop.

When it comes to eye shadow, there are endless possibilities, often making it overwhelming to decide which colors to mix. So when in doubt, turn to this three-shadow template; it will consistently allow you create a look with depth. Just follow this outline for stellar results.

When any product claims to have all-day staying power, it's usually a good idea to take that statement with a grain of salt. But in the case of L'Oréal Infallible Eye Shadow ($8), the color you apply in the morning is still there well into the evening. This pressed-powder shadow is featherlight and builds upon itself the more you apply, allowing you to transition your look from day to night. And this stuff hangs onto your lids all day. You'll probably need more than your average soap and water to remove it. The slightly shimmery shadows are available in nine different shades, ranging from deep brown to bright turquoise — ideal for wearing alone or with each other.

Not everyone wants to don the bright makeup shades seen on the runway, such as this yellow eye shadow look from Narciso Rodriguez. But if you're on the fence about wearing this vivid hue, there are a few alternatives to stretch your comfort zone from gold-only to flashlight fever.

1. Yellow works well as an accent color, especially when placed alongside rich tones. Just dab the bright yellow in the inner corners, near the lash lines, or underneath eyes. Then, blend with darker purple or deep blue shades on the outer edges. These colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, which means they pair perfectly.
2. Lemon liner will add a highlighting effect to your look. While cream or liquid formulas work best to create a thick liner on top lids, if you can't find a starlight shade, use shadow and a damp angled brush to get the ideal winged liner.
3. Still not convinced? Yellow also works as a corrector, erasing blue veins that peep through pale lids. Try Benefit's Lemon Aid ($20) for neutralizing, eye-opening results.

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has smart tips for making life easier. This week, Michelle tells us how to decode the differences between eye shadow brushes:

There are number of different shadow brushes out there, so how do you know which ones to choose? Depending on your desired look, different shapes and sizes of eye shadow tools will yield different effects on your eyes.

The two that are most important would have to be the fluffy brush for blending and the contour brush. But for more precision in your eye shadow application, take a look at the various types of brushes and their intended uses below:

Get the most out of Summer beauty with these tips

Large, fluffy brushes with a rounded edge are great for larger areas of shadow that is applied between the crease and brow. These brushes are good for blending different colors and for highlighting the brow bone.

Contour­ brushes are the most important! Brushes with smaller and shorter bristles are perfect for smoothing out specific areas and contouring blended colors, especially around the corners of the eyes and on the eyelids themselves.

Flat, straight-edged brushes work great when you want to contain shadow to certain areas along the crease or edge of your eyelid. Like a paintbrush, the bristles are less fluffy and more compact, which allows for better accuracy.

Flat, angled brushes are for even greater precision around the edges of the lids, creases, and corners. Since they have a tapered tip, angled brushes will help you apply detail to specific areas and can also be used for eyeliner application.

More from Michelle Phan:

• Make your own bright lip color at home
• Check out these art-inspired nails
• You'll have a magnetic connection to this nail polish
• Perfect your false eyelash application with these tips