Demystifying 3D makeup

Makeup is almost a necessity for most women. Finding the perfect colors, choosing the best brand and discovering the right products for each type of skin, eyes and mouth is an activity that, more than a historically feminine “must”, has become a real fun for girls.

Due to an increasing demand and level of demand from the female public in general, the cosmetics industry seeks, every day, to bring innovative and even revolutionary products to its customers, which allow experimentation and – why not? – the discovery of new techniques, with different and more professional results. That’s what happened with eye shadow. For a few years now, a type of eyeshadow known in the makeup world as 3D has become popular, which promises depth and texture effects for the eyes.

What is 3D makeup?

After the foundation and the powder, along with the eyeliner and the mascara, the 3D eyeshadow apparently has a different effect on the make-up, contributing to a more improved final result.

With the popularization of the term “3D”, due to its increasing use in movie theaters and even television sets, some manufacturers decided to incorporate it into the nomenclature of certain products with greater pigmentation, capable of making the visual effect of makeup more striking and deep. According to professional makeup artist Monika Ganem, “some manufacturers, taking advantage of this situation, launched more intense color palettes, present until then only on professional makeup artists’ benches”.

How to do makeup with a three-dimensional effect

For Monika, the effect of a 3D makeup is not so easily achieved. It is necessary to have previous knowledge of makeup, knowing exactly how to work each product, so that the result is as close as possible to a depth effect. “I understand (the term 3D makeup) as an effect obtained by professional makeup artists who, with the proper use of good makeup, combined with a consistent knowledge of light and shadow effects, manage to simulate an effect of depth in their work, as a artist does when painting a picture, for example”, says the makeup artist.

Eyeshadows with more intense pigmentation are better for those who are new to the subject and want to achieve more “dramatic” effects through makeup. What one should look for is to work on the concepts mentioned by Monika: depth and the play of light and shadow. Its application is similar to that of conventional makeup: apply a darker shade to the outermost area of ​​the eyelid, blending it to an intermediate shade in the center of the eyelid (usually colored) and, finally, to a lighter shade in the inner corner of the eye. However, as the pigmentation is stronger, it will be better to go to a professional to do it if you are not very skilled with brushes.

3D makeup pictures

Where to buy?

There is a huge variety of products available on the market with the name 3D, but it is worth observing (testing on the fingers and wrists, when buying) if the pigmentation is really different. This type of makeup is made by less famous brands, so it’s not difficult to find 3D palettes in major cosmetics stores. The important thing, as said, is that the pigmentation (which is the way the eyeshadow looks when applied on the skin) is strong.

3D Palettes: brands, models and prices

3D makeup videos

In the following videos you can see in practice how to use 3D eyeshadow palettes and learn how to give this effect in your next productions.

In this first video, makeup artist and blogger Alice Salazar teaches how to prepare an eye with a very striking 3D eyeshadow in shades of red. The technique is simple and easy to copy. She uses the Jasmyne eyeshadow palette. This look suits all skin tones.

Next, blogger Luciane Ferraes teaches how to make a makeup with 3D aqua green eyeshadow, also using Jasmyne’s 96-color palette. The makeup is ideal for fair skin or light brown skin.

Ready to bet on 3D makeup? Just choose your favorite products and play!