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Beauty & Makeup Editor

Maya Rodriguez

Professional makeup artist and certified color theorist. Covers eye makeup tutorials, seasonal trends, and technique breakdowns for Eye Shadow Looks.

About Maya

Maya Rodriguez has been working professionally in the beauty industry for over a decade, with a background in editorial shoots, New York Fashion Week production teams, and luxury bridal studios. She holds certifications in color theory through the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), and has completed coursework in cosmetic chemistry — which she uses to evaluate product formulations rather than just test their aesthetics.

At Eye Shadow Looks, Maya writes all hands-on technique tutorials and trend coverage. Her testing methodology: every technique featured on the site is attempted across a minimum of three different eye shapes and skin undertones before publication. She documents what fails just as carefully as what succeeds — her "What to Avoid" sections come directly from failed testing attempts, not theoretical caution.

Maya's product recommendation process involves firsthand use-testing of each recommended product over a minimum of two weeks across multiple looks before assigning a ranking. She does not accept paid product placements or review products exclusively from press samples — her picks are independently sourced and tested for unbiased results.

Credentials & Expertise

  • Certified Color Theorist — Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM)
  • Cosmetic Chemistry coursework — formulation science informs all product evaluations
  • 10+ years professional artistry — editorial, New York Fashion Week, and luxury bridal
  • Multi-eye-shape testing protocol — techniques tested on 3+ eye shapes before publication
  • Independent product testing — 2+ weeks use-testing per product, no paid placements

Articles by Maya

products

Best Drugstore Eyeshadow Palettes of 2026: Tested Picks Under $20

You don't need to spend $60 on an eyeshadow palette to get great color, blendability, and variety. These drugstore palettes have been tested and actually deliver.

products

Best Eyeshadow Palettes of 2026: Tested Picks Across Every Price Tier

After testing dozens of options, these eight palettes consistently deliver, whether you're spending $10 or $75. Here's what we actually found, palette by palette.

products

Best Eyeshadow Primers for Oily Lids: Tested Rankings for All-Day Wear

Oily eyelids destroy eyeshadow faster than anything else. These primers are specifically tested for oily skin and long-wear events — from $8 to $30.

tutorials

Cream vs. Powder vs. Liquid Eyeshadow: Which Formula is Right for You?

Each eyeshadow formula has a different best use case, and using the wrong one is one of the most common reasons looks don't turn out as expected.

tutorials

Cut Crease Tutorial: The Technique That Makes Any Eye Shape Pop

The cut crease is still one of the most dramatic and transformative eye makeup techniques. Here's how to do it for every eye shape — including the hooded eye tricks professionals use.

looks

Cyber Sigilism & Retro-Futuristic Liner: The 2026 Graphic Eye Trend

Cyber sigilism brings intricate geometric linework to the face — circuit-board patterns, rune-like marks, and tech-adjacent designs that turn eyeliner into art. Here's how to approach it.

tutorials

Deep-Set Eyes Makeup Guide: Techniques to Bring Your Eyes Forward

Deep-set eyes sit further back in the skull, which creates a natural shadow effect. The right techniques use light and color to counteract that shadow and bring the eye forward.

looks

Everyday Eye Shadow Looks You Can Do in 5 Minutes

Simple, beautiful eye shadow looks perfect for work, school, or running errands. Each look takes 5 minutes or less with minimal products.

tutorials

Eyeliner to Make Eyes Look Bigger: 5 Opening Techniques That Work

Most eyeliner advice for making eyes look bigger is backward — more liner typically makes eyes smaller. Here are the techniques that actually open the eye.

tutorials

Eyeliner Tutorial: Every Type of Liner Explained Step by Step

Pencil, gel, liquid — each liner type requires different technique. Here's how to apply each one correctly, including the winged liner method most tutorials skip over.

tutorials

The Complete Eyeshadow Brush Guide: Every Brush Type Explained

Most eye looks only need 3–4 brushes, but knowing what each brush does — and having the right ones — makes every technique easier and more precise.

tutorials

Best Eyeshadow Colors for Blue and Green Eyes: Shades That Make Them Shine

Blue and green eyes are relatively rare — and the right eyeshadow makes them unforgettable. Here's what the color wheel says, and what actually works in practice.

tutorials

Best Eyeshadow Colors for Brown Eyes: A Complete Color Guide

Brown eyes have a hidden advantage: they look stunning with almost every color. Here's a color-by-color breakdown of what works best and why.

tutorials

Best Eyeshadow Colors for Hazel Eyes: Make Every Fleck Pop

Hazel eyes shift between green, gold, and brown depending on what's around them. The right eyeshadow can lock in whichever tone you want to emphasize — here's exactly how.

tutorials

Eyeshadow Tips for Glasses Wearers: How to Make Your Eye Makeup Show Through Lenses

Glasses change how eye makeup is perceived at a distance. The techniques that work without lenses need specific adjustments to translate through glass.

tutorials

How to Fix Eyeshadow Mistakes Without Starting Over

Most eyeshadow mistakes are fixable without removing your makeup and starting from scratch. Here's what to do when the most common problems happen.

tutorials

Fox Eye and Siren Eye Tutorial: How to Get the Lifted, Almond-Shaped Look

The fox eye and siren eye looks both use liner and shadow to create the illusion of a longer, lifted, more almond-shaped eye. Here's how to nail both techniques.

tutorials

Frosted & Icy Lid Tutorial: The Cool Chrome Look of 2026

The frosted lid look takes the metallic trend somewhere cooler — literal ice tones, glazed finish, and an almost crystalline effect on the lid. Here's how to build it.

tutorials

Glossy Lid Tutorial: How to Get the Wet-Look Eye That's Dominating 2026

The glossy lid trend is everywhere right now. Learn how to get that gorgeous wet-look eye with products that actually stay put — no creasing, no mess.

tutorials

Graphic Eyeliner Looks That Are Taking Over 2026

Floating liner, negative space wings, geometric shapes — graphic eyeliner in 2026 is all about creative expression. Here are the looks to try and how to pull them off.

tutorials

Halo Eye Tutorial: How to Create the Dreamy Glowing Eye Look

The halo eye centers a bright shimmer on the lid with darker shadow framing both sides — creating a three-dimensional glow that works on every eye shape.

tutorials

Eyeshadow for Hooded Eyes: Placement Tips That Actually Work

Hooded eyes hide your crease when your eyes are open. These placement techniques keep your shadow visible and your eyes looking lifted and defined.

tutorials

How to Apply Eyeshadow for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide (With Pictures)

Learning to apply eyeshadow is easier than most tutorials make it look. Here's the real beginner method — no special skills required, just the right order and a few key tools.

tutorials

How to Stop Eyeshadow from Creasing: The Complete Guide

Creasing eyeshadow is almost always fixable with the right primer, formula, and powder technique. Here's exactly what to do at every step.

tutorials

Makeup for Close-Set Eyes: Techniques to Widen the Space Between Your Eyes

Close-set eyes have less space between them than average relative to eye width. The right techniques widen that space optically — without any filtering or editing required.

tutorials

Metallic and Chrome Eyes: How to Get the Liquid Metal Look

Chrome eyeshadow is the high-impact trend of 2026. Learn how to get that molten metal finish with liquid metallics, the foil technique, and layering tricks that make your lids look like mirrors.

looks

Monochromatic Aura Beauty: How to Do the 2026 One-Tone Eye Look

Monochromatic aura beauty uses one color family across the entire eye — lid, crease, liner, sometimes even brow — for a soft, diffused, all-enveloping effect. Here's how to build it.

tutorials

Monolid Eye Makeup: Techniques That Enhance Your Natural Shape

Monolid eyes don't have a visible crease, which means standard eyeshadow rules don't apply. Here's how to place shadow, blend, and line your eyes for maximum impact.

looks

Neon Eyeshadow Looks: Bold, Bright, and Totally Wearable

Neon eyeshadow is back in a big way for 2026. Here's how to wear bright, bold eye colors without looking like a costume — from subtle pops to full editorial impact.

looks

Night Out Eye Makeup: Sparkle, Smoke, and Statement Looks for 2026

Whether it's a dinner party, club night, or celebration — your eyes deserve more than neutral shimmer. Here are the night out eye looks that actually turn heads in 2026.

tutorials

Round Eyes Makeup Guide: Techniques to Elongate and Define

Round eyes are wide and open by default — makeup technique for round eyes focuses on adding length and lift while keeping that natural openness.

trends

Y2K Eye Makeup Is Back: How to Wear Frosted Lids, Blue Shadow, and Lilac Shimmer in 2026

The early 2000s called, and this time we're keeping their best eye looks. Frosted shadows, icy blues, and lilac shimmer are back — but updated with better formulas and modern technique.