Sometimes eye shadow application can feel like smudging a bunch of product on your eyelid and hoping for the best. Don’t settle for that mess, use some of these tricks to get the best smoky or bright colored lids you’re dreaming of.

Hack 1: White Eyelids

Ever wanted a matte, bright eye shadow look? Simply apply white liner to make sheer or less pigmented eye shadow appear more colorful than it is. Take a white eyeliner pencil and run it over the entire eyelid. The white base of the liner will intensify any eye shadow shade and make it pop instantly against your skin for a brighter, bolder look.

Hack 2: Hashtag Shadow

Draw a slanted hashtag at the outer corner of your eye, and then blend it for an instantly smoky effect. To create a super-easy smoky effect. To create a super-easy smoky eye, draw a hashtag symbol right before the outer corner of your eye and then blend it out with the smudge at the other end of your eye liner.

Hack 3: Clean Smoky Eyes

It is important that you use one brush to apply your chosen colors and a clean brush to blend, especially if you’re going for a smoky eye look. This keeps the colors from running into each other, particularly, on your second eye when you have additional makeup on the brush. Clean your brush when you are finished so that it will be ready for tomorrow’s morning rush.

Hack 4: Simple Intense Eyes

First, apply foundation or an eye shadow base on your eyelid. Then, apply a light color, like  white or silver, in the inner corner of your eyes. Apply a darker color on the outer corner, and blend the two in the middle. Apply black or your darkest color in your scheme to the outermost corner. Then line your upper and lower eyelids. Apply mascara and you’re done!

Hack 5: Pencil-Only Eye Shadow

First, line your upper lash line then draw another line directly above that one. Keep drawing lines above each other until you reach your eye crease. Blend back and forth with a blending brush (or your ring finger), but don’t go past where your eyebrows end.