While many women think that the coverage of their eyeshadow hinges upon the pigment’s formula (creams can appear more opaque on lids than powders), the tools used to apply the makeup can also impact its overall look.

“For eyeshadow, I like applying with a damp sponge applicator or small brush,” celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman told People magazine. “It may look a little dark going on, but it dries to its true color and tends to hold much longer. I often do this for photo shoots or red carpet events where the shade really needs to hold up under the lights.”

While some shadows come in a compact complete with an applicator, the sponge-tipped tools are usually too small to provide lids with broad strokes of even coverage. Jane Iredale offers a wide variety of eyeshadow brushes, such as Eye Shader Brush and the Crease Brush, as well as a Professional Brush Set that contains five different eye makeup applicators and 16 tools in total.

For extra staying power, women may also want to use a primer before they apply pigment on their eyes. Borghese Eye Shadow Base creates a barrier between makeup and the skin to prevent creasing caused by oily lids and provide an even-colored canvas for a shadow of any hue.