Hi Guys,
Today’s post is the sixth installment
of my A Guide To Series, which I firstly can’t believe it’s already onto the sixth
one. Apologies if I’ve also said this before because I feel like I may of, but it’s
just going so quickly! You can see all of them so far from primers to eyebrows
HERE if you’d like a catch up!
It wasn’t until I started
to write this post that it hit me, there are a lot of eye shadows and finishes
in the world. Of course I knew there are a lot but it’s actually rather
overwhelming when I had a good think about the different versions.
Hopefully this post breaks
them down a little, but it is a very large topic to cover, so I can’t fit
everything in but I’ve tried to go over as many of the more mainstream versions
available.
There’s probably two main types of generalized
finishes to eyeshadows, especially drugstore, one of them being Matte. Although
saying that its extremely difficult to find matte shadows in the drugstore a
lot of the time, just due to the fact they cost a bit more to manufacture. I
have found MUA to be a favourite of mine if I want a cheaper matte shadow
though.
Matte Shadows are my favourite to work with, as they
are perfect to put into the crease, as they create better shadows on the eye.
They are also great shades to blend with and especially with Illamasqua, really
pack a punch when it comes to pigmentation. I prefer with a bright coloured eye
to use a matte shade and then if I want to I can always layer with a glitter or
pigment too.
Another finish of shadow that’s
probably one of the most similar to matte, is a Satin finish. It has that matte
effect to it, with just a very subtle shine. They're also a little less chalky
in constancy compared to matte and make a really great finish to blend with. I
personally favourite the MAC Satin shades, especially Cork!
The second most found type of finish that I've found in
the drugstore is Shimmer Shadows, which is quite a broad spectrum. As I would
probably class anything from frost to a more glitter packed shade in this
category generally. Most of the shadow selection in drugstores is going to be
shimmer as its a lot cheaper for a company to make.
A lot of the Urban Decay shades are known for their
sparkle, they do tend to contain a bit of glitter, but their pigmentation is
great and always quite creamy in texture. If you really want a bit of pressed
sparkle the Moondust shades are the ones to go for!
MAC do have what seems like
a very large handful of different finishes to their shadows and to go through
every single one would be a whole other post. However most of my collection
from them is in the Frost family. These often can appear rather shiny, but this
is down to the light reflecting pigments in them, due to that they’re not
fantastic traditionally to wear in the crease, as it won’t create a shadow. On
the other hand they make beautiful highlight shades, especially in the inner
tear duct and also lovely all over the lid.
A new and very loved member
of my family is duo chrome shadow shades. MAC also does a few of these, which
have always been great successes. However Topshop have joined the scene with
the Chameleon Glow and they are fantastic if you want something a little different.
Again they’re light reflecting, but these are more like shadow toppers in a way
as they are a sheer finish, which can be built up, but it’s a very subtle
beautiful way to wear this finish on its own too.
Pigments may be one of my
favourite ways to wear eye shadow, they're usually the most pigmented option,
hence the name and always have a bit of sparkle to add. They're also the most
pigmented as they don't include the ingredient that holds a pressed shadow
together, meaning you're getting the most from your colour. They are quite messy, but easily mastered and can easily be used wet too, which will really boost their colour.
Some of my favourites
include Sugarpill, who are great for your brighter shades, with a little bit of
a sparkle. However if you want a sparkling almost glitter like pigment, I
always reach for Illamasqua Pure Pigments. Most of their range is also more neutral in colour
and are beautiful over other shadows and as highlights. Finally for a drugstore
alternative, the Barry M Dazzle Dusts are always popular, although a little
chunkier in consistency compared to higher end products. But they still look
very pretty over the lid and as a inner corner highlight.
Mineral Shadows are one that I do forget about, but when I do remember, they're some of the most beautiful products to use. They are basically just like a pigment, but made from minerals instead. The ones that I have tried from ELF and
Bare Minerals, are always creamy in constancy and have some of the best colour pay off.
Cream Shadows are great for longevity, powder shadows will crease quicker than a cream unless used with a primer underneath. However you can still use a cream shadow as a primer underneath a powder shadow, I went into a bit more detail about doing that
HERE.
Some of my favourites are from Illamasqua, they do their
Cream Pigments that can be used for an array of things and are a waxy constancy so don't set unless used with a powder. But they also have their
Vintage Metallix, a perfect cream shadow to wear on its own, as once set this isn't moving. You need very little of the product and it can be buffed to your hearts content to do a beautiful quick smoky eye.
A industry favourite are the
MAC Paint Pots, these are fantastic as a base, but again on their own. They come in an array of finishes, from sheer, shimmer, to more opaque matte colours. These are another that are creamy to apply, but dry to more of a powdery finish, that will not budge.
Then a very popular drugstore choice is from Maybelline, with their
Color Tattoo's. I prefer the leather effect ones as they are matte. But the original line offers frosty finishes in a array of colours, these are also more of a gel formula, I find these set the quickest, but slightly harder to play with.
Lastly are the Shadow Sticks, quick and easy to apply, perfect for if you're in a rush and want a sweep of colour quickly. I love these for lining the base of the lid near the lashes and blending it out up to the crease.
Two favourites are the
Rimmel Shadow Sticks, of course in the Kate Moss Rose Gold Shade, but they're also almost wet in the feel of them. Once they've had chance to set, they're another product that doesn't move, I do prefer this sheered out as it has got more of a frosty look to it when built up.
A higher end option is the
By Terry Ombre Blackstar, unlike the Rimmel one I don't mind this one sheer or opaque, its got a beautiful shimmer to it and once paired with a shadow over the top, your eye makeup isn't going to slip around, it won't even if not powdered too. Its quick to set and they have a good shade range, compared to the Rimmel collection.
 |
(Swatches: Left to Right - Barry M Dazzle Dust, Sugarpill Pigment, Topshop Chameleon Glow, Urban Decay Pressed Shadow, MAC Paint Pot, Maybelline Color Tattoo, Illamasqua Pressed Shadow, MUA Pressed Shadow, MAC Pressed Matte Shadow, Rimmel Crayon, By Terry Ombre Blackstar & E.L.F Mineral Shadow.)
Let me know what you'd like to see next in this series and I hope you've liked this instalment Congratulations if you've reached the end too! I didn't realise I had so much to say about eye shadow! haha. |
Eloise x
