It’s been a while. Sorry about that! Today I want to pass along a few words about primer and my quick tips for getting insanely bright eyeshadow. Here’s what I’ve got going on today:
Pretty bright, yeah? Here’s my secret: double primer. First I use my typical primer, but that still doesn’t give me the brightest possible results when my inner Nikki Minaj feels like strutting around. The super secret next step is creme shadow.
The issue I have with creme shadow is that most formulas inevitably crease. However, when I use them as a base, then set them with my typical powder shadow, they last and last. Problem solved!
This technique also works for more neutral look and not just brights. Just get a cream shadow in the neutral color you want and use it to keep colors vibrant all day. You can also try layering different shades of cream and powder shadow for a cool multi-dimensional look. They’re easy to blend together and you can create very precise or very soft lines depending on how much you blend.
Here are swatches of today’s teal eyeshadow layered over bare skin, basic primer and cream shadow over primer. See the difference?
When applying powder shadow over cream, be sure not to drag your brush across the eye. Just load up your brush with color and pat it over the cream, making sure to really pack the color into the cream and bond it together. If you pull across the cream too much you can end up with a smudgy mess!
Today’s cream shadow comes courtesy of one of my favorite brands, NYX cosmetics (no, I am not paid to endorse them, I just love them). I used the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil ($4.50) in Electric Blue over NYX Eyeshadow Base ($7.00) in Skin Tone. I couldn’t figure out what to do with the jumbo eye pencils as shadows since they crease like crazy, but once I figured out the colored primer trick I bought them in every color.
My eyeshadow is BH Cosmetics Pro Palette Color in CM15 ($1.95 for a single shadow or ~$1.17 each when combined into a 15 color palette). I’m also wearing Buxom Lash mascara ($19) on my lashes and Milani LIQUIF’EYE Longwear Eyeliner ($5.99) in black which is just as smooth and dark as my beloved UD 24/7 liners, but for a third of the price. I haven’t tried the other colors, but the black is unbelievably good for a six-dollar eye pencil. I’ve used $20 pencils that don’t even come close.
Cosmetic Confessional 