Mineral Eye Shadows

So what is all the hype about Mineral Eye Shadows you ask? Or perhaps even the lack of it.

Recently I have noticed that there has been a lot of those loose powdered mineral eye shadows popping up on the market. Being the curious cat that I am, I decided to give it a shot and try some. One of the stores where I usually get my skincare products were having a promotion on them (A FREAKIN AWESOME STEAL, if I may say so). I mean 3 shimmers of choice for $10?!?! Doesn't get much better than that! So I bought 3 just to try it out and I loved it so much that I went back for more the day after...Yikes! They actually have it in a large fishbowl like thingy and you really need to dig around to find colours that you like. 

Then, once you found colours that you like, you just have to step to the back of the mirror where they display the makeup and try out your colours. **Warning! Because the powders are displayed upside down, make sure you tap before you open or you may just have a colour explosion in front of you.

Now the shimmers actually come with a 8-in-1 ways to use instruction card, I on the other hand prefer to just stick to what its actually used for and use it on the eyes or contouring. Sometimes, especially the fine glitter, for the nails. Here is a copy of the 8-in-1 ways to use the shimmer:

I gave some pots of shimmers to my mum to try and she loves them too! We have problems with oily eye lids but we both feel that when the shimmer is applied with a good eye primer, the colour stayed on without smudging or moving. I usually use Urban Decay Primer Potion but for loose eye shadow, I prefer to use MAC Painterly or even MICABeauty Eye Primer. Again, I prefer the MICABeauty one because I left my MAC Pot unproperly closed once (ONCE!!!) and it started to dry out...bummer! My MICABeauty Primer is still nice and as it should be.

I bought an 9 stack, some shimmer powders and the opened one on right is the Primer, just so you can see that its not cracked and dried up!

The trick to applying mineral eye shadows is to either use a firm brush or to apply it wet (and I mean wet the brush ok! Not the product, unless you mix it into a paste- messy and unnecessary). Because the eye shadow is so densely pigmented, all you really need is just a teeny bit to give you some really gorgeous shades. Being over zealous and picking up too much with your brush could result in you getting it ALL OVER your face/clothes/makeup table/everything! In the end, that one pot of shimmer that u paid $3 for could last you anywhere from 1-2years! 

*Tip: Usually when you open the shimmer, there is a plastic covering on the top of the holes, DO NOT REMOVE THIS! Just poke a hole in 1 (or 3) of the holes and tap upside down before using. 

(L) Plastic removed, (R) Holes poked in plastic (See what I mean!)

Whatever the case, don't knock it till you try it! I know that pressed eye shadows are easier, more user friendly and less messy but honestly, it is nothing a little bit of practice can't fix. Believe me- once you master the art of handling the loose eye shadow, you will never turn back. Go check out the promotion, I believe the salesperson told me that its while stocks last as they are trying to clear the last bit of the old brand before switching to the new brand. Either way, its not a concern for consumers because mineral make up is not supposed to expire because it doesn't contain any junk in it!

After Eve The Skin Studio

B1, Wisma Atria (opposite Holland & Barrett)

Tel: 6737 3309