Eye shadow as pigment trick? Explain!!

Do you use the Clinique Clarifying Powder or the actual cream foundation?

And Blot Powder Pressed or Loose? What's the benefit/purpose of either?

From what I'm reading, you guys really know your stuff!...

I could use some help.



I'm ninteen years old. I live in Colorado Springs (very dry and bad for skin).
I definitely had my acne days, but *THANK GOD!* am pulling out of it now.
For years I never wore make up - I refused. Don't ask me why.

So I'm still a baby - and I mean premie - at this, and was hoping for some constructive criticism...

Here's what I currently do:
Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser and Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF15 morning and night
Cover Girl "clean makeup" lightweight coverage (120)
Cover Girl "clean" pressed powder (225)
Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quad (Designer Chocolates) using the chocolate brown as liner
Maybelline Volum' Express mascara
and chapstick

so now that i've embarassed myself, please let me explain.
As much as I would LOVE to stock up on some MAC or... anything not from WalMart, I am a student in an intense leadership academy and consequently have NO time for making money - and my parents are not in a financial position to be spending fifteen dollars on one thing of eyeshadow.

...SO... if anyone sees a MAJOR ABSOLUTE NEVER-DO in my ways (either something you see me doing - I have attatched a few photos of typical "me" makeup - or in product selection), please show me, and if there are still-cheap but better quality products to replace mine or just tips for me, I would forever be indebted to you for filling me in! or if there are a few MUST-HAVES that you HIGHLY recomend, I might be able to scrounge up somethin' and get it.

*be honest (brutally if necessary)*


THANK YOU in advance!

You guys are AWESOME!!!

From what I'm reading, you guys really know your stuff!...

I could use some help.



I'm ninteen years old. I live in Colorado Springs (very dry and bad for skin).
I definitely had my acne days, but *THANK GOD!* am pulling out of it now.
For years I never wore make up - I refused. Don't ask me why.

So I'm still a baby - and I mean premie - at this, and was hoping for some constructive criticism...

Here's what I currently do:
Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser and Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF15 morning and night
Cover Girl "clean makeup" lightweight coverage (120)
Cover Girl "clean" pressed powder (225)
Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Quad (Designer Chocolates) using the chocolate brown as liner
Maybelline Volum' Express mascara
and chapstick

so now that i've embarassed myself, please let me explain.
As much as I would LOVE to stock up on some MAC or... anything not from WalMart, I am a student in an intense leadership academy and consequently have NO time for making money - and my parents are not in a financial position to be spending fifteen dollars on one thing of eyeshadow.

...SO... if anyone sees a MAJOR ABSOLUTE NEVER-DO in my ways (either something you see me doing - I have attatched a few photos of typical "me" makeup - or in product selection), please show me, and if there are still-cheap but better quality products to replace mine or just tips for me, I would forever be indebted to you for filling me in! or if there are a few MUST-HAVES that you HIGHLY recomend, I might be able to scrounge up somethin' and get it.

*be honest (brutally if necessary)*


THANK YOU in advance!

You guys are AWESOME!!!

Slow day at work today...so my co-workers and I compiled a list of makeup tips. All product names mentioned are obviously all MAC...and even more obviously you don't have to use MAC products for these tips but you can check out maccosmetics.com for reference of the product colors we're talking about. And I elaborated a little on MAC skincare products most people don't know about. I always love hearing makeup tips from other people (you can never have enough tips, right?), so hopefully someone finds something here useful.


The best way to wear bright eye shadows is to use a neutral brow highlight (like Shroom), a mid-tone brown in the crease (like Kid), and the bright eye shadow only on your lid. Very subtle!

Having trouble blending your eye shadow? Apply your crease color first, and then work from there. This will soften the harsh lines of the crease color.

Still having trouble blending eye shadows? Dip your blending brush is a little loose translucent powder before blending.

Use colored eyeliner (navy, dark purple, bronze) to line your top and bottom lash lines, then use jet black eye kohl to line the "outer V" of your lash line.

Bright pink blush (like Dollymix) is flattering on everyone! Just apply it very lightly.

A bronze smoky eye is 100 times sexier than a traditional black and gray smoky eye. Best bronze smoky eye products: Vanilla eye shadow (highlight), Honesty eye shadow (crease), Bronze eye shadow (lid), Naked Lunch (tear duct), Smolder Eye Kohl eyeliner, and two coats of mascara.

Use Shadesticks and Cream Color Bases under eye shadows and Pigments to modify the color.

Use iridescent powder to highlight cheekbones, brow bone, and tear duct. Instantly wakes up your face!

Apply bronzing powder underneath your chin and jaw to make your face appear thinner.

Use Paints and Fluidlines as eye shadow bases.

Using a contrasting color to line your lower lash line always make your eyes stand out!

A subtle wash of color is sometimes prettier than constantly wearing dark shadows. Try wearing Vex eye shadow on your lid, Beautiful Iris eye shadow in the crease, and Vanilla eye shadow to highlight.

Liquid eyeliner is ultra glam- but sometimes tricky. To fix any mistakes, use a Q-tip dipped in a non-greasy eye makeup remover and then use another Q-tip to fix any holes in your eye shadow.

Your brows are sisters, not twins! They don't have to be identical, just similar.

Use a brow powder and an angled brush to fill in brows. Looks more natural than brow pencils.

Be weary of using eye shadow to fill in your brows. Eye shadows commonly contain more oil than brow powders, so it is more likely to smudge and smear.

Mulch eye shadow + Blue Herizon Liquidlast Liner = HOT. Trust me.

Easy contouring: apply bronzing powder to the hollows of your cheeks, then blush to the apples of your cheeks, and an iridescent powder to your cheekbones.

If you want to add a little sparkle to your eyes but are weary of using shadows to line your eyes (or in my case, you believe that Softsparkle Pencils are gritty glittery sticks of evil), apply your regular non-waterproof eye liner, and then use an angle brush to apply a dark shimmery shadow (like Black Tied)...it will stick to the liner and give you a much more subtle shimmering eyeliner without being globs of glitter.

Never neglect your brows!! Always make sure your brows are well-groomed. Clean up, shape, fill in any holes with brow powder/pencil, and keep in place with brow wax. A nicely groomed brow really emphasizes your eyes and frames your face.

Cremestick Liners are so overlooked! These are cream-based (not wax-based!) highly pigmented and moisturizing lip liners. Apply a Cremestick Liner all over lips before applying a Lipglass.

In a hurry? Essential steps not to ignore: define brows, highlighter/iridescent powder beneath brow bone and tear duct, concealer, bronzing powder, and mascara.

Avoid the overuse of shimmery and frost-finish eye shadows. Use at least one matte or satin eye shadow in your everyday look.

Use Fix+ to set makeup.
(MAC Fix+ is a water based spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup)

After picking up eye shadow with a brush, spritz some Fix+ onto the brush before you apply the shadow. Really intensifies the eye shadow color!

Lip Conditioner can be used on dry spots on your eyelid and eyebrow. This really works!

Mix Strobe Cream with Blushcremes to make your cheeks glow.
(MAC Strobe Cream is a lightly moisturizing lotion packed with potent botanicals; de-snoozes, de-stresses, moistens, freshens and boosts the look of dull, flat or tired-looking skin with a fully loaded vitamin zap and a mega dose of green tea. Brightens and clarifies with iridescent particles and antioxidants. It enhances the effects of light on all skin and in all lighting conditions from sunlight to spotlight. Use Strobe Cream on top of your moisturizer; it really shouldn't replace your face lotion.)

Mix Strobe Cream with your foundation.

Use Gilded White Eye Kohl on your eyelid and place eye shadow on top to intensify your eye shadow.

Also another use for Lip Conditioner (clear) is to use it on your brows to groom them and make them appear a little darker rather than filling them in.

Use clear packing tape to remove any oil spots you may get on your Studio Fix compact foundation or other compact face powders. Just place the tape over the spots, rub over gently and lift away

To help ensure your lipstick doesn't bleed, after you apply your lipstick, dip a Q-tip in loose powder and trace the outline of your lips

Use a highlighter above your cupid's bow (the spot above the center of your upper lip) for a plumper lip look.

Instead of contouring, trying just highlighting, as it looks more natural. Add a slight line of shimmer down the bridge to make it appear thinner.

Iridescent blue, pink, lavender, silver, or gold powder in the inner corner (tear duct) of the eye = well-rested eyes, no matter what else you're wearing with it.

When setting your foundation with powder, swirl your brush in the powder, tap off excess, and blot on face softly, don't "brush" it on... it really makes a difference.

For blending in the crease, use a circular motion. When you just drag the brush across the crease, you end up with a big racing stripe...not so cute. So start with running it across, but on the outer edge, use small circular motion to blend, blend, blend.

Sprinkle some Vanilla pigment in Fix+ spray. Makes your face look so supple!

Mix metallic eye shadows. Use a charcoal silver eye shadow (like Silver Ring) in the crease with shimmering gold eye shadow on the lid (like Retrospect). Absolutely gorgeous and so sexy.

Use Cleanse-Off Oil before using your facial cleanser. It removes all makeup without drying skin. It's oil-based but does not contain mineral oil, so it would clog pores or irritate skin!