Falling in Love with Pigments

I had forgotten how much I love pigments. Pigments are color at its finest. A loose powder that can be used dry (as is), or wet (mixed with a medium such as water, or MAC's Fix Plus). When used dry, pigments are a softer wash of color. But when used wet, oh my goodness: The color is intensified and the shadow stays put for a very long time. 

I had gotten a set of four pigments from MAC a few years ago, and they sat in a forgotten makeup bag ever since. Today I 'found' that bag and happiness ensued. A color called "Mauvement" inspired today's look, following are pictures and steps on what I did.



Excuse the hair, it's not working with me today...

I like the shadow from the eyelashes...

Spraying a brush with Fix Plus, I dipped it into the pigment and patted (not swept) the shadow all over my lid up into and just over my crease. Then I used Naked [from Urban Decay's Naked palette] (a light nude brown) and blended the pigment up into my brow bone. Next I used Virgin (a light champagne color) and swept that as a highlight near my eyebrows and inner corner of the eye. Since blending the light brown took away some of the pigment on my brow bone, I added a little more Mauvement pigment onto the brow bone. The eye needed a little more definition, so I took a dark brown with gold glitter eyeliner (Twice Baked from Urban Decay) and lined my upper and lower lash lines, making a slight wing. Topped it off with a coat of Too Faced's "Better Than Sex" mascara and the eyes are done! Super easy, with a ton of shimmer/color payoff.  Below is a better picture of just how pigmented the pigment is (haha).

Do you see that shimmer/glimmer?!? I took these pictures with just the close up & flash on my camera.

I'm happy with the result, very simple but with a surprise of flash when I blink I guess you could say.

Because of the neutralness of the eyes, I wanted to do a soft cheek and bold lip. I used Shiseido's Face Color Enhancing Trio in the shade RD1, and a Lancôme La Laque Fever in the shade 384. The Shiseido Trio is basically just a blush that is swirled around to combine all 3 colors, it creates a soft peachy color with a soft highlight. The lippie is an intense pink. The texture of this isn't the greatest, it's extremely sticky at first and takes two coats to build up the color, but once it wears off a little bit, a very nice pretty stain is left behind that lasts a long time. I don't suggest eating directly after applying it.

I got hairs on my upper lip!



Shiseido Trio & Lancôme La Laque Fever

MAC Pigment in Mauvement, Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Twice Baked, & sample size Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.

Side note: Pigment is a little pricier than a 'normal' eyeshadow but a little goes a long way and a small tub of it will last a very long time. If you haven't ever tried it, I suggest giving it a go and find out for yourself just how easy they are to use. Have a good day and remember to smile pretty!