Eye shadow

[Miss Golightly]

I agree. I think Bourjois do great eyeshadows at a very budget price. They are always highly pigmented and last rather well. I do love a Chanel eyeshadow i have to say. Although Mac are pretty good too.

Someone told me once that the makers of Chanel make Bourjois also hence the quality of pigment etc. - I got a new palette of Bourjois Eye Pearls in "Creation" the other day - lovely, lovely colours with lasting power for just over €10 - not bad!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

On the whole, drugstore powders aren't worth the little money you pay for them - The quality just doesn't compare. Not to mention how easily they smash, and the limited colour choices.

It doesn't cost *that* much more to buy quality make-up.

lol

I agree.

 

[fortworthgal]

On the whole, drugstore powders aren't worth the little money you pay for them - The quality just doesn't compare. Not to mention how easily they smash, and the limited colour choices.

It doesn't cost *that* much more to buy quality make-up. There are some things you can get off cheaply with (eyeliner and mascara) but there are many others with which you just can't (eyeshadows, setting powders, primers, and IMHO, lipsticks).

I have to disagree somewhat. My favorite primer is a L'Oreal drugstore find, and it blows Smashbox Photo Finish out of the water, IMHO. I do think foundation is one area where you generally need to spend a little more for quality - although there are 2 L'Oreal foundations I do like (I consider L'Oreal about on the same level with Clinique & MAC.) I think even in the drugstore there are higher ends (L'Oreal, Sonia Kashuk) and lower ends (Cover Girl, Rimmel, etc.)

Most drugstore shadows are too powdery and have little pigment. The only ones I've found that I really like are the L'Oreal HIP duos. Some NYX shadows (I guess that's a drugstore brand) are nice, but I've noticed they seem to have wicked fallout.

 

[asnkloma]

I wear a lot of different brands.

 

[Nikita B]

I use La Femme heaps, they are super cheap, great quality, densely pigmented powders that are triple use - eye shadow, brow powder and blush (depending on shade). I also have a fondness for Illamasqua, so finely milled and exquisite to work with. I do like NARS but since I discovered that they weren't cruelty free I haven't purchased any more but Ondine is stunning.

 

[DigThatBeat]

I agree with fortworthgal, I think drugstore makeup has gotten a lot better in the past few years (and pricier- most DS makeup is almost mid-range now!). Wet n Wild, Revlon, Milani, Physicians Formula, and LA Colors have very pigmented eyeshadows, some better than MAC, in my opinion.
Here are some of my $1 LA Colors trios, great pigmentation with just one swipe:

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I have to disagree somewhat. My favorite primer is a L'Oreal drugstore find, and it blows Smashbox Photo Finish out of the water, IMHO. Most drugstore shadows are too powdery and have little pigment. The only ones I've found that I really like are the L'Oreal HIP duos. Some NYX shadows (I guess that's a drugstore brand) are nice, but I've noticed they seem to have wicked fallout.

It does all depend on your skin type and preference. Cheaper eyeshadows travel right to my crease (even with a base on) and some even make my eyelids break out. Not to mention most just aren't colourful enough for my tastes. Personally, I like very bold, bright colours with LOTS of pigment (nothing "natural" about this gal lol) MAC is a perfect fit for me. It isn't that much more expensive than some drugstore brands and the quality fits my preferences. I don't particularly care for high-end "vintage" inspired brands like Besame. I think it's overpriced for its size and quality, but it may fit someone else's skin type, preference, and wallet just fine. There is no right or wrong when it comes to makeup.

 

[FraeuleinBerlin]

I actually wanted to ask about eyeshadow - was thinking about starting a thread myself!

Can anyone tell me the amount/lack thereof of sparkle in women's eyeshadows "back in the day"? Sparkly eyeshadow always makes me feel terribly un-vintage, but almost everything has sparkle in it nowadays!

 

[DigThatBeat]

I have an Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow from the 1950s(I think) that is very shimmery but most of my vintage eyeshadows (late 1930s-1950s) are glossy creams with no shimmer. I have seen a few slightly frosty shadows from the 1920s/early 30s but I didn't get to inspect them thoroughly. I've also seen references to "frosted" and "iridescent" eyeshadows in old magazines from the 30s, 40s, and early 50s.

 

[Retro_GI_Jane]

Can anyone tell me the amount/lack thereof of sparkle in women's eyeshadows "back in the day"? Sparkly eyeshadow always makes me feel terribly un-vintage, but almost everything has sparkle in it nowadays!

Oh funny you should mention sparkle! I was reading yesterday this bit from a 1940s women's magazine in London:

The following advice was given in a London fashion magazine to women for Christmas 1940, a nation under seige from Nazi Germany !
” What is a Christmas party face in 1940s London? Wear a stay put foundation, preferably tinted, a rosy red rouge and matching lipstick. Amber lights of theatres and restaurants reduce vermilion colored lips to a ghastly pallor. Try holly red, to stay in tune with the Christmas spirit – and it’s a real dazzler this season. Put plenty of emphasis on the eyes, a spot of sparkly eye-shadow that you’ve no doubt being hoarding this past year for the right occasion, a hair line of mascara under the lower lashes, lashes which you’ve conditioned with lash cream ”

source.

 

[C-dot]

I have to disagree somewhat. My favorite primer is a L'Oreal drugstore find, and it blows Smashbox Photo Finish out of the water, IMHO. I do think foundation is one area where you generally need to spend a little more for quality - although there are 2 L'Oreal foundations I do like (I consider L'Oreal about on the same level with Clinique & MAC.) I think even in the drugstore there are higher ends (L'Oreal, Sonia Kashuk) and lower ends (Cover Girl, Rimmel, etc.)

Most drugstore shadows are too powdery and have little pigment. The only ones I've found that I really like are the L'Oreal HIP duos. Some NYX shadows (I guess that's a drugstore brand) are nice, but I've noticed they seem to have wicked fallout.

Oh, I'm not saying you can never find anything good, I have just found it to be of generally lesser quality in my experience. I'm glad you found a good drugstore primer, I'll have to try it out!

Oh funny you should mention sparkle! I was reading yesterday this bit from a 1940s women's magazine in London:

Thanks for that. I wondered about sparkly shadows too. I knew they existed in the Golden Era, but I'm sure they weren't the chunky kinds we see today.

 

[Miss Peach]

I recently stumbled upon Too Faced eye palettes (I use Naked Eye and Romantic Eye and occasionally Neutral Eye). Everything has changed...I don't even care what other eyeshadows I have...these fit the bill.

http://www.toofaced.com/

 

[Miss Golightly]

I recently stumbled upon Too Faced eye palettes (I use Naked Eye and Romantic Eye and occasionally Neutral Eye). Everything has changed...I don't even care what other eyeshadows I have...these fit the bill.

http://www.toofaced.com/

I bought the Too Faced Naked Eye palette and whilst I like the box the shadows come in, the brushes and the cards that show you how to use the shadows to their best effect, I find the shadow pigment isn't that great - I'm a bit disappointed with it - shame really......

 

[C-dot]

I bought the Too Faced Naked Eye palette and whilst I like the box the shadows come in, the brushes and the cards that show you how to use the shadows to their best effect, I find the shadow pigment isn't that great - I'm a bit disappointed with it - shame really......

Indeed, the pigment isn't very saturated, which is great if you like a subtle look, but not so much if you prefer more colour.

The Natural pallette was a popular alternative to Urban Decay's infamous Naked Pallette at Sephora last Christmas, though with less range.

 

[Miss sofia]

Can anyone recommend a violet eyeshadow? Sorry to hijack the thread.

Chanel did a great violet eyeshadow, which was astoundingly good on me, as i am green-eyed, but as usual they discontinued it and most other shades i have tried end up making me look like i have a black eye!

 

[lolly_loisides]

^^^^
Lilly Lolo does a nice deep purple eyeshadow.

This one is Parma Violet.

 

[shopgirl61]

Can anyone recommend a violet eyeshadow? Sorry to hijack the thread.

Chanel did a great violet eyeshadow, which was astoundingly good on me, as i am green-eyed, but as usual they discontinued it and most other shades i have tried end up making me look like i have a black eye!

*Friends* can't hijack threads and you dahling would look smashing in violet

 

[Miss Golightly]

Can anyone recommend a violet eyeshadow? Sorry to hijack the thread.

Chanel did a great violet eyeshadow, which was astoundingly good on me, as i am green-eyed, but as usual they discontinued it and most other shades i have tried end up making me look like i have a black eye!

I can recommend two MAC ones that I love - one is Digit which is a very soft pale violet and Beautiful Iris which is lilac with an iridescent touch - both fabulous! In saying this I hope they still make them!

 

[Miss Golightly]

Indeed, the pigment isn't very saturated, which is great if you like a subtle look, but not so much if you prefer more colour.

The Natural pallette was a popular alternative to Urban Decay's infamous Naked Pallette at Sephora last Christmas, though with less range.

I thought it was just me being rubbish at applying it! Such a lovely palette but far too light in colour - that's why I like MAC so much - what you see in the palette is the colour that you get.

 

[Miss sofia]

Aw, thank you ladies, i have added your suggestions to my ever expanding list of makeup products, hurrah!