Eyeshadow Primers & Eyeshadow Bases: Differences, Types & Methods of Application

It's important to know that there is a different between an eyeshadow primer and an eyeshadow base, a lot of people think they're the same thing but they're not. It's okay to refer to a primer as a base and vice versa but it's important to know the differences, especially if you have oily eyelids or are looking for a primer/base that has a specific purpose.

In this post I'm going to be talking about the differences between an eyeshadow primer and an eyeshadow base, the types of eyeshadow primers and eyeshadow bases available and the methods of application.

Differences

*An eyeshadow primer is used to prime the eyes, it creates an even and smooth surface for eyeshadow application. Some eyeshadow primers can also reduce the appearance of fine lines, redness, discolouration and veins etc, whereas an eyeshadow base doesn't. An eyeshadow base creates a blank canvas.
*An eyeshadow primer prevents eyeshadow from creasing, fading or coming off completely, whereas an eyeshadow base doesn't. An eyeshadow base intensifies the colour and vibrancy of an eyeshadow.
*An eyeshadow primer makes eyeshadow last longer, whereas an eyeshadow base doesn't.

Eyeshadow Primers

An eyeshadow primer is a light oil-free cream that is applied to the eyelids, it has a light texture and consistency and is usually a cream, neutral or invisible colour. Eyeshadow primers are non sticky and dry down within a couple of minutes. As well as on the eyelid, eyeshadow primer can also be applied up to the brow bone and underneath the eye. An eyeshadow primer creates a barrier between the eye and the eye makeup, it seals the oil from the eyeshadow therefore eyeshadow primers are great for anyone who has oily eyelids. Eyeshadow primers are primarily used to prevent eyeshadow from creasing, fading, smudging or coming off entirely, they are basically used to prolong the wear of eyeshadow. Not only are they used for their prolonging properties, they are also used to intensify the colour and vibrancy of the eyeshadow.

Eyeshadow Bases

An eyeshadow base is a cream that is applied to the eyelids, again like eyeshadow primers they can be applied to the brow bone and underneath the eye. Eyeshadow bases have a heavier consistency than eyeshadow primers and they also have a sticky texture, unlike eyeshadow primers they don't dry down. An eyeshadow base is used to help intensify the colour and vibrancy of an eyeshadow or pigment by helping it stick to your eye. Unlike an eyeshadow primer, an eyeshadow base will not “prime” the eye as eyeshadow bases don’t tend to have the same ingredients as eyeshadows primers. The majority of eyeshadow bases don't contain ingredients that will prevent eyeshadow from creasing or fading. As well as intensifying the colour and vibrancy of an eyeshadow, eyeshadow bases are also used for other purposes. 

• A nude/neutral eyeshadow base will get rid of any discolouration or redness on the eye. It creates a blank canvas. 
• A dark coloured eyeshadow base, e.g. black, will make the eyeshadow appear darker.
• A light coloured eyeshadow base, e.g. white, will make the eyeshadow appear brighter and more vibrant. 

Types Of Eyeshadow Primers & Bases

There are many eyeshadow primers and bases on the market, both drugstore and high-end. If you'd like a comparison post on drugstore and high-end eyeshadow primers and bases, please let me know. 

Different Types Of Eyeshadow Primers
- Eyeshadow primers typically come in a squeezy tube, non-squeezy tube or bottle. They usually have a doe-foot/brush applicator too.
-Eyeshadow primers are usually a cream, neutral, flesh toned or invisible colour.
-Eyeshadow primers dry down within a couple of minutes.

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original)

2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance

3. theBalm Put A Lid On It

4. Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

5. Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Different Types Of Eyeshadow Bases
- For an eyeshadow base you can use foundation, concealer, paint pots, cream colour bases, cream eyeshadows, eyeshadow sticks, eye pencils, gel eyeliners. Eyeshadow bases typically come in a pot, squeezy tube, non-squeezy tube or pencil. 
- Eyeshadow bases come in a variety of different colours and different finishes. You can buy both flesh toned/neutral shades or bright colourful shades, they also come in both matte and satin/shimmer finishes. 
-Eyeshadow bases do not dry down and this is due to their texture. 

1. MAC Paint Pot

2. MAC Paint

3. MAC Shadestick

4. Inglot AMC Gel Eyeliner

5. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil

If you have...

Very Oily Eyelids
If you have very oily eyelids you need to use both an eyeshadow primer and an eyeshadow base. If you just use an eyeshadow base and don't use a primer, your eyeshadow will crease. By using both a primer and a base you're ensuring that your eyeshadow won't crease.

Oily Eyelids
If you have oily eyelids you need to use an eyeshadow primer. If you just use an eyeshadow base, your eyeshadow will crease. A primer will create a barrier between the oil on your eyelids and the eyeshadow.

Normal Eyelids
If you have normal eyelids you have the option of using an eyeshadow primer or an eyeshadow base, or both. 

*If you notice your eyeshadow creases when using an eyeshadow primer and/or base, you're either using too little, too much or your skin doesn't agree with product. Don't worry if you do notice creasing, you either need to change the amount you're using or the product itself. 

Methods Of Application

Application:

• Makeup Brush - You can use a number of brushes to apply an eyeshadow primer or base, e.g. a flat eyeshadow brush, cream eyeshadow brush or blending brush. Apply the product to the eyelid using a flat eyeshadow brush and blend using a blending brush. 
• Sponge - This isn't a common method but some people do use a sponge to apply an eyeshadow primer or base. Simply dab the sponge into the product and apply to the eyelid. 
• Finger - Using your finger is probably the easiest way of applying an eyeshadow primer or base as you don't have the dreaded task of washing your makeup brushes once you've finished your makeup. You can simply apply the product to your eyelid and blend away with your finger. 

When applying an eyeshadow primer or base it's important to know...

• Eyeshadow primers do not need setting as they dry completely.
• Eyeshadow bases do need setting as they don't dry completely - If you're planning on using  matte eyeshadows you need to set the eyeshadow base first with either a translucent powder or a pale matte eyeshadow. You don't need to set it if you're planning on using a shimmer/satin eyeshadows. Matte eyeshadows don't blend well on a sticky base but shimmer/satin eyeshadows do. 

So now we know the differences between eyeshadow primers and eyeshadow bases and we know the different ways to apply them. If you would like me to do a comparison post on drugstore and high-end eyeshadow primers/bases, please let me know.


Thank you for reading and I hope you found this post helpful! Talk to you all in my next post!

Much love,
Cole
x

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in 'Alloy'

I bought the eye colour a while ago and have been meaning to blog about it for a while but I just kept forgetting. If you know me well you'll know that I'm possibly the most forgetful person in the world, I also get pre-occupied by the smallest of things (not a good combination). Anyway, yesterday, whilst sat there physically using the eye colour, I thought to myself.. YOU NEED TO BLOG ABOUT THIS! So I took a few snaps and started to write one of my usual mahoosive reviews. 

So without further ado, here's what I think of the Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in 'Alloy'. 

What Laura Mercier has to say about the Metallic Creme Eye Colour...

"A lightweight, non-greasy, lush metallic formula that floats across the eye leaving a gorgeous, shimmering sheen."

What are the product claims?

• Waterproof
• Lightweight
• Non-greasy
• Long wearing
• Can be used as a base for eyeshadows or can be worn alone. 

Directions of use?

1. Dispense the product onto the back of your hand. You will literally need to use the smallest amount. 
2. Using a flat eyeshadow brush or your finger, apply the eye colour to both of your eyelids. If you notice any harsh edges, blend using a blending brush. 
3. Apply one layer for a light wash of colour, apply more layers for an intense colour.

How many different shades are there?

The Metallic Creme Eye Colour is available in 5 different shades.

• Alloy - Shimmery Taupe
• Burnished Copper - Taupey Bronze Red
• Gold - Taupey Gold
• Platinum - Champagne
• Rose Gold - Shimmery Rose Gold

How much does the Metallic Creme Eye Colour retail at and where is it available?

The Metallic Creme Eye Colour retails at £18.50 and can be purchased in-store or online at John Lewis, House Of Fraser and Space NK. It can also be purchased in-store at Harvey Nichols.

What does the Metallic Creme Eye Colour look like?

This is how much product you will need for both eyelids. 

Approximately a 1cm piece.  

Built up swatch on the left, sheered out swatch on the right. 

This is 2 layers of product, exactly how I like to wear the eye colour.

Is the Metallic Creme Eye colour suitable for everyone?

I'm going to say yes and no. Yes because it's basically a cream eyeshadow, despite the name 'eye colour', and anyone can use a cream eyeshadow, and no because it solely depends on what type of eyelids you have.

If you have normal or dry eyelids, you will love the eye colours.You will find the eye colour to be very long lasting. 

If you have oily eyelids, you won't be a fan of the eye colours. You will find that the eye colour creases a little after a couple of hours of wear. To prevent creasing you could use an eyeshadow primer before applying the eye colour or you could set the eye colour by applying a powder eyeshadow over the top of it. 

The Good

• Product - It can either be worn alone or can act as a base for other eyeshadows. You can easily apply powder eyeshadows on top of the eye colour (to increase colour intensity) and you can also blend powder eyeshadows into the eye colour too. Sometimes it's hard to blend powder eyeshadows into cream eyeshadows but I don't find this to be the case with the eye colour. It's a multifunctional product and I love it, I'm definitely going to be purchasing the other shades. The eye colour is a practical product with a great concept. You can also blend out the eye colour very well due to it not drying uber fast. 
• Pigmentation - The eye colour is very highly pigmented, as you will be able to see from looking at the above swatches. Even when the eye colour is sheered out it has great pigmentation. Due to great pigmentation, you only need to use a small amount of product. 
• Longevity - The eye colour claims to be long lasting and I fully agree with this claim. Once you apply it, it will not move (unless you cry or have mega oily eyelids). The eye colour doesn't fade or crease, it lasts all day. The only way this baby will budge is if you remove it with cleanser. 
• Texture - The eye colour has a creamy, smooth and velvety texture, it almost reminds me of mousse except it's shimmery, metallic and certainly not edible. It feels weightless on the eyelids and doesn't feel greasy at all, it feels like your not wearing anything on your eyelids even though you are. The eye colour certainly lives up to its 'lightweight' and 'non-greasy' claims. 
• Ease Of Use - The eye colour is easy to use, you simply pop a bit on the back of your hand and apply all over your eyelids using either your finger or a flat eyeshadow brush. It's as simple and as easy as that, you certainly don't need to be a makeup mastermind in order to use it. It's so easy my dog could probably apply it. 
• Packaging - The box the eye colour comes in is boring as it's just a plain silver box with a bit of waffle (text), I like a box to have a bit of jazz and I feel that box lacks jazz. The eye colour itself, however, is rather funky. I like how the eye colour is in a tube form and I especially like how it has a screw top lid, not only is this hygienic but it enables you to dispense the right amount of product. Another thing I like is that the shade corresponds with the shade displayed on the tube.
• Size - The eye colour contains 8.5g of product. MAC Paint Pots contain 5g of product and Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams contain 6g of product so you're getting a lot more product in the Laura Mercier eye colours. The eye colour contains a lot more product and you also need to use a minimal amount. One eye colour would last A LOT longer than a standard cream eyeshadow. 
• Availability - The eye colour can be purchased online and in-store at many places so availability isn't an issue. If you were thinking about buying one of the eye colours then I'd suggest buying it online at House Of Fraser as they retail at £16.50 on there, that's a HUGE saving of £2.00.... OOOF.
• Scent - The eye colour isn't scented at all. A big bonus for anyone that is sensitive to scented products. 

The Okay

• Waterproof - I cannot say that I've dunked my head in a bowl of water to test the 'waterproofness' of the eye colour but judging from the amount of product that faded when my eye randomly run, I would imagine that the eye colour isn't very waterproof at all. The eye colour is rain safe but not cry safe or swimming safe. 
• Shade Selection - There are only five different shades available which is a very small selection. All the shades appear to have a gold undertone too so if you like shimmery gold shades then I can guarantee that you'll like all 5 shades but if you prefer bright, dark or silver shades then these probably won't be to your taste at all. There needs to be a wider shade selection including neutral, bright and dark shades. A selection that caters for absolutely everybody. 
• Price - £18.50 is pricey for a cream eyeshadow, especially for a cream eyeshadow that is supposedly meant to be waterproof but in fact isn't. Make Up For Ever cream eyeshadows retail at £16.95 (which is still a little pricey) but I don't mind paying that because they literally do not budge. You could probably go on a nice scuba diving trip and these babies wouldn't move, streak, run or fade. Make Up For Ever cream eyeshadows are simply amazing so £16.95 is a fair price but I think the eye colour is a little expensive for what it is, yes it has amazing quality and it looks beautiful on the eyelids but it just doesn't live up to it's 'waterproof' claim. £15.00 would be a more realistic price tag. 

The Bad

• Other than the minor issues I pointed out in the 'Okay' section, I have nothing bad to say about the eye colour. 

Ideal for?

• Busy Bees - They're quick and easy to apply, look beautiful alone on the eyelids and last all day. 
• Makeup Artists - A luxury product that looks classy and elegant. The shade 'Platinum' is a must have product when creating a bridal look, it's a beautiful neutral gold shade.
• Cream Eyeshadow Lovers -  If you like cream eyeshadows then you're going to love the eye colours, they're wonderful. So easy to apply and a minimal amount is needed. They well and truly beat MAC Paint Pots.

Overall...

No exaggeration here, this is possibly the best cream eyeshadow I have ever tried in my life. I love it that much that I'll be buying all 5 shades for my makeup kit, and the other 4 shades for my personal use too. It's such a high quality product in terms of pigmentation and texture and I think it looks utterly stunning on the eyelids. Some cream eyeshadows tend to look a little 'muddy' and cheap but this looks very luxurious. The eye colour is very easy to use and it's good to use on its own or with powder products too. I feel a little let down with the shade selection and also the fact that it isn't waterproof but I don't think I'll lose any sleep over these 2 minor issues. Overall, a MASSIVE thumbs up.

Would I recommend? Yes, it's a wonderful product that's worth every penny.

Would I re-purchase? Yes, I intend to buy the other 4 shades. 

Rating? 9/10.. One point knocked off as it's not suitable for absolutely everyone.

Have you tried 'Alloy' or any of the other shades? 

:)

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre

I went shopping last Thursday and treated myself to a few of the new Chanel Illusion D'Ombre cream eyeshadows. When I first found out about the cream eyeshadows I knew I had to have them. Yes they may have the same concept as the Bobbi Brown long wear cream eyeshadows and also the MAC paint pots but I was so eager to try out Chanel's version of the infamous cream eyeshadow.

There are 6 different cream eyeshadows available and they retail at £22.50 each. They aren't particularly cheap but you do get 4g of product meaning one pot is going to last you a while, so in effect, they're well worth the money.

Here are the 6 different shades:
81 - Fantasme (White)
82 - Emerveill (Beige)
83 - Illusoire (Plum)
84 - Epatant (Olive)
85 - Mirifique (Black)
86 - Ebloui (Burgundy)

The cream eyeshadows I bought were Fantasme, Epatant and Illusoire (personally I think these were nicest shades, and according to the Sales Assistant, they're also the most popular). I would have purchased Mirifique too but I wasn't sure if I'd use it or not, it's a lovely colour and I'd definitely use it as an eyeliner but it wouldn't look great on it's own. It's a multi-functional product therefore I expect to use it for other purposes than an eyeliner.

The great thing with these beauties is that they can be worn alone or with other eyeshadows. You can also use them as eyeliners too.  

Also, they have a really strange consistency. They feel really mousse like and creamy but they dry to the texture of an eyeshadow. I personally like the texture as it's really light and I can imagine that they feel really comfortable on the eyelids.

Here are the beauties...

81 - Fantasme

84 - Epatant

83 - Illusoire

Here are the lovely swatches...

From left to right; Fantasme, Epatant, Illusoire

Look how beautiful they are! I honestly cannot wait to use each of them, they are going to look amazing! 

My mum bought 3 of these for herself too and so far she's loving them! She said that they lasted all day and they didn't crease whatsoever. My mum suffers with very oily eyelids and she finds that cream products tend to crease, she was delighted to find that these didn't crease at all.

I'm going to try out one of these tomorrow so I'll let you know how I get on. I'll probably do a makeup tutorial using one of them too so keep a look out! 

Have you tried out any of these? :)

MAC Neutral Palette

I have three different MAC eyeshadow palettes and I'm going to be doing a separate post on each of them. I have a neutral palette, green & blue palette and a pink & purple palette.

I have already done posts on my green & blue palette and my pink & purple palette so if you wish to see those then please feel free to take a look, here are the links to the posts;
MAC Pink & Purple Palette
MAC Green & Blue Palette

Here is my neutral MAC palette...

So let's see the lovely swatches...

Top Row:

From left to right; Woodwinked, Satin Taupe, Sable, Mulch, Antiqued.

Middle Row:

From left to right; Shale, Club, Knight Divine, Electra, Goldmine.

Bottom Row:

From left to right; Brule, Vex, Crystal Avalanche, Crystal, Digit. 

Here is a list of the eyeshadows featured in the palette. I'll explain what finish they all have and also provide descriptions.

'Woodwinked' - Warm Antique Gold (Veluxe Pearl)

'Satin Taupe' - Taupe With Silver Shimmer (Frost)

'Sable' - Gold Plum With Bronze Pearl (Frost)

'Mulch' - Red Brown With Bronze Pearl (Velvet)

'Antiqued' - Ash Brown With Bronze (Veluxe Pearl)

'Shale' - Mauve Plum With Subtle Shimmer (Satin)

'Club' - Red Brown With Green Pearl (Satin)

'Knight Divine' - Black With Silver Pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

'Electra' - Silver With Icy Shimmer (Frost)

'Goldmine' - Intense Gold With Shimmer (Frost)

'Brule' - Soft Creamy Beige (Satin)

'Vex' - Beige With Pink Green Pearl (Frost)

'Crystal Avalanche' - White With Reflects (Veluxe Pearl)

'Crystal' - Violet Duochrome With Pearl (Frost)

'Digit' - Soft Violet With Subtle Pearl (Satin)

The MAC eyeshadow refills retail at £9.50 each and can be purchased from any MAC counter or free standing MAC store. MAC eyeshadows are available in both refill pans and also single eyeshadows, the single MAC eyeshadows retail at £11.50 each. 


My favourite eyeshadows in this palette have to be 'Electra', 'Shale', 'Vex' and 'Crystal Avalanche'. I think these are my favourites because they have amazing colour pay off and they are also superly shimmery. 'Vex' is also a duochrome, another reason why I love this eyeshadow. If you read my blog then you'll know that my favourite type of eyeshadows are duochromes.


If you would prefer to watch a video then here it is...

If any of you have any questions, please feel free to comment below! 


Thanks for reading! :)

MAC Green & Blue Palette

I have three different MAC eyeshadow palettes and I'll be doing separate posts on each of them. I have a green & blue palette, a pink & purple palette and a neutral palette.

I have already done a post about my pink & purple palette so today I thought I'd write about my green & blue palette.

Here's my green & blue MAC palette...

Top Row (from left to right); Lucky Green, Steamy, Humid, Greensmoke.

Bottom Row (from left to right); Tilt, Electric Eel, Freshwater, Deep Truth.

Here is a list of the eyeshadows featured in the palette. I'll explain what finish they all have and also provide descriptions.

'Lucky Green' - Frosted Midtone Lime (Veluxe Pearl)

'Steamy' - Bluish-Green With Gold Pearl (Frost)

'Humid' - Intense Green With Shimmer (Frost)

'Greensmoke' - Tarnished Olive (Lustre)

'Tilt' - Violet With Blue-Green Pearl (Frost)

'Electric Eel' - Bright Blue With Shimmer (Satin)

'Freshwater' - Bright Summer Blue (Veluxe Pearl)

'Deep Truth' - True Dark Blue (Frost)

The MAC eyeshadow refills retail at £9.50 each and can be purchased from any MAC counter or free standing MAC store. MAC eyeshadows are available in both refill pans and also single eyeshadows, the single MAC eyeshadows retail at £11.50 each. 

So now it's time for the swatches...

From left to right; Lucky Green, Steamy, Humid, Greensmoke.

From left to right; Tilt, Electric Eel, Freshwater, Deep Truth.

My favourite eyeshadows in this palette have to be 'Electric Eel', 'Lucky Green' and 'Steamy'. If you were looking to buy any green or blue toned MAC eyeshadows then these are the eyeshadows that I would highly recommend.
They are probably the most interesting colours in the palette and they all have a brilliant texture. With regards to pigmentation, they have the same pigmentation as the other eyeshadows.

I purely like 'Lucky Green' and 'Steamy' because they are the most intriguing and I like 'Electric Eel' because the colour is so intense. The other eyeshadows are also fab but these have to be my favourite.

For those who prefer to watch a video then here is a video about my green & blue MAC palette. More details and recommendations are included in the video...

Thanks for watching! If you have any comments or requests then please feel free to comment below! :)

MAC Pink & Purple Palette

I have 3 different MAC palettes and I'll be doing separate posts on each of my MAC palettes. I have a pink/purple palette, a green/blue palette and a neutral palette.

The first palette I'm going to be talking about is my pink & purple MAC palette. Here it is...

Here is a list of the eyeshadows featured in the palette. I'll explain what finish they all have and also provide descriptions.

'Beauty Marked' - Black-Red With Sparkle Pearl (Velvet)

'Sketch' - Burgundy With Red Shimmer (Velvet)

'Nocturnelle' - Pinked Up Chrome Purple (Frost)

'Hepcat' - Jazzy Little Deep Blue-Wine (Frost)

'Satellite Dreams' - Deep Plum With Pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

'Stars 'n' Rockets' - Purple With Pink Pearl (Veluxe Pearl)

'Creme De Violet' - Pink Violet With Gold Pearl (Frost)

'Cranberry' - Red-Plum With Pink Shimmer (Frost)

'Swish' - Bright Pink With Icy Shimmer (Frost)

'Pink Freeze' - Bright Pink With Icy Pearl (Frost)

The MAC eyeshadow refills retail at £9.50 each and can be purchased from any MAC counter or free standing MAC store. MAC eyeshadows are available in both refill pans and also single eyeshadows, the single MAC eyeshadows retail at £11.50 each.

It's time for the lovely swatches...

Top Row:

From left to right; Satellite Dreams, Hepcat, Nocturnelle, Sketch, Beauty Marked

Bottom Row:

From left to right; Stars 'n' Rockets, Creme De Violet, Cranberry, Swish, Pink Freeze.

I think my favourite eyeshadows in this palette have to be, 'Pink Freeze', 'Swish', 'Stars 'n' Rockets' and 'Nocturnelle'. If you were looking to buy any purple/pink toned MAC eyeshadows then these are the eyeshadows that I would highly recommend. 

They are probably the most pigmented eyeshadows out of all of them and I also find that these eyeshadows have a more intense colour.

So now I'm going to tell you why I love these certain eyeshadows....

-'Pink Freeze' is lovely for using on the inner corner of the eye, not only will it make your eyes appear a lot brighter, it's also a lovely eyeshadow to pair with other pink toned eyeshadows. 'Pink Freeze' would also make a fab highlighter, it'd look lovely on the brow bone.

-'Swish' has such a lovely texture, it's soft, applies well and I find that it's really blend-able. It's a lovely rose colour and looks fab when worn with 'Pink Freeze'. 

-'Stars 'n' Rockets' has to be in my top 10 favourite MAC eyeshadows of all time, and the main reason why it's in my top 10 is because it's a Duochrome eyeshadow. This eyeshadow is pink but it does have an undertone of blue/purple meaning you can pair this eyeshadow with either blue or pink toned eyeshadows.

-'Nocturnelle' is a lovely eyeshadow and I think it would be great for using in the outer corner of the eye. 

For those who prefer to watch a video then here is my video about my pink & purple MAC palette...

Thanks for watching! If you have any comments then feel free to comment below! :D

MUA Pro Trios - Part Two

Today my Superdrug order arrived and I have to say I was a little excited as I've been looking forward to receiving it all weekend! I ordered 2 eyeshadow trios, 2 palettes, the mosaic blush and an eyeshadow quad. Unfortunately my eyeshadow quad had smashed so I'm going to have to return it tomorrow, the silly delivery guy! I just hope my local Superdrug stocks the eyeshadow quads!

I'm going to be swatching the 'Passion' eyeshadow trio and also the 'Blue Babe' eyeshadow trio. 'Passion' consists of a highlight eyeshadow and 2 purple toned eyeshadows and 'Blue Babe' consists of a highlight eyeshadow and 2 blue toned eyeshadows. The eyeshadow trios retail at £2.50 each and can be purchased from Superdrug.

MUA Pro 'Passion' Eyeshadow Trio

A swatch...

MUA Pro 'Blue Babe' Eyeshadow Trio

\

A swatch...

I love both of these eyeshadow trios and I would recommend buying both of them. I think these trios are also good if you're eager to try out new colours but don't want to spend a fortune. There's nothing worse than buying an expensive eyeshadow and then hating how it looks. 

The quality of these trios in amazing, with regards to both pigmentation and texture. I find that the MUA eyeshadows, in general, aren't powdery at all. They are so so creamy meaning you don't have to use a lot of the eyeshadow and you won't get any nasty fall out when applying them. 

The MUA eyeshadow trios are fab and I definitely think you should try at least one of them, you won't be disappointed. 

Overall rating:

If you would like to see my other MUA Pro eyeshadow trio swatches then click on the links below:

MUA Pro Eyeshadow Trio in 'Eden'

MUA Pro Eyeshadow Trios in 'Screen Smoke', 'Chocolate Box' and 'Innocence'

Thanks for reading!

:)

MUA Pro Trios - Part One

I mentioned last week that I bought three of the MUA Pro eyeshadow trios, they arrived on Tuesday but with being away all week I couldn't swatch them. Fortunately I'm home now so thought I'd swatch them for you all, I bought more of the eyeshadow trios yesterday so once they arrive, I'll swatch those too. Today I'll be swatching the following trios; 'Smoke Screen', 'Chocolate Box' and 'Innocence'.

The MUA Pro eyeshadow trios retail at £2.50 each and are available in 6 different colours. They contain a highlight eyeshadow and two complimenting eyeshadows. MUA is exclusive to Superdrug meaning that MUA products cannot be bought anywhere else other than Superdrug. If you would like to buy any of the MUA products then I would suggest purchasing them online as opposed to in the shop as there tends to be more in stock online.

Here are my eyeshadow trios...

MUA Pro 'Smoke Screen' Eyeshadow Trio 

'Screen Smoke' is probably the least pigmented eyeshadow trio out of the three. I'm not sure why as I thought the dark eyeshadows would have been super super pigmented. I found the white highlight eyeshadow to be a bit of a problem as the pigmentation of this eyeshadow is appalling, I began to question if it was a real eyeshadow and not a fake plastic one. 

MUA Pro 'Chocolate Box' Eyeshadow Trio 

'Chocolate Box' has the best pigmentation out of the three eyeshadow trios. I think that the middle eyeshadow is an absolutely stunning colour, I cannot wait to feature this in a makeup tutorial. 

MUA Pro 'Innocence' Eyeshadow Trio

Again the pigmentation is great but I just cannot decide if I like this trio or not. The golden eyeshadow is fab and the highlight eyeshadow will be great for using in the inner corner but I don't know if I'm that keen on the orange/green toned eyeshadow. If you follow my blog then you'll know that I love duocrome eyeshadows but I really don't get the orange and green contrast. Maybe this eyeshadow will look fine once applied to the eyelid but so far it's not looking promising. It's also a completely different colour in the pan, a little bit deceiving don't you think? 

Overall I like the trios, great quality, great price and I'll definitely be using the trios in future makeup tutorials. 

I'll be swatching my MUA Pro palettes tomorrow so if you're interested in looking at those then keep a look out!

I also need ideas for nail tutorials so if you can think of any then comment in the box below :)

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Mulch'

If you've read my Shopping In Cardiff post then you'll know that I bought a MAC eyeshadow refill in 'Mulch'. I've been searching for the perfect brown eyeshadow for a while now and after seeing my mums 'Mulch' eyeshadow I decided that I was going to buy it.

MAC describe 'Mulch' as "Red-Brown With Bronze Pearl" but I have to disagree with this description, I'd say it was more of a bronze brown than a red brown. The MAC eyeshadow refills retail at £9.50 each and can be bought from any MAC counter or any MAC free standing store.

Here's 'Mulch'...

And a swatch...

Many thanks for reading!
:)

MUA Pro Trio in 'Eden'

I don't know how many of you already know this but MUA have launched a new range of 'Pro' products. I have to say that I'm so excited about the MUA Pro range and I cannot wait to get my hands on lots more of the Pro products.

The MUA Pro range includes the following:

• Eyeshadow palettes containing 12 eyeshadows 
• Baked eyeshadow trios 
• Metallic eyeshadows 
• Bronzer
• Primer
• Mascara
• Eyeliner
• Foundation

MUA are a fantastic brand and I genuinely think that the products are amazing considering they have a teeny weeny price tag! The most expensive items in the Pro range are the eyeshadow palettes and the primer as they retail at £4.00, how good is that! 

MUA is exclusive to Superdrug and the Pro products are available in stores now. I'm definitely purchasing more on Tuesday's shopping trip!

Anyway, let's get down to the nitty gritty. I picked up one of the baked eyeshadow trios yesterday so I thought I'd swatch it for you all. The trio I'll be swatching is called 'Eden' and it contains two green toned eyeshadow and a highlight eyeshadow. 

There are six different trios available and they retail at £2.50 each, meaning each eyeshadow is worth around 84p! 

Here's 'Eden'...

And swatches...

Look how beautiful those colours are! Tomorrow I'm going to be creating a look using this trio, so keep a look out for a makeup tutorial!

The eyeshadows are unbelievably pigmented and I'd go as far as saying that they are better than some high end eyeshadows. I also think it's great how the trios include complimenting colours too.

The trios have such a sleek packaging and they also include a double ended applicator, they are great for £2.50 and I shall be buying more of the trios!

Hope you liked this post!
:)