Quick-Tip: Your ONLY Must-Have Matte Eye Shadows [all photo credits: www.maccosmetics.com] —- It is not easy to find really good, pigmented matte shadows. This is where it might be worth it to consider investing more time (or money) to locate good ones, even if they cost a bit more. Not everyone likes matte shadows, but the right ones play very versatile and important roles as part of your kit. I am going to go out on a limb and say that whether you like wearing mattes regularly or not, you will need these 3 shades: —- 1. A Matte Black: Traced along the lashes with a flat-angle or smudger brush, this can create the illusion of fuller lashes, without a heavy, obvious liner look. It’s also important as a contour color for either deeper skin tones or more dramatic eye makeup. Never underestimate the power of contrasting a metallic against a velvety black. Suggestions: MAC Carbon, Sephora Mono Shadow in #06 Must Have, 88 Original/Warm Palettes —- 2. A Matte Taupe or Cocoa: Even if you don’t wear browns usually, this is more flattering and versatile than you know. A dark shade which leans towards taupe more than red would be best, as it can be used to fill in brows very naturally if you have medium to dark or even black hair. It also works as a more updated and warmer twist on a smoky eye. It acts as a wonderful contrast for cool-toned shadows like metallic blues and greens, and will make those stand out more. It can be used to darken the lash line just as well as a matte black. Suggestions: MAC Concrete, 88 Warm Palette —- 3. Nude beige/cream: This is where the shade to choose will vary depending on your skin tone. I recommend you get something 1-2 shades LIGHTER than your face powder. I only recently discovered how useful such a shade can be for blending out eyeshadow that is unevenly-shaped, over-applied, or a hard texture to blend out. I’m also one of those people who like an ultra-clean brow-bone as contrast against intense (dark or metallic) eye, so I always sweep a matte nude around the edges of my eye-makeup, into the dark hollows at the inner corners of my eyes, and the shadowy line at the outer corners. This not only cleans up minor mistakes without involving removers and re-application, it also helps to conceal and brighten shadows around the eyes. Suggestions: MAC Blanc Type (for lighter skins), MAC Malt (deeper skins), 88 Warm Palette, OR (my favorite quick-fix) just any 2-way powder foundation that may be lying around! —- TIPS: If you are not sure, I suggest just getting an 88 Warm Palette to check out how different variations and tones look on you. I won’t say all the shades are highly-pigmented, but there is a good range to experiment with until you know the 1 or 2 you should invest in. Do note that matte pigments tend to be a little harder to pack on and blend out than shimmery ones as they are dryer and chalkier. You will need some sort of eyeshadow base for the color to go on and stay on, and also a good shader brush that can pick up lots of color. With some poorer quality matte shadows, rubbing directly with your finger can end up “sealing” or hardening the shadow until it becomes unusable. While this does not happen with all mattes, I still suggest ALWAYS using a brush to pick up color.

Quick-Tip: Your ONLY Must-Have Matte Eye Shadows

[all photo credits: www.maccosmetics.com]

—-

It is not easy to find really good, pigmented matte shadows. This is where it might be worth it to consider investing more time (or money) to locate good ones, even if they cost a bit more.

Not everyone likes matte shadows, but the right ones play very versatile and important roles as part of your kit.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that whether you like wearing mattes regularly or not, you will need these 3 shades:

—-

1. A Matte Black: Traced along the lashes with a flat-angle or smudger brush, this can create the illusion of fuller lashes, without a heavy, obvious liner look. It’s also important as a contour color for either deeper skin tones or more dramatic eye makeup. Never underestimate the power of contrasting a metallic against a velvety black.

Suggestions: MAC Carbon, Sephora Mono Shadow in #06 Must Have, 88 Original/Warm Palettes

—-

2. A Matte Taupe or Cocoa: Even if you don’t wear browns usually, this is more flattering and versatile than you know.

  • A dark shade which leans towards taupe more than red would be best, as it can be used to fill in brows very naturally if you have medium to dark or even black hair.
  • It also works as a more updated and warmer twist on a smoky eye.
  • It acts as a wonderful contrast for cool-toned shadows like metallic blues and greens, and will make those stand out more.
  • It can be used to darken the lash line just as well as a matte black.

Suggestions: MAC Concrete, 88 Warm Palette

—-

3. Nude beige/cream: This is where the shade to choose will vary depending on your skin tone. I recommend you get something 1-2 shades LIGHTER than your face powder. I only recently discovered how useful such a shade can be for blending out eyeshadow that is unevenly-shaped, over-applied, or a hard texture to blend out.

I’m also one of those people who like an ultra-clean brow-bone as contrast against intense (dark or metallic) eye, so I always sweep a matte nude around the edges of my eye-makeup, into the dark hollows at the inner corners of my eyes, and the shadowy line at the outer corners. This not only cleans up minor mistakes without involving removers and re-application, it also helps to conceal and brighten shadows around the eyes.

Suggestions: MAC Blanc Type (for lighter skins), MAC Malt (deeper skins), 88 Warm Palette, OR (my favorite quick-fix) just any 2-way powder foundation that may be lying around!

—-

TIPS:

  1. If you are not sure, I suggest just getting an 88 Warm Palette to check out how different variations and tones look on you. I won’t say all the shades are highly-pigmented, but there is a good range to experiment with until you know the 1 or 2 you should invest in.
  2. Do note that matte pigments tend to be a little harder to pack on and blend out than shimmery ones as they are dryer and chalkier. You will need some sort of eyeshadow base for the color to go on and stay on, and also a good shader brush that can pick up lots of color.
  3. With some poorer quality matte shadows, rubbing directly with your finger can end up “sealing” or hardening the shadow until it becomes unusable. While this does not happen with all mattes, I still suggest ALWAYS using a brush to pick up color.