How To Apply Pigments

Pigments or "loose eyeshadows" are one of my favorite, if not my favorite, parts of makeup. A pigment comes in a jar and it's loose (obviously) instead of pressed into a pan like a regular shadow. Because it's loose you are able to actually apply a much thicker amount instead of actually a sheer amount that's usually applied when you're trying to apply a regular shadow. The only way I apply pigment is wet. It adheres to the lid better and is way more intense. You could use your ring finger too but I just like using a wet flat stiff brush. This also prevents fall out for the most part. In the pictures about I'm just showing you in what steps I apply pigment. Basically it's the last thing I do, on the lid that is. If you aren't used to pigment I recommend just using it on the center of your eye for a "pop" of intense color or a foiled look. That's the easiest way in my book. I apply my eyeshadow before I do my face makeup that way if there is any fall out then it can easily be cleaned up without messing up your foundation or under eye area. 

In the set of pictures above I'm showing you what pigment looks like, I used Makeup Geek Vegas Lights pigment for this look. I'm showing you the types of products you can use to wet your brush that work best. Makeup Setting Sprays, Facial Mists, and contact solution (saline) are the best. I use contact solution the most since it's less expensive. MAC Fix Plus is great for this as well. Next I'm showing you what brush I use. I always use a flat stiff brush. Mainly synthetic. Synthetic doesn't cling onto product like other brushes. It needs to be stiff so that it firmly packs the color and doesn't sling it everywhere. You want very controlled movement. I'm also showing you how little amount of product is needed. With pigments a little goes a very long way. A VERY LONG WAY. You'll probably never run out of a full jar of any pigment you get. That's why I really like companies that offer sample jars because that is plenty of product. I also like the MAC Travel Size pigments they done. Way more practical. Lastly I'm showing placement. I bring it right up to the crease but not actually in it. Pigment is the star of the show it's not for blending and smoothing it's for drawing attention. I also hate shimmer in the crease in general but I definitely wouldn't apply wet shadow into the crease anyway. 

This last set is optional. I'm showing other areas that look nice with pigment. Corner of the eye, center of the lid, and lower lash line. Another neat trick to avoid picking up too much product is to get the product from the residue on the lid of the jar. It's usually just enough especially for the lower lash line, and with a wet brush it picks it up like a magnet. You definitely need your brush to be wet for doing the lower lash line and corner of the eye that way the pigment will go exactly where you touch your brush and you can make it as thin as you want without it going everywhere. As far as how wet your brush should be one spray or one drop of saline is usually good for a small brush I usually dab it against a towel or tissue before I pick up pigment with it because if it's too wet it'll only sheer out the product. You can always apply more so start small and build from there. 

Another thing to remember which I hope you already know is to use eye primer. You should do this before any eyeshadow application for smoother application, less creasing, and better pay off but you'll want to do that for sure if you're adding pigment. Pigment will make your eye lid crease more if you don't.

I hope this was helpful. I've had some people asking me about how I apply pigments because I use them so much so I thought I'd do a post. It's not for everyone there are some people that don't want to deal with pigments and I understand that but I think they add more to the look than anything else.