As a simple lady (in more ways than one), I’m just not interested in painting my eyes with a rainbow of colours anymore. It makes me feel conspicuous, something that I don’t enjoy being at the best of times. Whilst I may be getting past the whole idea of using makeup as a way to be creative, I don’t think I’ll ever get over its abilities to make me look more refreshed, and leave me feeling more confident in my own appearance.
Truth be told, nowadays… I rarely stray from wearing anything other than a highlighting shade across my eyelids. I need something that puts luminosity into a part of my face that is often the first to express just how little sleep I’ve gotten in recent weeks. I know that many of you will be the same as me, “boring” though it is…
I thought I’d share my favourite luminosity-delivering eye shadows for a quick morning post… these are the ones that I use in constant rotation… whichever is closest to hand, I’m happy to use that morning.
Top row, left to right: MAC Vanilla Pigment, MAC Femme Fi, MAC Phloof!
Bottom row, left to right: Becca Vicuna, The Body Shop Colour Crush 101, Shu Uemura IR Beige 800
I rarely feel makeup guilts about purchasing a highlighting shade, which is silly… because six, used in rotation, is more than enough for anyone. However, I know that as part of my daily staple, I’ll get through them… eventually. In a pinch, most of them can also be used as a skin highlighter across the cheekbones, I do this particularly with The Body Shop Colour Crush 101 eyeshadow when I can’t find my NARS Albatross.
Of the six, MAC’s Vanilla Pigment delivers the most intense light-reflection, it’s wonderful for the inner corner but my skin is a little too mature to wear this as an under-the-browbone highlighter, it makes me feel like I’m in drag to be honest… not really a good thing, when err… you’re not actually in drag. I do love this one as an allover lid colour, I just make sure to blend it well and combine with some black liquid liner for a simple-but-polished look.
If you were to push me, I’d probably call out MAC’s discontinued Femme-Fi as my ultimate favourite. It just has such a lovely quality that never looks chalky or stark across the lids, sometimes the cooler-toned, more frosty Phloof! can look a little too highlightery across the lids. Whenever I spot Femme-Fi in someone’s blog sale, I always succumb to the purchase.
Becca’s Vicuna is also a beautiful one-shade option, I probably reach for it the least out of the six just because it’s in a cream format… but when I get my head around working outside the box, I’m always pleased with the result.
Finally, the discontinued Shu Uemura IR Beige 800 and The Body Shop Colour Crush 101* are really similar to each other in tone. The Shu Uemura is a little more refined in texture, but once both are blended, you’d be hard-pushed to notice a difference between them. These are both perfect for the inner corner but when worn across the lid, I try to combine them with a more golden-toned crease colour as opposed to my usual taupe.
What are your favourite luminosity-delivering eye shadows?
* press sample
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Say “boring” if you like, but basics never go out of style! I actually feel much the same about vibrant shades right now, though part of the aversion could be that I simply don’t go anywhere that they would be called for lately (peacock brights would feel a bit out of place at the grocery or L’s dance lesson!)
I am always on the lookout for good highlighting shades- especially because I do use them on my skin as well. Unfortunately, those of the Nars Albatross ilk appear too gold on my skin, and many contenders have too much visible shimmer to pass as a natural glow. Surprisingly, I do not have MAC Vanilla (though I have to imagine I have peeked at it in store once or twice). Suggestions?
How about MAC’s Shroom or Naked Lunch? I keep meaning to add NL to my collection… my resolve is nothing if not strong!
Love this post! So many pretty eyeshadows in one place 😛 Your swatches make me wonder why I never got Vanilla. Guess I’ll have to now. Haha!
Becca’s vicuna is so pretty. I prefer this personally for its cream and I super love the shade as well.
Meow Cosmetics makes this ammmaaaaaazing white-gold-champagne shadow called Sand Dune. It’s luscious and blendable and lasts forever on my lids – everything you want in a shadow.