Dealing With Eyeshadow Fallout - Tips & Tricks

*Everything in this post purchased by me, except the makeup wipes, which were a Sephora VIB gift*

 

 

Dealing With Eyeshadow Fallout - Tips and Tricks

Dealing with eyeshadow fallout can be such a pain in the a**! Yes, I said it! It's true. Nothing is worse, than spending time doing your makeup, only to have flecks of shadow fall onto your cheek and ruin your perfect foundation job. Sometimes, the most beautiful shadows are the most prone to fallout.  Added micro glitter can create a beautiful metallic look on the eye, but should that same glitter fall on your cheek you will look like a disco ball rather than have the pretty shimmery lids you intended. 

Luckily, I know several tips and tricks to help you cope with fallout. These are the best methods I know.  Whichever method you choose is a personal choice.  There is no "right" way to deal with fallout.  However, these few are tried and true for me.

When I look at all of the different ways used to manage fallout, they basically fall into two categories: 

1. Putting something underneath the eye to catch the fallout
2. Allowing the shadow to fall onto your face and cleaning it up later

Here are some of the things you might put under your eyes to catch fallout:

Shadow Shields: These are little pieces of paper with a sticky back created to catch eyeshadow fallout. When I first tried these, I was less than impressed. At first, the glue on the back seemed too sticky, then when I patted the tape as recommended to lessen the stickiness it fell off my face mid application. Once I mastered the technique, I realized these can really be a great tool. While these can be costly, they can also save your makeup. There are other similar brands available as well including one made of silicone that is washable and reusable.

Tissues: Everyone has tissues. This is a super easy method. Plus, if you fold your tissue and hold it at the corner of your eye, the angle can actually help you create a winged shadow look. By holding the tissue the way I have it in the picture below, then sweeping a shadow into your crease, the tissue will help create a nice edge to your eyeshadow look, while protecting your cheek from fallout.

Translucent Powder: This is an old trick makeup artists have used for years. Simply apply a thick coat of translucent powder just under your eyes. The eyeshadow will fall onto the powder, and can then be easily swept away with the flick of a powder brush. I don't prefer this method for mature eyes, as the extra powder, if not cleaned up properly can settle into fine lines and wrinkles.

These are the methods of clean up I prefer:

Do the eyes first, then use a makeup wipe: It's such a simple concept, but many people never think of it. We are often taught to do our foundation first. However, by doing your eyes first, you can easily wipe away any eyeshadow that has fallen down onto the cheeks with a makeup remover wipe. Then proceed with the rest of your face makeup as usual. This is a great method, and I highly recommend it.

Put a little primer or moisturizer on a sponge: This is my preferred method. Even if I don't do the eyes first, I may just do foundation (no powder), and clean up with a little primer or moisturizer on a sponge. I can simply touch up any foundation if needed, but it won't completely remove your makeup the way a wipe will. Any eyeshadow will stick to the primer on the sponge and easily be wiped away.  This is the method I use most. I like this method even if completely doing foundation second, as I can go right into priming the skin after doing eyes.

Some of the eyeshadows that are most prone to fallout are ones containing heavy glitter (*cough* Urban Decay *cough*).  In addition to the above methods, there are some additional steps you can take when dealing with glittery shadows prone to fallout.

Extra Tips & Tricks: 

Choose your tools wisely: While everyone is familiar with Urban Decay's primer potion and various other eyeshadow primers, one that I don't hear talked about nearly enough is Too Faced Glitter Glue. Unlike other primers, this creates a somewhat tacky base on the lid.  The stickiness is what helps glittery shadows stick to the lid better so it ends up on your eye, rather than on your face.

When using an eyeshadow that is heavy on the micro glitter, you may want to consider a sponge tip applicator. Yes, you read that right. I know, I know. I was taught to always throw the sponge tip applicators that come with traditional eyeshadow duos and quads right in the trash. However, a good sponge tip applicator can really help in pressing the glitter onto the lid.

If you just can't do the sponge tip thing, the next best thing is a stiff flat synthetic brush. I recommend one that has a firmer flatter head as it will more easily hold the glittery shadow.

Whichever applicator you use, make sure you press the shadow onto the lid, rather than swipe it. You want to use a gentle patting motion and pack the color onto the lid for maximum intensity. Swiping the product will only encourage fallout.

If none of the above work for you, try using your eyeshadow wet. Simply dampen the sponge tip applicator or brush slightly, then pick up some shadow and press onto your lids. The water will help it stick to your lids much better than if it were dry.  Just check to make sure your eyeshadows can be used wet, and give them proper drying time before closing the lid to prevent bacteria growth or ruining your shadows.

Choosing the Right Tools Can Help 

Prevent Fallout 

I hope you found this post helpful. Let me know if you try any of these tricks, and how they work for you!

Pointed Crease Brushes

Pointed Crease Brushes 

Today's post is all about pointed crease brushes. If you are someone who likes to experiment with different eyeshadow looks, this style of brush is a useful one to have. Unlike a more fluffy crease brush, or blending brush (which are also important to have), this more tapered brush allows you to really get into the crease of the eye and blend color. For times when I want a very defined crease, I will always reach for a pointed crease brush, because it really helps push the color exactly where I want it and getting the shadow  into even the smallest of spaces on the eye. This brush is very important when doing a cut crease eye look.  

I chose brushes that I really like using at a variety of price points as I realize everyone is on a different budget.
 

The tapered tip of this style brush also allows you to easily take your eyeshadow color under the lower lash line.

 While there are many animal hair versions of this brush available, here are some synthetics that I personally love from my stash:

 Pictured Below: Left OCC #004 Tapered Blending Brush, Right Cozzette D200 Bullet Brush

As you can see the two brushes above look quite similar. They are. They both work very well for getting into the contour of the eye, and I would recommend either one. The main difference between the two, is the Cozzette brush is slightly more pointed, as you can see from the above photograph.  I am unsure of the price of the D200, as I purchased it as part of the Divinity Collection brush set. The D220 and S185 are similar in shape and cost $15-16.  The OCC brush is $22, and like the Cozzette brush, it is a professional grade high quality brush, meant to last for years.

Pictured Below: Left, Cozzette S175, Right Cozzette S165

These brushes are basically the same with the main difference being size. The S175 is a standard tapered eyeshadow crease brush, while the S165 is a larger version. If you were working on a larger eye, you should choose the one on the right.  While in the picture it may look like the head of each brush is rounded, they actually both come to a tapered/pointed tip. Since the S165 is larger, it also makes it a great choice for under eye concealer. Since the bristles are super soft, they won't irritate the delicate under eye area. The S175 is $17 and the S165 is $19.  Please note these are professional grade, high end brushes that are meant to last for years.

Pictured Below: Cozzette D330 Stylist Illustrator Brush

This is a very sleek detailer brush. It's not as fluffy as any of the others I mentioned.  This is great for very precise placement, or if you are doing a very defined cut crease.  I would use this to draw a gel or eyeliner into the crease or smudge it out.  These bristles are a different material than the others, so they are a bit firmer. This brush retails for $14.00 

Pictured Below: Coastal Scents BR-C-S09 Pointed Blender Synthetic 

As you can see the bristles on this brush are much shorter than any of the others I've mentioned. However, I felt it was worth showing as I think this is a great choice for defining the outer corner of the eye or "outer v."  Plus, this brush only costs $2.95!  Granted, it is certainly not the same quality of the brushes mentioned above (not even close), but this brush certainly has it's place. If you are new to eyeshadow, or just interested in experimenting with smokey eyes, this is a good choice to have. The tip is pointed so it will help with a cut crease like the others mentioned in this post. 

Pictured Below: Bdellium Tools #781 crease brush from the Pink Bambu line 

If you've read any of my other posts, you guys probably know by now that I am a big fan of Bdellium Tools. This particular brush is one that I have multiples of in my kit. I have it from their Yellow and Green Bambu lines, which are very similar, just with a shorter handle. This is an eco friendly brush made with soft vegan bristles. While the pink one is new to me, I've had the green version of this brush for a long time, and this is a brush that really lasts, and holds its shape. It's very similar to the first set of brushes I mentioned, just with much shorter bristles. If the Cozzette 220 and the Coastal Scents brush had a baby, this is what it might look like. This brush is $7.92 on Amazon.com and is eligible for 2 day free shipping for Amazon Prime members.

Pictured Below: Earth Diva Cosmetics Eyeshadow & Crease Brush* (sample sent for consideration)

This brush was created specifically for mineral makeup. However, it will work with any type of eyeshadow. I think you can really see how pointed this crease brush is from the above photo. This bamboo handled brush is available individually and as part of a set. The bristles on this brush are a bit longer than any of the others I've mentioned, and firmer, which make it great for really blending that color in the crease. The tip of this is more pointed than some of the others I've mentioned, and I find I can easily move from working the crease of the eye to the lower lash line with ease.This brush retails for $7.95 and is a nice mid-priced brush.

I hope you found this mini guide to synthetic pointed crease brushes helpful. If you are someone who likes the smokey eye look, or just really wants a defined eye crease, I highly suggest this type of brush. Whichever brand you choose is up to you, and your budget, but hopefully this guide will help you make a wise purchasing decision.

Let me know if you own any of these or plan on buying one! As always, thank you so much for reading!

Please don't forget to subscribe (it's free)!

*The Earth Diva Cosmetics brush in this post was sent to me by the company for consideration. All other brushes were purchased by me. I only included brushes that I truly like, and would and have recommended to others because I think they are good brushes. I do not get paid to write reviews, and all opinions are my own.

My Top 5 Makeup Brushes - Collab

My Top Five Makeup Brushes (Collab)

I am very excited to share with you my five favorite makeup brushes! This post is actually a collaboration with two other cruelty-free beauty bloggers; Catherine of Buying Cruelty Free and Christine from Makeup Guinea Pig. As always, all brushes in this post are cruelty-free, and made only of synthetic "hair."

Catherine and Christine will also be sharing their top 5 makeup brushes here: 

http://buyingcrueltyfree.com/top-5-synthetic-makeup-brushes/

http://makeupguineapig.blogspot.com/2013/03/5-favorite-brushes-collab-with-buying.html

 *Don't Forget To Follow Us on Twitter!*

@MakeupMatters1    @bcrueltyfree   and   @MakeUpGuineaPig 

While I am very excited about this post, it was also extremely hard to narrow my favorites down to five. However, that's also what made this post really fun!  It was a challenge to really sit down and go through my brushes and decide, which are my favorites. To help me decide, I set some rules for myself. First, I chose brushes that are favorites for my personal use, not necessarily ones that I use on others.  I assume most of you reading this will be looking for makeup brushes for your own personal stash, so I thought it would be most helpful to go with ones that I personally use on a daily basis. For my daily makeup, I use about 12 brushes. Whenever I want to know which makeup products are my favorite, I think about which ones I repurchase over and over. To choose my favorite brushes, I kept track over a few days to see which ones I reached for more than others. 

FTC: Please note, some of the brushes in this post were sent to me for consideration, some were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. I do not get paid to write reviews. I do not get any compensation if someone purchases one of these brushes. I simply write reviews and make recommendations in hopes of helping others make good purchasing decisions. 

These are the five I narrowed it down to (in no particular order):

1. IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush 
2. 100% Pure Cruelty Free Blush Brush 
3. Earth Diva Cosmetics Multi-Purpose Brush 
4. Bdellium Tools Professional Makeup Brush Bambu Series Blending Brush #776 
5. Kelley Quan Synthetic Red Sable Patented Wave Brush, Vegan Beauty Brush #17

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Brush: This is my HG bronzing brush. I absolutely adore this for applying bronzer to the face and neck because the bristles are just so super soft that you can buff on your bronzer without disturbing your foundation or powder underneath. Like all my brushes, this does serve multiple purposes. I also like using this brush for setting powder.  I often like to powder just the T-zone and leave my cheeks a bit more dewy. The rounded tip to this really lets you precisely powder just the areas you want to.  This is also a great one for blush for the same reason it's good for bronzer; it simply does not disturb your foundation underneath. The rubber handle makes it very comfortable in the hand. This brush is luxurious in every way and it's a favorite in my collection for sure. 

100% Pure Cruelty Free Blush Brush: Of the brushes mentioned in this post, I've had this one the longest. This is a tried and true brush for me. Again, I use this brush for multiple things; blush, bronzing and contouring, and buffing in foundation. However, I really find I use this mostly for blush application. I know most of you don't think of a flat top brush when you think of a blush brush. However, due to the size of the brush head, and softness of the bristles, this really allows me to perfectly place the bristles on my cheekbone and stipple on the color. The flat top head allows me to angle the head into the contour of my cheekbone, allowing for perfect placement every time. This brush just gives the most natural appearance and it is super affordable. The white bristles make it easy to know when your brush is dirty without them staining. I've had this brush for a while now, and it still looks as new as the day I got it. While many companies make a brush in this shape, the length and softness of the bristles are what make this one a favorite.

The above picture really captures how soft the bristles are on this brush. It just feels so good against the skin.

Earth Diva Cosmetics Multi-Purpose Brush: While this may just look like a standard flat paddle foundation brush, I assure you it's so much more. This brush is just perfectly constructed. When I compare it against other flat paddle brushes in my collection, I can really see the difference in craftsmanship. It just seems like a lot more thought and effort went into making this brush. First of all, the head is much fuller than a traditional flat paddle foundation brush, which is what makes it so multi-purpose. This brush was created with mineral makeup in mind, so if you are a  mineral makeup wearer, this is a good pick. However, even if you don't wear mineral makeup, this brush is still a must have in my book. It works with mineral & liquid foundation, primer, blush and bronzer. What I often use it for is to apply my powder highlighter. The soft domed tip allows you to perfectly sweep on shimmer to the tops of the cheekbones, then blend it out by simply turning the brush. Since the head is fuller, it not only applies well, but picks up powder products with ease. This brush has a smooth bamboo handle and is made with synthetic taklon hair. The size and fullness of this brush head is what makes it a favorite for me for highlighter application.

 When viewed from the side, you can really see how full the brush head is compared to others like it.

Bdellium Tools Professional Makeup Brush Bambu Series Blending Brush #776: This is my holy grail eyeshadow blending brush. I will never again go searching for another eyeshadow blending brush, because this one is pure perfection. If I were to design my perfect eyeshadow blending brush, this would be it. This shape of this brush is something I have been searching for for a very long time. For some odd reason, all of the companies that make great synthetic brushes, don't seem to make eyeshadow blending brushes in this shape and I just don't understand why. Anyone who loves makeup has heard of the M.A.C. #217 Blending Brush. It's a staple in most makeup artist kits. However, that brush is made out of animal hair, so I simply refuse to buy it. I requested this type of brush from so many companies, and Bdellium Tools is the only one who listened. I'm sure I'm not the only person that requested this type of brush, but kudos to Bdellium tools for listening to their customers. This is the best eyeshadow blending brush hands down. You absolutely need this brush in your kit! I have one or two that are somewhat similar, but I found either the handle was too thin, or the bristles weren't fluffy enough when looking at the other brands. This brush is seriously perfect. The handle is just a little thicker, making it very comfortable to hold, and the stiff domed brush head is the perfect amount of fluffiness versus stiffness to blend. This brush is available in their Green Bambu and Pink Bambu series. The difference between the two (other than color), is that the Green Bambu brushes have a shorter handle. This is simply a matter of personal preference. If you like to sit closer to a mirror when you do your makeup, you may prefer a shorter handle. If you are prefer a longer handled brush, or are looking to use this for professional use, go with the Pink Bambu. I own multiples of this brush, as it's the brush that I use with every single eyeshadow application. These are also great for blending out cream eyeshadow, and even under eye concealer. I did notice that the Pink Bambu version seems a little bit fluffier than the Green Bambu version for some reason, but in practice, they both seem to work equally as well. 

 Note the difference in handle lengths between the Green & Pink Bambu lines.

 The Pink Bambu version does seem to be a bit more fluffy, but they both work equally well.

Kelley Quan Synthetic Red Sable Patented Wave Brush, Vegan Beauty Brush #17: This is my go-to brow brush. In fact the wave design of this brush head is so unique that it's patented, so you won't find another like it from any other brand. This brush was designed specifically for eyebrows. While a traditional angled brush works fine, the wave pattern of this brush gives the most realistic natural "hair like" strokes when applying brow powder.  Since the bristles are synthetic, you can use this same brush for applying your brow wax, and then dip it straight into your brow powder. I also like this with the Tarte Waterproof Brow Mousse for a very natural, but defined brow. This brush is handcrafted in the U.S.A. using premium synthetic blends for the bristles. While this brush may be a little bit more pricey, to me it's worth it because it is so unique, and it gives the most natural looking appearance to brows compared to any other brush I've tried. I have a few brushes that I've purchased from this brand, and they all come in these pretty hot pink boxes. The boxes, are so nice, that even though I've had this brush for a while, I just had to save one of the boxes!  For those of you not familiar with this brand, Kelley Quan is a makeup artist who designed a range of vegan beauty brushes that are hypo-allergenic and easy to clean, without causing any cruelty to animals. Unlike most synthetics on the market, her brushes are made with multiple types of synthetic fibers to help more closely mimic the texture of various animal furs such as Sable, Mink, Blue Squirrel and Goat.

 Each brush comes packaged in the signature Kelley Quan pink box.

I hope you enjoyed this look at my top 5 makeup brushes. I would love to hear what your favorites are! 

Don't forget to check out the 5 favorites from Catherine & Christine:

http://buyingcrueltyfree.com/top-5-synthetic-makeup-brushes/

http://makeupguineapig.blogspot.com/2013/03/5-favorite-brushes-collab-with-buying.html

A big thank you to these ladies for including me in their collaboration!

Please share your 5 favorites in the comments below.

Remember, all comments are approved individually, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. As always, thanks for reading. I appreciate you all!