Pigments have long been used in creating professional make-up, and recently they have become available for home use, and immediately became very popular. And it is not surprising, because not one eye shadow can be compared in terms of brightness and durability with pigments.
What it is
In fact, pigment is a colored powder that is ground very, very finely. Initially, it was added to the cosmetic base for eye shadow, lipstick or nail polish. It is the pigment that communicates this or that shade to the product. However, later colored powder itself was used to create makeup, similar to how it was used in antiquity.
Highly pigmented powders themselves, which leave a bright mark on the skin or tissue, are not a modern development. Ancient people used the first pigment of iron oxide for cave paintings, and in the early Minoan era in Crete, purple was extracted from snail shells. Of course, today pigments are mainly of synthetic origin, but the principle has been preserved.
How pigment differs from shadows
So, the main difference between these products for the eyelids lies on the surface - the pigment is much brighter and richer than shadows. However, this is not all the difference. Pigment for the eyes is a color concentrate, it needs very little to get a bright make-up. Shadows, as a rule, lie in a translucent layer. By the way, the economical consumption of pigments prompted manufacturers to produce it as an independent product for professional make-up artists - they need a lot of cosmetics, and dry pigment for the eyes, which requires just a little bit, can save a lot of money.
And one more difference, so loved first by professionals, and then by those who paint themselves - pigments mix perfectly with each other. This allows you to create new shades of cosmetics that are unique and suitable for you. In addition, the pigment can be added to an existing cosmetic product, diversifying its palette. For example, adding pigment with gloss or metallic effect to your usual eyeshadow, you will get updated shiny shadows with a new property.
The secrets to using pigment in eye makeup
If you decide to try pigment in eye makeup, then you should not think that you will be limited to buying only one jar. Firstly, you will need a special brush. Recall that the pigment is a dry fine powder, and it is better to apply it on the eyelid not with a finger, not with a sponge, but only with a brush. Moreover, it should be flat, densely packed, wide and quite rigid. A soft brush will not allow you to collect pigment for the eyes, and a wide flat shape allows you to properly apply it on the eyelid.
It is also better to choose a brush from a combination or artificial material, since the natural one may not gain enough pigment per pile. But for blending the already applied dye, you can use a fluffy natural brush.
You will also need a primer. This is a special substance that allows the pigment to adhere well to the skin and hold on for a long enough time, without smearing and without rubbing. You may also need a special gel with which it is convenient to mix shades.
How to use eye pigments
Although the pigment resembles friable shadows, it is worth remembering that it is much more concentrated and requires accuracy in application and some practice.
First of all, apply a primer to the eyelid, and then take a little pigment from the jar with the right brush and brush off the excess on the edge of the package. Apply the product without smearing, but driving it into the skin with light patting movements. For this, you need a wide and flat brush. This technique will help prevent pigment shedding.
Even if you use only one shade for eye makeup, you will need to blend it to make the border invisible. To do this, take a clean soft brush and work as with regular shadows.
How to choose
First of all, carefully read what is indicated on the product jar. Pigments allowed for use on the eyes must bear the appropriate inscription. You should not use the product for the eyelids that you doubt its purpose, as some pigments are quite aggressive, and applying them near the mucous membrane of the eye can be dangerous to health. Usually these are neon and very bright acidic shades.
In addition, pigments have different effects when applied to the skin. They happen:
- Satin - with a slight uniform shine, reminiscent of that of silk or satin fabric.
- Shimmer - with small spangles in the composition, which create depth and radiance of color.
- With the metallic effect - silver, bronze, gold shades, which allow you to get a spectacular dense coating with a metallic sheen.
- Matte - having no shine.
Despite the fact that initially pigments have a very good ability to create a dense bright coating, today you can find powder pigments on sale. They have a more transparent application and are designed to create a kind of haze on the finished eye makeup.
Stamps
Today, pigment for the eyes can be bought at any cosmetic store. One of the most popular are products from the American company MAC. They are used by professional makeup artists all over the world, and among makeup lovers they have many adherents. They are perfectly applied, shaded, do not slide down for centuries and have a rich palette. The most famous and versatile of them are shades of Vanilla and Naked. By the way, due to their neutral light shade and magnificent radiance, they are often used as a highlighter, for example, for applying under an eyebrow.
Another well-known pigment manufacturer is Inglot. This brand is known for the fact that you can buy as many refills and jars as you like, and then create new compositions with them, store in magnetic cases and combine as you wish. Brilliant pigments for the eyes of this brand are also distinguished by a wealth of shades, especially the presence of a large number of interesting duochrome shades, that is, those in which two different colors are combined, which manifest themselves under different lighting conditions.
A more affordable product is NYX brand pigments. They have a rich palette from neutral light and beige to deep dark or bright shades with a chic shine of iridescent particles. Hold long enough than usually only high-quality expensive pigment for the eyes can boast. The reviews, however, note the inconvenient packaging and the capricious nature of the colored powder - applying it neatly is quite difficult, especially for beginners.
Pigment Makeup Examples - Daily Variant
If you need everyday makeup for work or study - pigments can add zest to it. For daytime makeup, the ideal option is light neutral shades with a light shimmer or satin finish. For eye makeup, apply a primer to the eyelid, and then draw arrows with a black pencil or kayal. Blend the upper border of the arrow and apply pigment to the entire moving eyelid. Add mascara - and daytime makeup is ready. On the one hand, this is a very simple option, but on the other, it is the pigment that will give the look depth and brightness.
Evening eye makeup
In evening make-up, where bright colors and brilliant shadows are appropriate, pigments reveal all their beauty. And so that the bright pigmented shades were even brighter, they should be applied not on bare skin of the eyelids, and not even on a colorless primer, but on a black greasy substrate, best on black cream shades.
It is necessary to apply shadows on the entire moving eyelid, setting the main outline of the picture with a brush. Also, shadows need to bring the lower eyelid close to the mucous membrane of the eye. Next, with a softer brush, you need to slightly shade the borders on the upper eyelid, as well as stretch the shadows to the outer corner of the eye. Further, without delay, until the base has completely dried, apply pigment. It is better to take two or three shades - light for the inner corner of the eye, dark for the outer and an intermediate bright color for the transition. It can be a blue, green, violet shade or even gold shades, suitable for a festive make-up .
Light pigment begin to drive into a black eyeliner from the inner corner of the eye, stretching the color throughout the eyelid. Then add a second color and blend the border between them. Stretch the third color to the outer corner of the eye towards the temples, remaining within the contour previously drawn by the shadows. Do not forget to apply pigment to the lower eyelid.
Then it remains only to correct the drawing with a clean brush, remove crumbling particles with a napkin and apply or glue false eyelashes. You can also add concealer by masking the circles under the eyes and highlighting the lower contour of the eyebrow.
Pigments for permanent makeup
Let’s say a few words about the pigments used in permanent eye makeup . Unlike conventional cosmetics, they have a gel or semi-liquid form and consist of the actual pigment, water and glycerin.
Eye tattooing mainly uses the technique of filling the color of the inter-eyelash space (which makes the eyelashes visually darker and more magnificent without the use of mascara) and drawing arrows on the upper eyelid (imitation of a pencil arrow). Also, tattooing will help give the eyes a more beautiful shape or adjust the lowered outer corner of the eye.
Pigments for permanent makeup are mostly black-brown, less often blue, green, gray shades. The charm of modern professional tools is that the master can mix shades and choose the perfect one for each color type.