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Eye Shadow: Mattes and Frosts
Eye shadow is a tool,
like any other cosmetic, meant to enhance the eyes,
rather than to stand alone as an entity, which
unfortunately with some of the colors and types
available, as well as inappropriate application, can
break the overall look. Eye shadow is about contouring
to create a perfect eye, it is not about color other
than subtly used to enhance the eye color itself. But
there are many fantastic looks to create with the proper
application and varying types.
Eye shadow should be
applied as well with the occasion in mind, in addition
to age, facial type, eye type, eye color, and to a point
the clothing being worn, at least whether the clothing
is warm or cool and the colors work together.
A Suede
and a Mauve trio, offering a deep shade for crease,
mid-tone for lid and highlighter for brow
Powder mattes are the
best choice. They are a solid color, considered to have
a flat surface with no shine. They do not contain any
shimmer or glitter or frost and should be used for the
basis of application. Mattes on the lid in a medium
shade and mattes in the crease in a deeper shade.
Highlighting is just that, to highlight, to reflect
light and you want to highlight at the top of the eye
area, just beneath the brow bone to make this area stand
out so as to create the illusion of the eye as deep-set
(which the dark color also does in the crease). If any
shimmering or glittering eye shadow is applied, it
should be as a highlighter only and preferably in the
evening or for a special occasion. Sparkles, frosts and
sunshine just don’t mix.
multiple frosts in warm shades
Shimmers and frosts and
glitters come in varying degrees but many do not work
well for over forty at any time of the day or night.
Over forty needs to play down the areas that are
beginning to wrinkle: crows feet, sagging lids and
sunken eyes. We do not want to bring a negative focus to
these areas with the use of glitters and frosts. Let the
younger gals use these and stay with the mattes for a
highlighter as well so that you will have a smooth,
clean and classy look. If you do choose a frost,
stay within a lesser degree.
a palette with both mattes and frosts
Typically when you
purchase an eye shadow multi-pack or compact, there are
a mix of both mattes and frosts, with more of the latter
for some reason.
an individual matte
To avoid having a stock
of colors you will not be using, purchasing eye shadow
in individual containers will allow you to choose
exactly the shades best suited for you and to create a
collection of these.
A word on cream shadows,
which are very seldom available in mattes: creams can be
difficult to work with. They dry quickly, are difficult
to apply and usually we end up trying to blend with the
fingers as the wands are too saturated with color and it
can therefore be difficult to control the amount of
shadow applied. When applying creams use a flat eyeliner
brush if you have one.
It is also more difficult
to correct mistakes (which for any eye shadow, liner or
mascara mistake made you should use a cotton swab for
easy, quick, clean corrections). Creams are tricky and
require practice. Oily skin types are not going to hold
a cream as well.
Creams in a tube
Creams in a compact
The one advantage to
cream is staying power and in given situations such as a
day outdoors, swimming, athletics, etc., if purchased in
a waterproof form, they will stay with you. But for
everyday wear, and especially special occasions where
you really want to create, blend and contour, creams are
not ideal though with practice and the proper brushes,
creams can be easily applied and manipulated for a
creamy, silkier look.
By all means experiment
in your leisure to find the look and product that’s
right for you, for your coloring, and for the occasion.
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