Camera-Ready Friday Night Eyes: Tarte’s Creaseless Eyeshadow

What: tarte Lock & Roll Creaseless Eyeshadow Duo

Why: I’ve been into shimmery cream eye shadow since I got a tube of Maybelline Cool Effect eye color who knows how many years ago. It became the base of many a night-out eye, and then, it seems, they discontinued it. Perhaps it was a sign, because the ensuing gap in my eye makeup wardrobe led me to tarte’s Lock & Roll Creaseless Eyeshadow Duo ($17).

Now, it says creaseless in the name, but in this age of digital cameras (with zoom functions), documentation from the weekend often disproves such claims. But somehow, this cream-and-powder duo clings to lids indefinitely. I know this because, in the many Friday night photos in which my eyes are (Alluringly? No, probably not) angled downward, there it is: a pretty, light-deflecting wash of slightly-hued shimmer. The cream, which is supposed to be applied as a bottom layer, dries within a few seconds. Follow with the powder and the stuff seriously won’t budge all night long.

Get Yours: Sephora.com

Safe Shopping Reminder: How To Avoid Buying Fake M.A.C. Makeup

Shopping online is so great—no crowds to push your way through, no messy sales floors full of unfolded clothing, no long lines at a cash register—just a few simple clicks… and you don't even have to schlep heavy bags all the way home. Plus the bargain hunting is great too.

Then there's eBay, the ultimate place to look for a designer steal (and with the way the economy is going, it might be the only place I shop). But unfortunately, the great savings often come with greater risk. When you're buying items you can't see from people you don't know, it is easy to get taken advantage of. Recently, I've been reading about people getting ripped off buying M.A.C. makeup on eBay. After further investigation, and seeing people on YouTube acting almost shocked that what they received in the mail all the way from Hong Kong or Taiwan was not genuine (hmm, the country of origin might be a hint right there...), I am truly disturbed—not only at people's lack of online shopping savviness, but the potential harm that they could inflict on themselves by buying fake makeup: you don't know where this stuff is really coming from, what's in it exactly, and you're going to be putting it on your eyes and mouth? Come on ladies, be smart. 

After checking out some of the guides on eBay and taking a look at my own M.A.C. makeup (I'm a huge fan), I've compiled a little list of things to look for to make sure that these popular items are genuine:

Lip Glass ~ Fake Lip Glasses tend to be much longer than a genuine one would be. A real M.A.C. Lip Glass is just short of 3.5" long and is 5/8" thick. All (20) of mine have a silver circle sticker on the bottom that says the NAME of the color and it's number. When it comes to the name, "red" or "pink" doesn't count. M.A.C. has specific names for each of it's colors so I would always check the name against the ones listed on M.A.C.'s website. And remember, the only ones that come in tubes are the Clear Lip Glass and the Gelée. 

Eye Shadow ~ A M.A.C. eye shadow does not ever have a mirror and applicator. M.A.C. eye shadows have flip tops while paint pots and pigments have screw tops. And again look for the sticker on the bottom—this one will be in black with silver writing (except for the product number, which will be in black). Always make sure it has a color name! Eye shadows are also never separated into compartments.

Pigments ~ When you unscrew the cap of a M.A.C. pigment there should be a removable protective plastic lid across the top. This lid will never have a hole or a little spout for easy pouring. The easiest way to tell if a pigment is genuine is by testing some out on your hand. Real M.A.C. pigment is top notch quality and just a little bit of it will leave a rich color on your skin. It should also be difficult to rub off without makeup remover. (I even gently rinsed my hand under cold water and there was still a light color stain.)

Lipstick ~ A new M.A.C. lipstick never has a rounded shape that comes to a point in the center like most cheap lipsticks you find at the drugstore. A genuine one is cut on a slant that will easily glide across your lip—the one exception is the Slimshine Lipstick, which is just completely flat. As usual, check the name and number on the silver sticker. 

Brushes ~ The black handle on a M.A.C. makeup brush is always matte, never shiny.  The brushes will be labeled only with "MAC" followed by a three-digit number. The letters on a real M.A.C. brush are not engraved and so they should easily rub off. (The letters on my foundation brush are already completely gone.)

Hope these few little tips help. But I strongly urge you to purshase your M.A.C. makeup from Maccosmetics.com or a verified M.A.C. seller like Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Nordstrom—it might cost a little extra, but the quality is so great that the products will last you a long time. 

And check out our post on how to spot fraudulent beauty sites. 

Beauty Solution: Shadow Behaves When This Primer’s Around

What: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($16)

Why: In the land of makeup, my final frontier is eyeshadow. I have mastered how to apply my foundation so it’s not too heavy. I have learned how to give myself a rosy glow with blush and sultry lips with lipsticks and glosses. I even recently discovered how to give myself dramatic lashes. But eyeshadow, well, that’s another story. I can apply the stuff just fine, but about fifteen minutes after applying it, I’d be horrified to discover thick lines of eye shadow goop in the creases of my lids. Not to mention my matte shadows would go all shiny on me. So for a long time, I gave up on eye shadow. 

But then I discovered a modern day miracle beauty product - for me, a life changing product. Called the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, it’s an eyeshadow primer in a cute genie shaped bottle that actually makes your eyeshadow apply more smoothly and keeps it there all day and night.  There really must be a genie in this cute little bottle because now my eyeshadow stays put for hours. 

Get yours: Sephora.com

Sephora Tells Us What Spring Makeup To Buy

I love those Beauty Insider emails that I get from Sephora every once in a while. The most recent one was about this Spring's big beauty trends, so I definitely have to share it:

1. Bright Lids: Channel the '60s flower child brights with a Sephora Brand Colorful Duo Eyeshadow Palette ($16). 

2. Stained Lips: A subtle cherry stain is really chic for spring. Stila's Cherry Crush Lip & Cheek Stain ($24) gives great long-lasting color.

3. Rosy Cheeks: We're not talking hard core blush or anything but just a little pink can really make you look alive. If you're nervous about applying color to your cheeks, try a little SuedeBlush by Cargo ($24) which is a mixture of three blush colors to make it look more natural.

4. Thick Brows: I'm glad the full brows trend is sticking around. I'm tired of seeing so many girls walking around with super skinny, over-plucked brow lines. Don't let them go completely wild, though; keep them maintained with the Anastasia Tweezers Anonymous Set ($55). 

5. Straight Strands: I guess the pancake-flat look is back again (personally I think curls are more fun for spring but hey, who am I to question the trends). If you don't have a flat iron already, the T3 Mini ($119) is a great compact tool for sleek and frizz-free locks.  

Beauty Find: The Color Of Bruises Makes A Surprisingly Glamorous Eye

A welcome switch from monochromatic eye shadow palettes (greens are in! no, blues!), this duo of shades exudes elegance. It’s easy to switch up the proportions to add a little more drama or a little less pastel – because when you’re running around sans makeup bag, it’s all about maximum options in minimum space. Try applying a lilac shade to the inner corners of eyes for an ethereal look, or a wash of purple with brown accents below the brow bone.

Check out our picks below, in order of escalating intensity.
 
Light: Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaEyes Shadow in Naked and Cherub ($1.99 each)

Darker: Stila Eye Shadow Duo in Vieux Carre ($20)

Darkest: L’Oreal HIP Concentrated Eyeshadow Duo in Cheeky ($7.09)

Double Duty: Stealthy Makeup Multi-Taskers

While the products below aren't billed as multitaskers, we think they work beautifully at adding some glow on the go - and saving a bit of much-needed space in your evening bag. 

What: Sue Devitt Gel-to-Powder Blush in North Cape ($20)
Why: This warm, shimmery gel spreads easily and blends in well, so it’s tough to over-apply.
Use it for: Cheeks and eyes

What: Bobbi Brown Matte Stain for Lips in Cayenne ($20)
Why: The formula has the consistency of a creamy lipstick, but on cheeks it’s translucent enough to give a natural-looking flush, like you just came from a workout.
Use it for: Lips and cheeks

Beauty Trend: A Trip to the Eye-lands With Tropical Aqua Colors

If the crummy winter weather has you thinking of gloomy grays and slushy browns, you need to look to the perpetually sunny islands for some pick-me-up makeup inspiration. Rhianna and Ugly Betty's Becki Newton have both rocked the tropical vibe on the red carpet, with shimmering emerald shadow and sparkly lagoon-blue liner, respectively. Here are our picks for can't-miss aqua eyes:


Most Luxurious: Shiseido's Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow in Green Exotique ($23) goes on silky smooth and dries without creasing. The effect of this buttery créme shadow is subtle at first, but gets bolder as you add layers. The opalescent greenish-blue hue catches the light beautifully, making your eyes look wide and bright.


Most User-Friendly: It's ok to be a little leery of swabbing on a swath of jewel-toned color — we all remember the '80s, and those eye shadow trends were not good. But with Black Radiance's Shadow Créme in Ocean or Jewel ($2.50), you're in total control. The lip gloss-like applicator wand is long and tapered, so the cream shadow goes only where you want it to. And the colors — lush green Ocean or cobalt blue Jewel — are a far cry from the powder blues of the '80s.


Most Versatile: VonNatur's Natural Minerals Eye Color in Lapis ($16) has everything going for it. Apply the gold-hued blue dry for a subtle sheen, or add water for a more dramatic nighttime look. You can even break out the eyeliner brush to add just a hint of the moistened powder to your lids. The vegan and sun-friendly loose powder formula is packed with metallic minerals like mica, so the color is potent enough to really make a statement.

Remember: no matter how far you take your aqua eyes, be sure to pair this look with minimal makeup to avoid looking too campy. A peachy blush and nude gloss should do the trick without upstaging your island-ready eyes. Did we miss your favorite beachy-keen eye color? Let us know all about it in the comments section.

Would You Or Wouldn’t You? Sticking It To Shadow Mishaps

Time to own up: we've all had a disastrous smokey-eye mishap. One slip of the pencil, one overzealous sweep of dark shadow, or one shake of the too-inky liquid liner, and we end up looking like pandas or prize fighters. We've tried all the fancy tools and followed all the pro-generated tips, but the perfect smokey eye still eludes. We covet the seemingly effortless looks of our favorite dramatically made-up starlets and wish for our own personal makeup artists to give us flawless, smoldering eyes whenever the mood strikes.

Well, help may have arrived in the form of ColorOn Instant Eye Shadow Applicators - handy little shadow stickers with all that smokey eye goodness built right in. These one-use shadow patches come in an array of colors and patterns, from simple gold-hued and silver-hued definers to daringly bright jewel tones to funky leopard and camo prints. Simply line the applicators up with your lash line, press, and peel. Voila! A professional-quality eye makeup job.

But can it really be that easy? Doesn't everyone have differently shaped eyes? Would I end up with, say, zebra stripes above my eyebrows if I didn't apply the shadow absolutely perfectly? And who would want camo-print eyes, anyway?

These stickers will set you back a pretty penny. A five-pair pack costs $20 (that's $4 a wear, if you're keeping track), while a good solid shadow palette you'll use for months can cost less. So are these babies worth it? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

 And check out other SheFinds ways to achieve that sexy smokey eye.