topic Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get? in Beauty

How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

noodleann — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 14:30:30 GMT

Didn't know how to title this right, but it's something that's bugged me for a long time.

When you see several completely different colors together in a blush, often in a mosaic like the Laura Geller "Filter Blush" that's the current Beauty IQ Steal, how on earth can you tell what color you'll end up with?

I have several Smashbox blushes from the old days that were part of kits, but I'd never have bought them because they consisted of stripes of color, and again, you didn't know what you'd wind up with. I dragged my brush across them and applied with a light hand because I wasn't sure what I'd end up with. Didn't use them often.

Same problem with Laura Geller's Rimz eye shadows with a mixture of colors; no way to know what the product will actually look like, even though the colors look gorgeous.

I've never bought the Physician's Formula skin stuff sold this way for the same reason--how can you tell how it'll look?

I am sure I am missing some obvious answer because companies keep marketing blushes, eye shadows, and other makeup this way. Any ideas how to figure it out?

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

WenGirl42 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 14:40:35 GMT

To me this isn't any different than knowing that the way a color looks in the pan/container won't be how it looks on skin. So you look for swatches or swatch it yourself to see what the resulting color is. With blush/bronzer/eyeshadow, even if every swipe doesn't look exactly the same, the same mix of colors will go into it, leading to a range of similarly flattering (or unflattering) tones.

The one product where it might matter that you get the same color every time is with a foundation. I have only tried one compact of LG's B&B so far and like the consistent color I get. If I buy another one and the color variations are different enough in that compact to make the end result a different color, I'll return and not purchase again.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

SilleeMee — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 15:25:23 GMT

I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

noodleann — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:03:26 GMT

@WenGirl42 wrote:
To me this isn't any different than knowing that the way a color looks in the pan/container won't be how it looks on skin. So you look for swatches or swatch it yourself to see what the resulting color is. With blush/bronzer/eyeshadow, even if every swipe doesn't look exactly the same, the same mix of colors will go into it, leading to a range of similarly flattering (or unflattering) tones.

The one product where it might matter that you get the same color every time is with a foundation. I have only tried one compact of LG's B&B so far and like the consistent color I get. If I buy another one and the color variations are different enough in that compact to make the end result a different color, I'll return and not purchase again.

I probably didn't make myself clear. When a pan has a white-ish color, a bronze-ish color, and a pinkish color in a mosaic, there is no way to figure out from looking at that what the color will be on your skin. That's a problem. I'm not talking about being able to test a product, or else I'd never posted about this issue. It's about buying when the makers don't even swatch the product themselves to show you what the color will be.

I was talking about Laura Geller's Rimz eye shadows.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

noodleann — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:06:19 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.

With the Laura Geller blush product, there's no way to pick out one particular color unless you're using a teeny brush, because it's a mosaic of different colors. This makes no sense to me, and I'm thinking it's a waste of money, too. I don't understand why they don't swatch the products themselves.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

SilleeMee — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 16:11:24 GMT

If I bought this one, I would probably end up swiping only the pink and maybe the lightest shade for highlighting. The rest would most likely go to waste so I don't buy these kinds of things anymore. Pretty to look at though.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

WenGirl42 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 17:10:48 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@WenGirl42 wrote:
To me this isn't any different than knowing that the way a color looks in the pan/container won't be how it looks on skin. So you look for swatches or swatch it yourself to see what the resulting color is. With blush/bronzer/eyeshadow, even if every swipe doesn't look exactly the same, the same mix of colors will go into it, leading to a range of similarly flattering (or unflattering) tones.

The one product where it might matter that you get the same color every time is with a foundation. I have only tried one compact of LG's B&B so far and like the consistent color I get. If I buy another one and the color variations are different enough in that compact to make the end result a different color, I'll return and not purchase again.
I probably didn't make myself clear. When a pan has a white-ish color, a bronze-ish color, and a pinkish color in a mosaic, there is no way to figure out from looking at that what the color will be on your skin. That's a problem. I'm not talking about being able to test a product, or else I'd never posted about this issue. It's about buying when the makers don't even swatch the product themselves to show you what the color will be.

I was talking about Laura Geller's Rimz eye shadows.

No, I understand what kind of products you're talking about. I don't understand why you wouldn't just look for other sources of swatches (if you couldn't swatch it yourself somewhere). Even if an eyeshadow is just a single shade, you need to see swatches to know how it will look on skin. Especially skin that's similar in coloring to yours.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

Shanus — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 18:51:47 GMT

The only makeup close to a "mixed pan" that I've ever had was the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks...love those. I purchased the Quartz Shimmer Brick...if you stoke across all stripes & lightly apply to cheeks, you just get a slight shimmer over or above blush. You can also use an eyeshadow brush & choose an individual stripe for eye shadow. There are many bricks to choose from. The bronze one is popular.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

Shanus — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 19:00:21 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.
With the Laura Geller blush product, there's no way to pick out one particular color unless you're using a teeny brush, because it's a mosaic of different colors. This makes no sense to me, and I'm thinking it's a waste of money, too. I don't understand why they don't swatch the products themselves.

@noodleann I purchase most of my makeup in dept. stores where there are testers. Yes, it's more expensive initially, but really not if you purchase it online or at a drugstore & don't like the color. Then the product is rarely used or tossed out.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

Katcat1 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 19:10:23 GMT

@Shanus, I was just thinking about Bobbi Brown when I first read this thread. Her highlighters are in vertical order so you just sweep the brush over all colors like you said. Which really makes more sense then having the colors in a mosiac. The products the cosmetic companies come up with to introduce new products. I bought one of BB's highlighters and returned it. I am waiting to receive a luminous blush from BECCA which I tested out at ULTA before purchasing from BECCA online. You only need a tiny amount. When I think of the money I have spent on beauty products I no longer use! OMG!

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

Shanus — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 19:20:37 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
@Shanus, I was just thinking about Bobbi Brown when I first read this thread. Her highlighters are in vertical order so you just sweep the brush over all colors like you said. Which really makes more sense then having the colors in a mosiac. The products the cosmetic companies come up with to introduce new products. I bought one of BB's highlighters and returned it. I am waiting to receive a luminous blush from BECCA which I tested out at ULTA before purchasing from BECCA online. You only need a tiny amount. When I think of the money I have spent on beauty products I no longer use! OMG!

They make it look like "eye candy". Packaging is everything in marketing, right?

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

noodleann — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 21:27:06 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@noodleann wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.
With the Laura Geller blush product, there's no way to pick out one particular color unless you're using a teeny brush, because it's a mosaic of different colors. This makes no sense to me, and I'm thinking it's a waste of money, too. I don't understand why they don't swatch the products themselves.
@noodleann I purchase most of my makeup in dept. stores where there are testers. Yes, it's more expensive initially, but really not if you purchase it online or at a drugstore & don't like the color. Then the product is rarely used or tossed out.

I haven't been in a department store in ages, and it's probably been 30 years since I went to a makeup counter in one. I'm leery of getting oversold.

I was trying to find out whether there was some secret everyone had to buying these products. Apparently there isn't. I'll just steer clear of them. One less temptation.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

WenGirl42 — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 00:39:07 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@Shanus wrote:
@noodleann wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.
With the Laura Geller blush product, there's no way to pick out one particular color unless you're using a teeny brush, because it's a mosaic of different colors. This makes no sense to me, and I'm thinking it's a waste of money, too. I don't understand why they don't swatch the products themselves.
@noodleann I purchase most of my makeup in dept. stores where there are testers. Yes, it's more expensive initially, but really not if you purchase it online or at a drugstore & don't like the color. Then the product is rarely used or tossed out.
I haven't been in a department store in ages, and it's probably been 30 years since I went to a makeup counter in one. I'm leery of getting oversold.

I was trying to find out whether there was some secret everyone had to buying these products. Apparently there isn't. I'll just steer clear of them. One less temptation.

...the "secret" is looking online to see the product swatches, lol. Then you'll know what color the combination of shades creates.

Re: How can you tell what color blush/eyeshadow you'll get?

Mellie32 — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 01:01:21 GMT

@noodleann wrote:
@Shanus wrote:
@noodleann wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I've only bought a few of those mosaic type products and I ended up just picking out a certain few of the colors in the pan. When they ran out, I tossed the compact out. Waste of money, imo.
With the Laura Geller blush product, there's no way to pick out one particular color unless you're using a teeny brush, because it's a mosaic of different colors. This makes no sense to me, and I'm thinking it's a waste of money, too. I don't understand why they don't swatch the products themselves.
@noodleann I purchase most of my makeup in dept. stores where there are testers. Yes, it's more expensive initially, but really not if you purchase it online or at a drugstore & don't like the color. Then the product is rarely used or tossed out.
I haven't been in a department store in ages, and it's probably been 30 years since I went to a makeup counter in one. I'm leery of getting oversold.

I was trying to find out whether there was some secret everyone had to buying these products. Apparently there isn't. I'll just steer clear of them. One less temptation.

There's really no secret. You go in store to swatch things or watch people on Youtube swatching them or find a video/picture of swatches on instagram. The internet has everything you need if you don't like going into stores.