Latest Obsession: Eyeshadow Pencils
When it comes to eyeshadow I am Fussy with a capital F. As a teen I was all over Barry M's pots of loose glitter (cringe), but in later years (other than the rare occasion) stayed away from putting anything other than mascara and eyeliner anywhere near my lids. I'm a perfectionist, and am yet to master the art of eyeshadow application (so you won't see me demonstrating the perfect smokey eye anytime soon), especially when it involves minimum three products and twice as many brushes to apply. If like me, you're still a little wary of powder shadows, apply your makeup on the go, or simply don't have the time to spend half an hour blending before you've even thought about your crease (Crease? Exactly.), then allow me to introduce you to my new best friend, the eyeshadow pencil...
Having garnered a surge of popularity in recent months (mostly in the form of rave reviews regarding the By Terry Ombre Blackstar collection), you'll no doubt be aware of the current blogger hype surrounding eyeshadow pencils. As you can see above, it was a hype which I fully embraced, and in recent weeks have picked up no less than four of the blessed things.
The aisles of No7 contain some real gems (Gay Geranium, that nude lip liner, etc etc), and their frequent offers and vouchers have meant that I've been a regular visitor to my local counter for years. After observing the eyeshadow pencil hype and heading to peruse the aisles of Boots I was immediately drawn to No7's offering, the Stay Perfect Shade & Define pencil. When it comes to eyeshadow I'm a neutral gal through and through so No7's collection was right up my street. Aside from a deep purple, the shades are all on what I would term 'the neutral spectrum'. I first picked up Glistening Ray, a gorgeous champagne colour which can be used all over the lid or as a highlight at the inner corner of the eye. This is probably my favourite shade as it is so subtle but really pretty and helps to brighten the eye area and draw attention to the eye. A close rival for favourite comes in the form of Cool Mink, a brownish/grey with a whole lotta shimmer which can be washed across lightly or layered up for a more defined finish. I also like to take this under my eye for a smokey evening look. I also bought Pink Pearl, another pretty and subtle colour which is perfect for daytime and looks great when blended with Glistening Ray. The formula of the Shade & Define pencils gains full marks from me - soft, easy to apply and blend, and superb last. A++++.
A more recent and very beloved addition to my stash comes in the form of KIKO's Long-lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 Golden Brown. Equally affordable, this uber pigmented bronze eyeshadow is oh so Olsen, has amazing last (I'm talking impossible to smudge if you don't do so immediately after application), and has a beautifully creamy formula with zilch fall-out. I absolutely love how this looks when applied - appearing as if you've spent a lot of time blending a couple of colours, rather than just using something more akin to a jumbo Crayola. I can't speak for By Terry's versions but I seriously doubt it could better these, and when you could pick up four KIKO/No7 pencils for the price of one? I don't even think there's a decision to be made.
I'd love to know if you've tried out any eyeshdow pencils, and if there are any others that you'd recommend. To stay updated on future posts you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bloglovin - and there's still time to enter my latest giveaway!