What is so cool about pigments?

[abbyquack]

So I know there are a lot of you on here that are total Pigment-whores, and I truly would like to know what you all like so much about pigments. How do they differ from using eyeshadows besides the fact that they are loose and eyeshadows are in a pan? I only have 2, Jardin Aires and Pink Pearl (from Heatherette) and I'm sure I'd like more, but I don't know really how to use them or what makes them so special. TIA!

[Shaquille]

lol. I am one of the pigment-whores. Honestly, I am also a packaging-whore. Thus I do not like the idea of eyeshadows in a palette. I like collecting pigment samples in a clear 5 gr jars.

I like the fact that they are loose. 7.5 gram is A LOT, thus I'm happy if I buy a jar, I can sell them on measurements to people, as well as swapping them to get other colors. 1 eyeshadow can get me 4 different pigment colors (of course, I do it my way).

And I find that MAC pigment colors and textures are interesting.. lol, I hope I answer your questions alright

[badkittekitte]

i think as far as mac goes on pigments..they are completely versatile. you can use the pigment as an eyeshadow, or mix in with foundation or mix with mixing medium and apply to body like a body paint. i know that the pro pigments are a different texture then the regular line. i own a handful of pigments and i like them but i love my pressed shadows.

[Brittni]

* Use them in lipgloss
* Use them in nailpolish
* Use them as blush
* Use them as eyeshadow
* Use them as eyeliner (wet)

etc... endless possibilities!

[LMD84]

yeah i have like 10 full sized pigments and a few samples and i love them because you can do so much with them as Brittni said above. I love using pink opal on my cheeks, pink pearl makes a great lip gloss and i also have the eyeliner mixing medium so i make them all into eyeliners and stuff like that. Plus value for money wise i think they're great!! i'll never have to buy repleacement jars as they last forever!

[MACATTAK]

I also love the versatility, lots of gorgeous colors. Since you can use them wet, most have better payoff then most shadows. A little goes a long way

[kimmy]

i don't have alot of full sized pigments, but i have a ton of samples. one little sample will probably last me forever since the colour payoff is pretty good in pigments. i like them alot, too, because you can use them pretty much anywhere...on your lips (most of 'em,) on your hair, on your cheeks, on your eyes, on your body, on your nails...everywhere!

[Heiaken]

I only have four full sized pigment jars and I would so much like to have more but it's a bit hard for me.. Allthough they sell MAC on here (only one counter in our capital and that's it) for some reason they don't sell the pigments unless they are a part of a collection so I have to relay on samples, right now I have 16 samples jars.
So what's so great about them? For me it's mostly the wonderfull colour and the awesome colour pay off. I also find it easier to work wiht loose pigment eyeshadows that solids, it's so much easier to get a bright and vivid colour wiht them that it is with pressed shadows IMO.
The versatility of them is another thing why I love them, I really like using the darker pigments as eyeliner, as wet of course and I like mixing them with lipgloss to make my own custom colours and one pig factor is that they last so long.

[abbyquack]

I'm not going to lie, I love Pink Pearl b/c you definitely can't get that same color from any of their e/s. I just wish all the pigments were as versatile.

[M.A.C. head.]

I only have like 8 pigments (mac ones anyway) but I really like them.

As someone mentioned; they can be used for shadow, brows, blush, liner, blush, nail polish, paints, and they can also be mixed to make custom colors.

[panda0410]

colour payoff a trillion times better, with the exception of a small few like Off The Radar.... blah, that one was yuk! But I like the versatility of them, I use a lot of them as blushes - the new neons make the BEST blushes ever, but I use a lot for lip colour as well. I have too many pigments to count, but there are very few I dont like and I'll never go back to pan shadows ever as the product of choice. The colour isnt as good - some of them are chalky and they just dont apply as nicely. Sure the pigments needs a little extra practice, but its all worth it

[ductapemyheartt]

i hardly ever use pigments as shadow...i put them over lipstick...lol. pigments are awesome, but i think shadows are easier to use, especially when in a hurry.

[KikiB]

I love the flexibility...I love loose shadows because they're much, MUCH easier to blend. I also love the versatility and blending multiple colours to make new ones. I don't know how I ever lived without them.

[BunnyBunnyBunny]

I have a lot of Pigments, both full-size and samples. What I like is that jars and samples both last FOREVER. What I like about buying them at the counter/store is that while a pressed shadow is $14.50, a Pigment is $19.50. A Pigment jar will last you YEARS and YEARS while a shadow may last only a few depending on how regularly it is used. It's comforting knowing your favorite color will be with you a long time.

For eyes, I apply it with the 242. I either scoop some out first or use the brush. I have the powder on a tissue or something similar and dunk the 242 into it. I then press it into my hand just to make sure the powder is sticking to the brush. I then pat the color onto the lids (already primed with a Paint Pot). That helps the eyeshadow apply more smoothly as well as lessen fall out. I compared this technique to dunking into the jar and applying straight the the lids using the patting motion. Dunk-and-apply causes ALOT of fallout, while the tissue-to-hand-to-lid creates the same look without getting too messy.

[retail_therapy]

I just started using pigments, so I have mainly the neutral ones, like Your Ladyship, Lark About, Jardin Aires, and Glided Green (weird!), and sample of Mutiny. The mac stores in my country are lame, they always say they don't have sample containers whenever I ask for samples to try out!!! And I always buy a BUNCH of MAC products whenever I ask, but they still give me the same answer! What a boo!

[abbyquack]

With my pink pearl and jardin aires pigments, I tried something - I pressed and packed them down in to the container until it becomes basically like a big mass of pressed eyeshadow. Now when I use them, I just swipe in there with a brush and it's not all messy and falling everywhere. I like this, but does anyone have any objections as to why this is not a good practice?

[BunnyBunnyBunny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbyquack

With my pink pearl and jardin aires pigments, I tried something - I pressed and packed them down in to the container until it becomes basically like a big mass of pressed eyeshadow. Now when I use them, I just swipe in there with a brush and it's not all messy and falling everywhere. I like this, but does anyone have any objections as to why this is not a good practice?

Some people may have an issue with this because by continually dipping into the container itself you are "contaminating" the rest of the product. This may result in the product expiring earlier. I prefer to scoop or pour out the product so that in the future I may be able to swap it off and have the majority of the powder untouched. Does that make sense?

[abbyquack]

it does, thanks. but how does that differ from eyeshadows? basically are e/s considered to have a shorter shelf life than pigments? TIA!