Ben Nye

I used this today and I realized I must review it. I got it because of MaquillageObscura.blogspot.com, where she recommended it for medium skintones. (Check out her post on Fab Four Ben Nye eyeshadows to see what I mean). It is a beautiful shade, it can serve as a liner, or lid, or contour (lid) for a darker look (eg eggplant on lid, this for crease blended out). It blends very well (but not blending away the colour). This does need a good brush (like most actual pro shadows)--it is just so pigmented that any poor quality brush or application can leave smudgy unevenness. However, unlike bad quality but pigmented stuff (Viseart original matte palette) it doesn't become muddy/lose actual colour from blending. With less pigmented stuff you don't have to worry about blending as much (e.g, Chanel can go on with sponge tips, being so ultra-sheer). Yet you do need to build the less pigmented shadows up a billion times, so often the 'effect' is lost for all the building up. This is more efficient, it can make makeup application faster and smoother. It did take me some time to learn how to work with these shades, as I was used to easier things like MAC (which never gave me the exact depth and effect I wanted) and Dior. Once I learned, I realized these shadows lay on more smoothly since you're not bothering about building up many times over, so they last better. If you know the little tricks to work with very pigmented shades, this will work for you. Here are some examples of 'tricks' : neutral shadow or translucent powder for a base lid shade prior to colours added. Dabbing and blending in circular motions. This is better quality than Viseart, in my opinion.

Great stuff. I've been buying this since the 90's, and keep coming back to it again and again. I have oily skin, and find that this powder, when used in conjunction with a primer helps control oil and shine. I do get a tiny bit glowy around the t-zone throughout the day, but can make it through the day without touch-ups if I need to and my makeup is still set and looks good. The color of the powder is also a big bonus, it's light and very much on the yellow side, and suits my skintone as if the shade was custom blended just for me. My skin is very light, but very yellow/olive in tone, and finding finishing powders that don't oxidize orange or pink on me, and that are also pale enough, has always been a challenge. I'll continue to use this as long as I can get my hands on it- it's a tried and true staple.

I already bought this again yesterday... To have as backup. Mine is in the shade brown-black. I think I bought it last year, still nowhere close to hitting pan. Fantastic cake liner OVER eye primer and some sort of powder shadow. Cake liner without any eye primer is you asking for trouble.. Lovely product, and I doubt anything can beat it in the cake liner category. Suva Beauty Hydroliners are supposed to be the best cake liners esp if you want fun colours, but I just wanted a simple brownish black. I might splurge on Suva Sea Nymph and the deep but bright blue, someday, but for now Ben Nye Brown black is all I need.