My tips… Use something (like an eyeshadow palette) that you haven’t used in awhile and try to stay within the palette as much as possible. Pick three to four random products and challenge yourself to create a look using that color scheme and products. Browse places like Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, etc. for look inspiration and choose something that isn’t in your comfort zone to try.
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Never was one for the same old, same old. But I do tend to set challenges, like widen your comfort zone Wednesday. Bec it’s my weekend. Was all set to do an Orgasm, pinky/corally thing with brown, and then never got around to any m/u. Also have brand weeks, like a week for UD, a week for Mufe, Nars, etc using different products for each day. Occasionally, wanting to see how close dupes are irl, i’ll use 2-3 dupes in an eye look, or put different lipstick on top and bottom. Abh resin and dusty mauve are >95% on me, and not a soul knew I had on different lipsticks, even when I pointed it out. I actually occasionally get m/u ennui, but seldom in a rut
Pinterest and my make is in constant rotation
I like my rut! BUT – my’rut’ changes every week because of product rotation (I pick a look for the week on Sundays), and I have 3 looks that I rotate through.
I usually shop my stash, or try to find dupes in my collection of a look that an influencer has recently done.
I like to see if I can alternate between a full face of drug-store, and a full face of mid-range or high-end. I find that a trip through the drug store aisle can lead to new inspiration. I like to go back to any pieces of whole collections that I’ve gotten, and make a full look out of those items as well.
I use a palette I haven’t used in a long time. I’ll look up new ideas and products, online. I visit one of my favorite makeup sales associates (one works at Saks, the other at Macy’s), which winds up being the most expensive way to get out of a makeup rut.
Color preferences don’t necessarily equate to a rut. Application technique and choice of formula are also important. I usually change my application technique more often than anything else.
I do not have the features to really showcase makeup and while I enjoy variety, there is only so far I want to go before I border on clownish. I look best with simple. I can’t change that and am content with my lot.. I haunt old favourites and keep rotating my eyeshadow palettes because I can’t be bothered to keep track of looks I try . No chance of getting bored anytime soon with my stash as is.
When I get like that, I watch YT tutorials! Or I’ll peruse the looks you and others have posted here or on IG that I’ve saved for future inspiration, and then hit my collection up for the same or similar enough looking products and get myself to work on it. So, I’d say that if you’ve seen a look that you love, save it to your phone or other device to use for future doldrums breaking!
I depotted most of my makeup and have a small makeup geek palette that I put a few “featured colors” into, which I rotate 🙂
Peruse Pinterest and then play.
I agree with you Christine – you know there are lots of shades living in our big palettes that never get used, so I think it’s a good idea to give some of them a go – after all, you can remove it if it looks really unworkable.
Secondly, choose some shades for your wardrobe in colours that you haven’t tried before and that can get you started on a whole new line – I’ve been interested lately in the plum shade and have recently purchased some tops with that colour in it – now I am looking a some plum eyeshadows to compliment it.
Most of my inspiration comes from Instagram. I really enjoy scrolling through people’s looks and then either trying to recreate or play off of their inspiration. I also find the “favorite look of the week” here on Temptalia to be very good for inspiration. I post my favorite looks on my IG for future inspo.
I nerded out one Saturday and put all my eyeshadow shades into excel individually (independent of whatever palate they may be in). Then I created a chart with a formula to have excel pick two random shades per day. My challenge is to use those 2 shades (plus whatever ones I add in) to create a look! I plan out my look the night before. It’s been fun and I’ve used shades I never thought I’d be able to use
I have so many eyeshadow palettes (and large ones) that tend to get left behind by my every day ruts but all I need to do is take out a palette that’s been ignored for a while and tell myself that I’m going to use that for the next 3 to 5 days and that alone will do the trick though, to tell you the truth, I don’t mind being in a makeup rut. I don’t work in the beauty business or have a makeup blog or youtube channel so I’ve really no need at all to keep coming up with different or “challenging” looks. For me and my lifestyle, makeup is more about looking good and well groomed and somewhat sophisticated than it is about looking “different” or attention getting.