39 Comments

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Justine Avatar

I generally only buy palettes as I find them more convenient than single shadows; so for me a palette has to swatch nicely, give me ideas for looks when I look at it, and have gorgeous packaging ;). This is probably why I’m addicted to the Dior quints.

Anitacska Avatar

I also adore Dior quints, they have such fantastic texture and colours, I own about 17 of them and love them, especially the iridescent ones. 🙂

Justine Avatar

I’m totally in love with the Iridescent Palettes, and as such, spend lots when new collections come out ^^; Although I have a growing love for the regular quints, some of them have really nice shine!

Kathy Avatar

I have to admit I am a total MAC addict, so I have a list as long as both my arms to collect as many MAC shadows as I can. For other shadows its usually about how they are packaged, and whether I can dupe the shadow closely with what I have. Palettes are one I buy because I find them cool. I am just such a makeup addict LOL.

Tali Avatar

A color i have a big need for and would use daily..
Or if a pan of shadow crumbles and i need to replace it!

Im not stingy but i find eyeshadows and me are not such friends. i use my nars galapogous and mac black tied and thats about it bar a few nude shades!!!!

DevilishDoll Avatar

I usually try to make sure they aren’t too similar to colors I already have. Usually if a really pretty color just comes out, I get that first, then when I run out of limited edition ones to get, I go to the permanent ones that are on my list, or older limited edition ones. The latest ones I’ve got were Freshwater, Shimmermoss and Wisteria trio and I really loved them.

Melia Avatar

I check out the colours and try to make sure I don’t have a very similar colour. I have bought more shimmering pinks than I can count while searching for the perfect light pink, so now I have become really cautious about buying similar colours. Then again, if I find a colour that really is perfect, I’ll buy it in a heartbeat!

samaya Avatar

1. I shouldn’t have the similar colour
2. Texture (no matter how good the color is, i avoid lustres)\
3. Pre-made quads. (i try to grab them from CCO..yeah, i have the patinece to wait). If the quad has all 4 shades new, n amazing…i pay full at the store
4. colors that compliment me more, i don’t mind buying those shades, even if its close.

Chica Avatar

Colour & pigmentation – I’m not a make up snob nor do I only shop at drugstores so regardless of the price if I like it based on those criteria it’s mine! :o)
I’ve generally found that with eyeshadow the higher end brands are the best – I usually fork out more on shadow and buy drugstore lip products and blushers (with the exception of MAC blushcremes- be still my heart!)

Saira Avatar

I’d say the colour and level of pigment – I really like to make sure the colour will look the same on as it does in the container. I hate when you get an eyeshadow and it doesn’t look the same or as bold on. I love the Mac shadows now, as I find that they tend to be the same colour and have the same level of boldness as in the container.

I also base it on a few other things – I might get something that goes with or complements other eyeshadows that I have or something completely different that catches my attention and allows me to create some new looks. Sometimes getting just one new colour can open up the colour combinations and options with my existing eyeshadows, allowing me to use my existing eyeshadows in other ways (which is always my reasoning for buying new eyeshadows ;o) ).

CeeBee Avatar

I agree! Nothing more annoying than finding a beautiful shade and then realizing the pigment level is not up to par. Hate that!

I also like eyeshadows that can be used wet and dry, that have good blendability and don’t creep or fade after a few hours. I prefer shimmer eyeshadows over matte too.

Liz Avatar

Eyeshadow for me is a total impulse buy, since I already have more than I can use up in a lifetime. What seems to happen is that I’ll be in Sephora or Nordstrom for something else and I’ll happen to look at it and I fall in love. Or I see something swatched here (hello, Smashbox MUSE!) or elsewhere on line. Occasionally it’s a hunt for something specific, but this is the usual process.

Anitacska Avatar

Ooh well I’m a sucker for pretty things, so I’ve bought quite a few eyeshadows/palettes because they were pretty, ie Guerlain’s new quad. 🙂 Or it’s simply colours that I really like. Of course some brands are way better than others, so if I see a nice colour from a brand I’m not so keen on (my current pet hate is Rimmel), then I might not buy it, esp if I see a similar one from a better brand.

Milan Avatar

Honestly at this point it has to be something I don’t have in my stash already. If I can easily dupe it with something I have, i’ll pass. I’m more into quads/palettes now because i’m finding myself getting lazier and lazier when it comes to coming up with my own color combinations. LOL

Lingping Avatar

I’m a real sucker for new collections; I believe I have got pretty much everything I need, but there is always some gorgeous brand new collection out there with something really pretty in it… Lanc

Sandy Avatar

I go through my excel spread sheet to make sure I don’t have anything similar to it (by that I mean colour and texture). Then I swatch them on my skin, if it all works I get it!

Jennifer Avatar

Good pigmentation and a nice texture; no glitter; pan size – it needs to be MAC/Urban Decay sized so I can depot & fit it into the MAC shadow palettes; and obviously a color I like/want, which varies widely depending on how I’m feeling. I will occasionally buy ones that don’t fit into the MAC palettes, but only if they’re exceptionally gorgeous.

Marjolijn Avatar

I only buy from brands that don’t test on animals, so that’s the first criterion 🙂
The colour has to complement my eye colour and skin tone, the pigmentation should be medium to good and the texture has to be soft.
I don’t buy really expensive eyeshadows, no matter how gorgeous the colour or how big the pan is. And I don’t like really small pans either, what if I’d love the colour and run out of it!
I’ve got loose, pressed and cream eye shadows but I prefer pressed ones as they are easier when I travel (trying to apply loose shadow on a bumpy train ride, a no-no) and they don’t smudge as easily as creamy eyeshadows.

Julie Avatar

I used to feel that way too, but after collecting a lot of paint pots, I get to use the lesser pigmented shadows as well, to obtain even more color combinations and looks.
I used to me very dissapointed in Aire-de-blu, it is almost invisible on Painterly.
But on top of Sea Me or Electro Sky it looks AMAZING due to the awesome glitter and the color base gives it a new dimension since it is so transparent.
Just thought I would let you know, since a lot of people dislike colors that are not heavily pigmented.
Have fun 🙂

KaylaK Avatar

Let’s see like everyone else I try to make sure it’s not a color I have already. I also like to see if the color has really good payoff and will go on smoothly. I really like Urban Decay and MAC eyeshadows, Clinique being hit or miss, although I am going to try the Coastal Scents palette to see how those turn out!

mhaellix Avatar

Ever since I’ve tried MAC, I’ve had a hard time using my other shadows (nyx, elf, avon). I just hate it when the colors fade away too fast coz’ I usually have long long days with work and church activities. So I guess I won’t be spending any money on eyeshadows unless:

1. It’s a brand I know that I like (ie MAC)
2. Price
3. It’s a color I really like (or something I’d use often)

Vivian Avatar

I’m usually uncertained. I used to buy some drugstore brands liek Covergirl or L’oreal. The color payoff is just not there.. I then bought a lot of high-end palettes containing shadows, but the colors aren’t as versatile as I liek them to be. (I felt stupid for spending that much money investing in these things) Then, I bought a Dior quint. However, it’s expensive, I paid close to 60 dollars for one ONLY to find out I can buy on ebay for almost half the price…

now, I bought a bunch of NYX eyeshadows, and I’m impressed. i could try a bunch for less. (My least fav was the matte ones-I’m not feeling them.) Milani eyeshadows are great as well, just not as many colors. I’m not looking for long wear because I have oily eyelids, even dior shadows crease on me within a short time.

My new addiction: Mineral eye shadow-NOT the DS ones, there are many onlien companies sell true mineral loose eye shadows for reasonable prices. (no fillers, chemicals, fragrances etc)

recessionista Avatar

Please please please reply to this comment. Can u please show photos of your e/s like u did for your lip products.

i love the matte eye look u did and feel like i may have dupes, but i need to see the ones u used to be sure. thanks

Laura Avatar

It has to have really good color pay off, great texture and staying power. It also helps it if is a color I don’t have, but that’s not always the case!

maxiene Avatar

Price plays a large part but so does reviews. I live off of reviews and popularity. If celebs are wearing it, it’s something I want to wear and pass along to my girls to wear. It’s all about word-of-mouth.

Catherine Avatar

i only buy single eyeshadows because i find myself with tons of pearly white or beige… they must be easy to blend, pigmented, the packaging is important(i dont like them when they are flashy or too big), the price is important too and the staying power… my favorites so far are MAC, Lancome, Clarins and HIP from l’or

DaniMae Avatar

I’ve matured make up wise. I don’t buy a shadow just because it looks pretty in the pan. I have to think about whether I’ll really use it; like if it goes with other shadows that I have or what the swatch looks like against my skin tone.

Julie Avatar

The more shadows I have, the harder it is to convince yourself you need another one, just because it is slightly different.
But somehow, I manage to do so every single time LOL.
Last year I bought both Aquadisiac and Shimmermoss at the same time, even when they appear very very similar. I was in a phase where I was hooked on greenish aqua colors, and needed to satisfy my cravings…
Sometimes I will pick up a color for curiosity only, like Motif, just to see if I can make it work for me, gives me a bit of a challenge.

carriespooner Avatar

I mostly buy Mac because of the pigment. I’ve found a few other HE brands that have great pigment so I stick to that.

I don’t buy DS brands at all anymore.

I’ve been known to buy Dior Quints for the amazing colors and textures.

I do my reasearch online and shop after that.

I try to only buy colors that complement my coloring. 🙂

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