So, What is The Difference?

Pressed Powders Aren’t All The Same

Lately, the makeup world has been filled with controversy about eyeshadow palettes that have been released containing a mixture of eyeshadows and pressed pigments. You probably didn’t realize that there is a difference between the colourful powders.

If you you were unaware of the difference, then you’ve come to the right place! So, what is the difference between the two? Eyeshadows contain a mixture of pigments, micas, binders and preservatives to create a creamy smooth formula that is seamless and blends with little effort.

Pressed pigments are just as they sound, they are simply pigments pressed into a pan. Pressed pigments usually do not include a lot of “filler” ingredients to bulk up the formula. 

Therefore pressed pigments  tend to be extremely vibrant, rather than providing a “wash” of colour, they provide full pigmentation. They usually require an eyeshadow base or concealer for the pigment to “stick” to the skin.

Pick Your Eyeshadow Brush Wisely

Brush Density Matters

Different techniques are also used to apply the two colourful powders. Your classic eyeshadow palette usually requires an arrest of makeup brushes that range from moderate to light volume, a lighter density and fluffier bristles compared to a brush used to apply pressed pigments.  Rather than using a fluffy blending brush, use a small dense packing brush. The short, densely packed hairs of this style of brush performs best when applying pressed pigment.

Application of pressed pigment also differs. Instead of using a sweeping or circular motion to deposit colour on to your eyelids, a tapping-packing method works best when working with pressed pigments.

Once you have achieved your desired look, you can then use a fluffy blending brush to diffuse the pressed pigment. When applying eyeshadow, blending is key, because harsh demarcation lines on eyelids are a big NO NO!

There is a slight learning curve when using pressed pigments, as opposed to classic eyeshadows. However with a bit of practice and the proper eyeshadow brushes, it will be a breeze to master! Take a gander at our “Do You Even Blend?” 12 piece eyeshadow set and start applying your eyeshadow like a pro!

Cosmetic Labeling

Insects In Your Makeup?

Eyeshadow palettes that contain pressed pigments will always state it on the packaging and if the brand is labelled as cruelty-free and vegan, will also provide a warning stating that they can stain your eyelids. Why would they stain your eyelids? Cosmetics that are red, pink, or purple at times may contain an ingredient called carmine. Carmine is a specific species of called cochineal beetle, harvested from Central to South America. Cochineal beetles are harvested from cactus plants, dried, and crushed to release the carminic acid (carmine) present in their body. Carmine is then further processed into a fine powder or liquid form for use as a colourant in cosmetics, medical supplements and the food industry.

To plainly put it, there may be crushed up beetle blood in your makeup. Even though that sounds like a health and safety violation, it is perfectly safe to be used in cosmetics and has been historically used by upper crust of society. It represented a level of wealth a person had, since the dye was and is still very expensive.

For hundreds of years carmine has been used as a natural dye and colourant. Carmine is able to create a magnificent spectrum of colours such as reds, fuchsias, pinks, oranges, purples, even magentas. What’s even more impressive is that the different shade range can be achieved by adjusting the pH level, which in return can create much deeper scarlet or purple hues!

However, since carmine is extracted  from the cochineal beetle it is not vegan more cruelty free. Many brands that are cruelty-free prefer to use synthetic dyes to create the red colour that carmine would have provided. Synthetic dyes when used in high concentrations in some pressed pigment formulas can sometimes stain your. So be cautious of this.

So now that you’re an expert, have you used both eyeshadows and pressed pigments? Which do you prefer?