Hot Trends from The Makeup Show: Shimmer

When it comes to makeup, “shimmer” is a scary word.  Okay, there was a time in my life when I would have raved about shimmer eye shadow and called it indispensable.  But I would have said the same thing about Blow Pops.  Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m cultivating a more sophisticated style, and shimmer just doesn’t seem to fit in.

So you can imagine the concern I felt at The LA Makeup Show last weekend when I realized that everyone is showing shimmer.  Maybe it’s just because we’re heading into Spring, but there’s no denying that it’s a huge, huge look right now.  So I set about to discover whether it’s possible to wear this trend in an understated, refined way.  Here’s what I found:

• The biggest problem with shimmer is that it can look heavy and has a tendency to settle and clump.  Use a primer (like Smashbox Anti-Shine) to keep the shadow from traveling around your eyelid and creating an overwhelming, ready-for-Mardi Gras effect.
• Apply a little at a time and blend carefully to avoid a glittery finish.
• When in doubt, choose shades that are close to your own skin tone- there’s a lot of pretty pink, brown, gold, and beige available.
• Give your everyday look some added oomph by wearing a touch of shimmer with your matte shadows.

Despite my shimmer aversion, one product really wowed me.  Inglot AMC Pure Pigments are loose eye shadows with impressively gorgeous blending power.  The soft, natural finish completely won me over, and with a huge range of color options, I was able to find several shades I loved.  But here’s the bad news: Building on their huge success in Europe, Inglot is just beginning to put down roots on this side of the Atlantic.  Currently, their only US outpost is in Times Square, so many of us will have to wait to really get into this awesome product.  If you’re in Manhattan, though, do yourself a favor and swing by Inglot!

For a more accessible shimmer option, I recommend checking out Mineral Essence.  ME manufactures with a unique, triple-milled process that gives their shadows a soft, pretty finish.  And they have some famous fans!  Michelle Obama even wore ME Merlot at the Inaugural Ball.  So I suppose that if shimmer works at formal affairs of state, I can find a little room for it in my makeup routine as well.

What about you?  Do you love a dash of shimmer or are you shimmer-phobic like me?

Lucie Amberg is the Director of ZinaBeverlyHills.com and a contributor to Powder Room Graffiti.