They're pigmenty versatile! (MAC Pigments)

Member Name: bamamo

Product:	MAC Pigments
Date:	16/12/08 (236 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great colour, last FOREVER, nice range to choose from, versatile

Disadvantages: Initial expense

When writing my top 10 beauty products recently, I was struggling towards the end and chose MAC pigments because they are such a versatile and high-quality product.

Before I tried them out, I was under the impression that pigments were really just a way for the big dogs at MAC to make a quick buck, because they are pretty expensive. Now I understand a little better, I really think they're quite reasonable.

In short, pigments are simply a loose powder which is rich in colour and can be used as more than just an eyeshadow. A little (and I mean VERY little) goes a long way, and expensive as they may seem, pick the right shade and you will get a lot of use out of it.

Okay, so what is the right shade? Well, if like me you don't fancy shelling out £14.68 for a full-size jar, you can always grab some samples (usually from the US) for around $3 each for 1/4 teaspoon. As you need such a tiny amount, this is a good way to start out with pigments, although there are some fakes around so look out for stores with feedback. I'm not entirely sure whether I fully agree with the idea of someone buying a product to spin a profit...but really it would be very hard to use an entire pigment yourself, so if it introduces someone to the great product..I guess it's okay? I don't know...anyway I'm not here to talk about morals, it's all about the pigments!

A lot of these samples come in deals where you get to pick 10 shades or what have you, so I recommend starting with some staple colours and then picking whatever fun ones you like. Over at the official MAC website, there are usually around 15 shades on offer, limited edition ones come and go and there are more yet on MAC Pro, which is for registered users (usually makeup artists). When you buy samples, you can often choose from all of these, giving you a really wide range to choose from. Of course you can also find the rarer ones on eBay, but bidding wars could get pretty agressive!

Some must-haves for me would be vanilla, melon, rose and chocolate brown. Be aware that not all pigments are suitable for wearing on the eyes, but this is clearly labelled. MAC also offer pigments specifically for the lips. Vanilla makes a great base and highlight for the brow bone or cheekbones. Rose can be mixed with lip products for a nice colour or used on cheeks. Melon is also a good all-round colour and I love chocolate brown for a liner or crease colour to darken up an eye look.

Of course you can also get some really bright and fun colours - I love teal and golden lemon particularly.

Okay, so you bought your pigment, now what? Well, here's just some of the ways you can use it:

Eyes - Using a base such as Urban Decay Primer Potion or whatever you prefer, just a few "grains" of pigment give a rich colour on the lid. If you prefer, mix with water or a mixing medium (I use old saline eye drops) to form a sort of paint if you like, and achieve a really vivid "wow" affect not for the faint-hearted! I also like using a liner brush with one of the more vibrant colours to make a change from dull-coloured eye liner.

Lips - Either mix the desired amount of pigment with the gloss or balm of your choice, or add gloss to your lips, dab on a bit of pigment and layer gloss over the top. Now that winter is upon us and my lips are pretty sore, I've been using melon pigment mixed with a Body Shop Born Lippy balm (mango). The colours are really similar so it was tricky to mix in a good amount (a clear balm would be much better), but the affect is a nice subtle shimmer which still moisturises my lips.

Nails - You can either mix pigment in with a clear polish or dab/sprinkle on top before it has dried, and then add a clear top coat. If you choose to mix pigment with a polish, you will need to have a ball-bearing in the bottle (often seen in glittery polishes) otherwise it won't mix properly. You can pick up ball-bearings at craft or hobby shops.

Cheeks - Dab a little onto your cheek in a line (think war paint) and blend with a brush. This also applies to highlight colours - vanilla makes a nice alternative to Benefit's High Beam and at the same price you get a hell of a lot more use for it.

Body shimmer - Add a dab of moisturiser to the back of your hand and mix in a little of your desired colour. Mix for a shimmer wherever you desire it!

As you can see, your imagination is pretty much the limit. A full-size pigment is 7.5g (just over a quarter of an ounce) and this will really, honestly, last you forever. You can also sometimes find smaller "charm" pigments although these are a lot rarer. So, choose your colour wisely and money well spent.

If you really can't shell out £15 for one eyeshadow, and in this economy who really can, Barry M's dazzle dusts are a similar product in a vast range of colours for a much more wallet-friendly £4.50!

Pigments can be bought from www.maccosmetics.co.uk, eBay or at a MAC counter.

Summary: A multi-use makeup product you'll wonder what you did without.