Making your own eyeshadow palette makes sense for a lot of reasons. First of all, it’s very practical because it frees up space in your cosmetics drawers. Even if you end up using this newly empty space to justify future makeup purchases, you still have to admit it’s handy. If a lot of your eyeshadows are from MAC, this is also a good idea from an economic standpoint because once you take the eyeshadow pans out of the pots, you can return the empty pots to MAC and get a free lipstick as part of their recycling program.

photo credit: Melissa Gray

Perhaps the best reason to make an eyeshadow palette is because this enables you to group colors that go together well all in one place so you can apply them more easily. It can actually take a fair amount of time to shuffle through your makeup drawers and dig out different colors to see if they look good together every day. When you make a palette, you do all the matching work beforehand and then you have everything laid out together for the future. This also helps you use up those colors that you always seem to forget about. Depending on the size of your collection, you could make a few palettes of different color families such as a warm, cool or neutral eyeshadow palette, a summer vs. winter eyeshadow palette, as well a few others like a neon, bright, shimmer, cream or matte eyeshadow palette.

This task will be easiest if most of your shadows are the same size. Many cosmetics brands sell empty palettes that their shadows can fit into. If your shadows are various sizes or from different manufacturers, or if you want to include blushes or other products, you can always make a homemade palette. This is also a great way to save some money. All you need is an empty CD case and some magnetic sheets, which you can pick up from craft or office stores for a few dollars. Take out the plastic piece that holds the CD (this is usually black) and trace it onto the magnetic sheet. Then cut out the piece of magnet and glue it into the CD case. Some eyeshadow pans will stick to the magnet on their own. If not, you will need to cut out some magnetic strips and stick them to the bottom of the shadow pans.

If the shadow comes in some type of compact or other packaging, it will be necessary to remove the shadow from the pot first. This can usually be accomplished by carefully melting the glue underneath the pan. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to de-pot eyeshadows by MAC and other brands. Alternatively, you can often buy shadows in simple pan format. Pan eye shadows are available from MAC on their main maccosmetics.com website as well as their macpro.com website.

It’s always a good idea to label your shadows when you make a palette. It might not seem important now but once you hit the pan and need to replace a shade, you may not be able to remember the name of the color. When you make your palette, create a color guide on a sheet of paper. Make swatches of each color in the same order that they appear in your eye palette and write the name of the shade underneath. Use a piece of paper the same size as a CD booklet and simply insert it into the cover of the CD case. Then close the CD case and there you have it: your very own homemade custom color eyeshadow palette!

High Beam comes in a small bottle with a brush attached to the lid, similar to the packaging of nail polish. However, it is easier to apply it with your fingertips as that gives you more control over where you apply it and makes blending easier. For the most natural look, dab the brush onto your fingertips and then dot the product onto your cheeks, brow bone, and the bridge of your nose and then blend it in an outward circular motion using your fingertips. It is fairly long lasting which means you won’t need to touch it up during the day. However, it is easy enough to tuck the bottle into your purse just in case.

In the bottle, the liquid looks a bit on the pink side but when applied, it makes your whole face look brighter without any trace of pink. The color works even on the palest of skin tones. The popularity of High Beam has also led to the creation of a warmer-toned version, Moon Beam, which looks particularly nice with a deep tan.

Benefit’s High Beam is a great way to get radiant skin without looking shimmery or oily. It is subtle enough to wear during the day, but it’s easy to get a dramatic look by applying it with a heavy hand for a night out. Like other Benefit Cosmetics products, it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin or clog pores. Overall, this is a well-rounded highlighter that really delivers on its promises. Just a small amount of product can totally transform your face from dull and tired to bright, awake, and glowing.

photo credit: Debs (ò?ó)?

BeneFit velvet eyeshadow is another winning formulation. Powder eyeshadows are hard to get right, but this one does not disappoint. These pressed powder eye shadows are finely milled and velvety as the name implies. The application is very smooth and the colors are easy to blend. They also look fantastic layered on top of the Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow. The color selection is not very large but many of the colors are universally flattering. Leggy is a pink champagne color with a very slight shimmer that is understated enough for work but also great for evening looks. Another winning color is Skinny Jeans. This one is very metallic so it’s better for going out. It’s the perfect pewter shade with a hint of green and would also pair well with smoky looks.

BeneFit has a great line of eyeshadows. The price is a little higher than many other department store shadows, but the quality makes it worth it.

Benefit Full Finish Lipstick is one of those products that will save you money in the long run. This lipstick is formulated to give even and solid coverage, eliminating the need for using a separate lip liner and gloss. The finish is creamy with a slight sheen so it looks polished without being overdone. The shade Lady’s Choice is without a doubt one of the very best lipstick colors you can buy anywhere, and I don’t make statements like that very lightly! Lady’s Choice is a soft, neutral pink color with just a touch of brown that is similar to the natural lip color most of wish we were born with. It’s just enough color to make it look like you made an effort, but not so much color that everyone is going to instantly notice you are wearing lipstick. The wear could be better on these but they are very easy to reapply. In fact, you don’t even need a mirror.

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BeneFit Silky Finish Lipstick is a lighter formulation than the Full Finish. It is sheer but buildable. One coat is perfect on those days when you don’t really want to look like you are wearing makeup. A few coats of the same color over a lip pencil and finished with gloss gives a more complete look. The great thing about this product is that you control the coverage. There are plenty of flattering shades in both cream and pearl finishes. They are also very moisturizing.

If you’re just getting started with Benefit Cosmetics Lipstick, a couple of popular shades include Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Good to Go and Ms. Behavin.

BeneFit really got it right with both of their lipstick formulations. As an added bonus, the packaging is adorable. Each Benefit lipstick comes in a box with vintage doll art and a little message inside that reminds me of something you might find inside a fortune cookie. The tubes are attractive in black with little white loops on the bottom. Props to BeneFit for doing such a great job on a classic product.

If you’re a Cosmopolitan Magazine fan, you’ll be glad to know it was praised there and received the “Fabulous Face Kit” Beauty Award. It was also voted the “Favorite Timesaver” by Child Magazine. If you have a stressful week and you happen to break out, this concealer kit can be a life saver if you have any events that week. If you’ve been curious about a Benefit concealer or other correction product, this is a great way to try it out, along with a few other Benefit fan favorites. This is also a great item to keep handy in a wedding day makeup kit. The kit retails for just $32 and comes in a darling little box.

You can purchase it here! :)

photo credit: ookikioo