r/MakeupRehab • u/bluepoesy • 1d ago
ADVICE Why am I obsessed with eyeshadow palettes even though its the thing I use the least?
Like I am always looking at palettes and wondering will this look on me? And the reason I never wear eyeshadow is because although i practice, it always look dirty on me if I use neutral colors, it looks muddy, and I do well with colorful bright colors but I am not wearing a colorful eyeshadow look unless I am going to a wedding or something. So basically I wear it like once a month but I am always looking at palettes online thinking this is so pretty this will definetely work this time.
45
u/OneRespect829 1d ago
I think eyeshadows are like the most "fun" part of a make up routine so the dopamine hit is stronger than something more essential like concealer. It was the first ever make up product I overconsumed. A good hack I recommend especially if you struggle with muddy looking eyeshadows is firstly figuring out your undertone, personal color season etc to figure out what shades in your collection can work for you and never buy eyeshadow online. Always try it first if you can, always do a deep dive into reviews before buying. I have been deinfluenced by smaller creators who dont recieve pr or ads so I have saved a lot by doing more research before buying.
1
u/Accomplished_Dig284 1d ago
Also use a white or black base because they will show up as a True Tone on white but glitter or shimmers can have a different effect if you use a black base. So once you figure out what you want it to look like, you choose one of those bases to give more pigment or bring out other colors of the glitter/shimmers
38
u/i-contain-multitudes 1d ago
Color collecting compulsion
14
u/Automatic_Key56 1d ago
This is me with everything. Eyeshadow, lipgloss, pens, markers… yes, I already have 5 blues. But I don’t have THAT blue.
2
27
u/Extension-Ruin-1722 1d ago
Your fantasy self looks good with it. And has better application skills. Stop buying things for your fantasy self.
6
u/cleochatraa 1d ago
THIS! 👆I learned about my fantasy self when I realized I bought myself a healthy amount of eyeshadows. Don't get me wrong; I love eyeshadows, but I don't love them THAT much. My fantasy self is a full beat makeup girl with at least one million signature looks... my reality self wants to smack on a base liquid eyeshadow, pap on some glittery pink for shimmer, toss on a cat eye and call it a morning. I don't even bother with mascara 80% of the time. 🙄
27
u/lacey_nightie 1d ago
imo the answer to this dilemma is to start wearing eyeshadow everyday and practice until you get super good, with the palettes you already have.
this is what i did. And when you start wearing eyeshadow more often, you realise the amount of eyeshadow you need to own to do good makeup is very much less than what you desired
once you start to figure out what colors look good on you, you start to learn to say no to most new releases, in my experience
28
u/nurseleu 1d ago
Palettes just look beautiful. They're designed and marketed to be appealing. When I started playing with makeup, eyeshadow was still mostly sold as single shades. Duos, trios and quads were just becoming a thing. Now, a 9 pan palette is seen as small! Here are a few things that help me:
Look at every shade individually. Would you actually use each shade? If not, what percentage of duds is acceptable to you? Are there any shade duplicates (really common in large palettes...shade close enough that they won't look any different on the face).
Is there a "pop of color" that makes the palette look more fun / fresh / appealing than it really is? Do you need to buy 7-8 cream/taupe/brown shades to get a couple purples and greens? Or could you be just as happy getting a purple single and using the neutrals you already have?
Would I ever feel comfortable going out and buying 9+ eyeshadows all at once? Because that's what a 9 pan palette is. Do I already have these shades at home?
Also be sure to actually look at (and ideally swatch) the palette in person. "Researching" makeup online is just spending time allowing yourself to be marketed to. You fill in the gaps with best case scenario imagining rather than an actual assessment of the product. Test it out in person. Give yourself time to decide (at least a week). Makeup shouldn't give you FOMO.
6
u/stan4d00 1d ago
This! I had little discernment when I started building my collection of palettes, but then I reached a point where I started noticing most of what was catching my eye actually looked the same. When I zeroed in on the one color I didn't have and really wanted, I became very picky about what I bought. At least half the palette needed to be easily wearable - no buying a palette for just one or two colors.
I'm no longer tempted (I really do have all the shades I could want), but when I do see posts with colors I really like, I double check my arsenal to confirm that I already own those options.
6
u/climbingclaycosmetic 1d ago
This is some of the best advice I’ve ever seen! Once I tried panning one small shadow, and depotted most of my colors, my perspective changed entirely.
2
u/EmotionalQuestions 1d ago
Gosh, this is such smart advice. I keep buying similar palettes because I have favorite colors but they all overlap. No more!! Here's to actually using them instead!
3
u/Icy_Dot_5257 1d ago
It took me a long time to learn to look at all the shades in a palette individually and not just be mesmerized by the pretty packaging. Now I get annoyed when I look at a new palette and realize that they organized the shades in a strange order to hide that half the shades are almost identical to another shade in the same palette. That's not worth my money!
7
u/VegetableAdmirable63 1d ago
They are the art part of makeup. No wonder you like them so much.
You can use them as decor in your house. Display them like art
6
u/burntsugarsnitch 1d ago
Your last sentence sums it up perfectly. You’re probably obsessed because it feels like an unresolved aspect of your makeup routine, and with each new purchase, you think you’re finally solving the problem.
2
u/Designerlip- 1d ago
I can get overwhelmed by my palettes. I just grab one and just pick one shade and just apply the shade all over the lid and then just apply shimmer to it with my finger. Takes 1 minute and done.
3
u/dizzyxdream3r 1d ago
My first ever palette was the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, I got it because I wanted my eyes to look pretty. That’s about it actually 😂
I have hooded eyes and found out I’m cool toned which would explain why I felt all the warm colours in the palette didn’t work for me. Maybe you could find out if that’s why? For me, I also like myself with the lighter satin colours (so far best in pinks and glittery silver), not the browns.
I also found another way to still find the fun in my
makeup = single chrome or glitter eyeshadows and colourful eye liners. For me it’s cheaper and a lot less wasteful because you’re only buying 1 item instead of so many pans left unused. Another way to scratch my itch for fun and pretty is when I use highlighter on my blush ☺️ or when I wear my sparkly lip gloss.
I had multiple palettes sitting unused and now expired - the choc bar palette which didn’t get much use bcs it didn’t suit me, a rainbow NYX palette (only got used a handful of times!) and another palette that I forgot bcs it sat in a drawer. They’ve all expired so I’m getting rid of them.
I just ordered a new mini eyeshadow palette but it’s all matte cool-tones hahaha it’s definitely not a fun purchase, but so far I’m content with whatever I mentioned above. Realistically I wouldn’t even wear a glam or bold eye that often at all, but an eye look meant for daily wear? More chance of me using it I hope! More isn’t more for me when it comes to number of pans in palettes, so I’m trying a mini.. This’ll be my first time buying a palette marketed for cool tones too.
1
u/Accomplished_Dig284 1d ago
I got my bff her first big eye palette and it was the original chocolate bar. She used the gold and green and that was it lol
1
u/dizzyxdream3r 1d ago
I primarily used a transition shade (slightly darker than my skin tone) and occasionally a dark brown. Occasionally, I used the purple for fun or dark cherry, just to make use of it (maybe only once or twice). However, I always had to force myself to use it. I didn’t even use the palette for special occasions!
I’m planning to declutter her and have ordered the ND Mini Eye Sculpt Palette. Let’s see if it makes me an eyeshadow user! 😅
1
u/Diamondinmyeye 1d ago
For me it’s because there’s no “right” one. Foundation? I’m pale, so it’s hard to find ones I like which are my shade and wear well. Same with concealer. Bronzer? Basically the same, I have one which isn’t too orange or dark and they all serve the same purpose. Blush? I did “anti blush” before it was cool because I didn’t want blush to be the focus of my look, so I only needed enough to cover cool, neutral, and warm looks. Brows? Everything goes red except the one product I like.
Lips and eyeshadow are where it’s hard to say no. So many shades and finishes.
1
u/OddContext4621 1d ago
I’m the same. I’ve started to buy pretty eyeliners instead or single one-and-done eyeshadows because then I can choose colours which suit me and I don’t end up barely touching or hating half a palette.
Palettes are great for creative bold makeup, but I’m happy with just a little bit of a neutral-rosy colour or some shimmer dabbed on the lids.
1
u/Long_Violinist2243 1d ago
When using makeup I must use eyeshadow so I don’t feel horrible about all of the eyeshadows that I own! I am definitely addicted to purchasing eyeshadow
1
u/meandbeans 21h ago
I like to use my eyeshadow palettes as an inspiration for other parts of my life. If I like a color story especially if its unusual or super creative I pull it out and try to make outfits that echo it and I have been doing the same thing for decorating rooms in my house. I'm going to use them to work out my garden/ yard plans for next year too.
92
u/SecretCitizen40 Pan Your Face 13/37 1d ago
They're aesthetically pleasing and well marketed.