Frost: These eyeshadow finishes are more appealing to the eye when you're at the makeup counter. Because they reflect light and are prettier at first sight, frosty or shimmery eyeshadows seem to be more interesting than the flat, matte ones. However, if you're planning on achieving the best color payoff, the shimmery ones generally are going to give you the less payoff than matte ones. The shimmer reflects light so the concentration of color is diffused out by the shimmer. I almost never use frosty colors as my crease color because the shimmer doesn't deepen your crease as much as a matte one would.
Shimmery colors actually bring out the area instead of deepening it. They would be perfect on the lids if you want to emphasize that area. These work well (in moderation) as the highlight color (brow bone) but make sure you use a light hand. You don't want to look like a disco ball queen!! You don't have to be a blending expert with frosty colors because mistakes with frosty colors won't be as noticeable. So for beginners, I would recommend shimmery colors because they usually blend effortlessly.
An example of an eyeshadow with a frost finish.
Matte: As I develop more and more in my artistry, I notice that I prefer matte colors much more nowadays. When I first started with makeup, matte colors never spoke to me. To me, they were these boring, uglycolors. I didn't understand why makeup companies made matte colors. They seemed hard to blend and just really blah. Fast forward to today. I really love using matte colors!! I almost always use a matte color as my crease color. Because there is no shimmer,
matte colors deepens and defines the area (this is also why matte colors are used to contour the face). Yes, they can be harder to blend but practice makes perfect. If you pat the matte color on the lid instead of swiping it, it will eliminate the chalky, blotchy look. Also, patting the color on instead of swiping it will give you much better color payoff as well. Another way to use matte colors instead of on the lid or crease is as the highlight. If there's a lot of shimmer going on on the lid area, you should probably use a matte highlight to balance out your eyes. Mixing the finishes on your eyes (ex: matte on crease, frost on lids) will give you the most depth and definition. But if you prefer to use all matte colors or all shimmery colors on your eyes, by all means do so.
An example of an eyeshadow with a matte finish.
I hope this post helps you out a little!! I know I was really confused for a long time about eyeshadow finishes. Of course there are more than just these two finishes for eyeshadows but hopefully this gives you a general idea. There are no rules when it comes to makeup but some tips and tricks have helped me along the way. Let me know if you have any questions and if you find these "how to" posts to be informative and what you'd like to see next! Thanks!!
Cuff Bracelet $4
Silver Flower Ring $1
