Stargazer Eye Dust

RRP: £3
no. of shades available: 44
available from http://www.stargazer-products.com/ - they deliver all over the world. You will be charged in £ sterling.

--What does the promo say?--
"Coloured loose powder available in a mix of vibrant colours for application around the eyes. The colours are dense and give a very good strong finish on the skin. All the eye dust colours give you a fine shimmered effect which can be applied by hand or make up brush. Some of the colours have a slight metallic sheen on the skin while other colours are a little more subtle."

--About the brand--
Stargazer was established in 1978 with the opening of a stall in the Great Gear Market in the Kings Road, London. Kings Road was the centre of the punk fashion in London at the time and it was this attitude towards colour and the outrages that moulded many of the company’s ideas behind the ranges that they produce. They still are based in the UK as their base is in Croydon on the outskirts of London. In the 1980s Stargazer began to expand into the department stores trying to bring the colours we produced to a wider audience. Then in the late 1980s they started to slowly produce the products themselves. Now they produce the majority of the products in-house. Stargazer not only sells cosmetics but also sells hair and nail products, face paint, wigs, and face and body jewellery. None of the products are tested on animals, and all of the products are vegan except for the bleach kits and eye shadow/blusher colours.

--Packaging--
A small screw-top plastic black pot with a clear window in the lid so that the eye dust colour can be easily seen, and the brand name written on the side of the pot itself in a gold cursive script. If I were designing it I would perhaps change the font so that it better reflects the brand's punk roots. Tiny amounts of the powder leak out of the crease where the lid and pot meet, but this really is only a tiny amount. The pot is easy to open and close and I like how you can see the colour easily through the lid.

--Application--
On the site they say you can apply this with your fingers but I don't think I'd recommend it as I expect it would be messy and wouldn't allow for precise application. So get a brush, apply a primer to your eyelid, and then carefully dip the brush in the pot and apply it to the eyelids a small amount at a time.

--Texture--
Very fine and glittery. The particles aren't too big at all and spread over the eyelid very smoothly.

--Appearance--
Successfully glittery without looking overdone. Subtle shades are available alongside the wackier shades. While the range of available colours on the website is mind-boggling, some of them look pretty similar on the website, so choose carefully.

--Longevity--
Easily a threat to its more expensive competitor, the MAC pigments.

--Value for money--
At a mere £3 a pot you really cannot lose.

MAC Pigment Shadow for Eyes

RRP: £15.00 for 7.5g
no. of shades available: 26

--What does the promo say?--
"Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Pigment comes in an excellent range of colours. Use to create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Pigment does not streak or cake, is easy to blend and long-lasting."

--Packaging--
The pigment comes in a small, transparent pot with a black screw-top lid (all made of plastic). The MAC logo graces the front of the pot in sophisticated black lettering. The pot is easy to open and close, and doesn't leak.

--Application--
You will need to purchase an eyeshadow brush (or sponge, it doesn't matter) for this. Dip the tip of the brush/sponge into the pigment and either apply all over the eyelid, or follow the line of the top lashes and then smudge outwards (either with water or without). This was all very easy to do as the powder is so finely pigmented - it doesn't fall off your eyelids or the brush while you're trying to apply it, so there's no wastage and no mess.

--Texture--
A very fine, shimmery powder. I think all of the MAC pigments have some sort of shimmer or pearlescence to them. On the eyelids the powder feels very smooth and non-irritating.

--Appearance--
While this could so easily look over the top, it really doesn't. With the smoky grey, brown and black shades, you can create smoky eyes with ease without looking like you've been in a fight.

--Longevity--
Utterly perfect. I haven't attempted it without a primer, but with my usual combination of eye cream + primer before the application of the shadow, it lasted all day.

--Value for money--
Not very much of the product is needed to create the desired effects, so I'm guessing one pot of this would go a long way. I bought mine as part of a sample deal on ebay, whereby I got to try 5 colours for £6. However, I would undoubtedly shell out full price for this excellent, high-quality product. This is now officially my favourite eye shadow brand, closely followed by Bobbi Brown.