Loose powder eye shadow

It was only a matter of time before Benefit expanded its line of loose shimmer powders. First came the highly pigmented, bright Show Offs! eye shadows. And now, there's a line of sheer, shimmery powders for the eyes and face called Lust Dusters ($18).

The colors blend well, they are definitely shimmery and it's nice that you can use them as highlighters to your cheeks, nose, and décolletage. But let's just say that once you've seen one, you've seem them all. I hate to be like this, because I usually love all things Benefit, but I've asked around the office for additional opinions, and it's unanimous that unfortunately, they are no great shakes.

I do, however, love the cute names like Snow Bunny, Boom Boom, and Go Go Girl. They come in 10 colors (Big Daddy, a shimmery peachy-rust color is missing from the list online, but apparently that oversight is being fixed). If you really must have them (I know the feeling) then try using them over their Creaseless Cream Shadows for extra impact and let me know what you think.

Last week I told you about some of Scott Barnes' best bronzing products and this week I've been playing around with the jewel-toned, loose-powder eye shadow shades from the new Royals Eye Ice Collection. In particular, I've fallen hard for Empress, a deep aubergine and Imperial Gold, a medium gold.

When it comes to loose shadows, I'm used to saying that all you need is a little bit, but what I like about these is that you can really pile on the color for a deep and rich effect, or keep it light for a more subtle look. Unfortunately, this means that you need some extra time to apply and blend the shadows properly, but the results are worth it. And since the colors are soft at first, they can easily take you from day to night.

All of the shades are shimmery, buildable, and very wearable and the texture is also noteworthy. I rubbed them between my fingers to find a silky smooth powder — no wonder they blend so well. Also, I adore the packaging. It's cute how they come in square bottles to resemble ice cubes. For those of you looking for a more neutral shade, an older color I also love is sandstone; a pinky champagne reminiscent of Stila's bestselling kitten. When I have a little extra time to primp, eye ices are worth the effort. For the details on each of the five new shades, read more

Welcome back to my five-part series on gold makeup. There are so many different gold eye shadows on the market right now that I found it challenging to come up with my three favorites. If you have any gorgeous and glimmery gold-metallic shadows that you especially love, please leave a comment with your recommendation below.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Glimmer in True Gold ($13) is a very sheer, almost translucent shimmer shadow that works to create a hint of subtle sparkle to your eyes. It's similar to gold dust in that it can also be worn on your décolletage and cheeks, but this also has a special quality because it can transform from wet to dry for a more dramatic effect.

For two more shimmery gold eye shadows, read more

Overshadow ($14) is a new series of amazing loose powder eye shadows from The Balm. This is the company's first 100% pure mineral product which is proudly free of talcs, preservatives, oils and fragrances - perfect for you guys with sensitive eyes!

Marissa Shipman, owner of The Balm, wanted to give a basic product like eye shadow an edge so that her clientele feels fresh for each new season. To stay in touch with all of the latest trends, Overshadow plans to release a new collection each season! Would you really expect anything less from this fabulous brand?

The first collection for fall is called The Sexpot Series and is themed around a sultry, smoky eye. To find out more, read more

Loose powder metallic eye shadows are amazing and easy-to-apply bursts of color. Shimmery shades for eyes are very trendy right now, and these loose shadows are great for gals on the go.

You apply these shadows the same way you would loose face powder: Just shake some powder into the cap and dip your shadow brush in. You can use the shimmer on your eyes and to brighten your whole face. But use sparingly: Loose shadows spread easily, so just a touch will do the trick. Here are two of the latest loose powder metallic eye shadows for Summer.

Glam Rocks by Lorac ($16) are sparkly and sassy loose powder shadows packed in a small container that looks like a salt shaker. These easily blendable colors glide on smoothly and last a long time, so you can party the night away without worry. Glam Rock come in three shades: Metallic Copper, Metallic Pearl, and Metallic Gold.

For one more metallic loose powder eyeshadow, read more

Welcome to Part II of Loosen Up! New Loose Powder Eye Shadows. These shadows are perfect for Spring. They are high in pigment so a little goes a long way and they come in playful, bright colors to add some pizazz to your usual eye routine. I can't wait to hear your reviews!

ColoreScience Genie Sparkle/Matte Colore , $17.50, is a color you can use as a shadow, liner or highlighter. You can put it in your hair, your brows, on your cheeks or on your lips; just use your discretion based on the color.

The shadows (as well as all ColoreScience products) are: talc, oil, alcohol, dye, binder, filler and preservative free! They have SPF protection in them too and are great for sensitive skin. What I really love about them is that they are super sheer so that they really just enhance your essence as opposed to making you look overdone.

Use Genie Colore wet as a liquid liner or dry for a powder shadow or a brow accent. Just tap the color into a tissue or the back of your hand and apply!

To see two more loose powder eye shadows, read more

Here are a few fun loose powder eye shadows for Spring. Theses shadows are high in pigment so a little bit goes a long, long way. They come in playful, bright colors to add some pizazz to your usual eye routine. Have fun with these new products, I can't wait to hear your reviews!

Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow by Shiseido, $23, are nine new intense and dewy shadows. They are actually a cream that transforms into a powder to create a shiny, shimmery shade. They are super long wearing and because of the technology that turns them into powder, they won't crease!

To see a drugstore brand, read more