moonsista's Full Review: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Liner Shadow
The first time I discovered Bare Escentuals several years ago, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I was intrigued and excited about products I had never dreamed of - Warmth, Glee, and pots of loose eyeshadow in colors you just can't find in drugstores. But the one thing that intrigued me the most was bareMinerals Liner Shadow. I had to try it! (Big surprise!)
Product Details:
Liner Shadow is a loose powder eye liner made from pure crushed minerals that comes in a small pot. It looks a lot like a powder eyeshadow product, but it has a deeper, richer look and most of the shades are darker than an eyeshadow shade would be. The liner is mainly used by dipping either a liner brush or push brush (more on these two types of brushes later) into the product and applying it to the eyelids. Liner Shadow can be worn wet or dry (more on this later).
The packaging is simple. The pot is small and fairly flat, is made from clear plastic, and has a black, plastic screw-on lid. There is no sifter top. Once you open the pot, there's your Liner Shadow - which can be very easy to spill.
Liner Shadow comes in the following shades (four shades can be seen at BareMinerals.com):
The amount of product in each pot of Liner Shadow is .01 to .04 oz., depending on shade. Most are .01 oz. according to my experience. This sounds like very little, but is actually quite a bit.
My Experience:
I'll tell you upfront that my first few experiences with Liner Shadow were so frustrating that I nearly gave away my initial purchase of three pots. My first three pots that I purchased were basic browns and blacks: Bark, Coffee Bean and Soft Black. I had visions of myself with beautiful, softly-lined eyes - what I got when using this product the first few times was an uneven line and a big mess!
The key to using Liner Shadow correctly is to PRACTICE. It's very much like using a liquid eyeliner. Your first several times using the product are shaky - your line is "squiggly" and uneven, and you look silly. You'll likely have the same experience using Liner Shadow the first few times if you have no experience with a liquid eyeliner.
There are several ways that the very versatile Liner Shadow can be used. No matter what way you use this product, though, you will want to use the pot's lid (I'm not kidding!) as your palette. The reason for this is because your brush(es) will pick up way too much product if you dip it directly into the pot of Liner Shadow. The amount that is left on the inside of the lid (after you tap the lid and then remove it from the pot) is likely enough to use for both eyelids.
Back to the ways that Liner Shadow can be used: If you don't have an eyeliner brush, you can try dipping an eyeshadow brush into this product and make any sort of thick or thin line that you would like, or use the lighter shades as a darker eyeshadow shade. The two main ways that Liner Shadow is used is by using an eyeliner brush and swirling it into the product, then just sweeping it onto the lids like you would a liquid eyeliner. This can be done wet or dry. Using the Liner Shadow dry will create a soft or smoky look. Using the Liner Shadow wet will create a more defined or dramatic look (I got this wording directly from a Bare Escentuals catalog). I agree with their descriptions completely. The way to use this product wet is to dip the brush in cold tap water, then swirl the brush into the lid, where it will pick up some of the shadow. Then just apply to the eyelids.
There are two types of liner brushes that you can use for applying Liner Shadow - both of which Bare Escentuals manufactures and sells. I own and highly recommend both brushes, as they are just $12 each and are very good quality. (Of course other cosmetics companies also make these types of brushes!) The Eyeliner Brush is a long-handled brush with a black handle that has a very thin, soft tip for precision wet or dry application. This makes a very thin line. The Push Brush is a brush with a wider, flat, more firm brush tip for more of a wide, "smudgey" line when using the Liner Shadow wet.
I get more lasting power when I use the Liner Shadow wet than I do when it's dry. It seems to "stick" to the eyelids better, while sometimes using the product dry has no better staying power than an average powder eyeshadow. Of course, I get better staying power from a liner pencil because a pencil is more of a heavy, waxy product - but pencils aren't as versatile as the Liner Shadow. One very positive aspect of Liner Shadow is that it never flakes off or dusts into the eyes or cheeks.
I can't emphasize enough how important it is to practice with the Liner Shadow should you decide to try it. Once you get the hang of it, and see how creative you can get and how many different looks you can get, you will likely be addicted.
Price and Purchasing Information:
Each pot of Liner Shadow is $12.00. This may seem like a lot of money to shell out at once, but you will get a lot of use from each pot. I have even purchased several pots with a friend and have split them into two new pots, and have gotten over a year of use out of each half pot.
Bare Escentuals products are not available everywhere. There are boutiques in some malls and airports, but they are few and far between. You can also order directly from Bare Escentuals by calling 1-800-451-2022. However, I highly recommend purchasing Liner Shadow from QVC (the shopping channel) at 1-888-345-5788 or bareescentuals.QVC.com. Not only does QVC offer a 30-day money back guarantee, but they will also send you special Bare Escentuals catalogs containing limited edition and exclusive products and special shipping cost deals. QVC also offers special sets of two Liner Shadows at a reduced price. This varies according to season.
Half-Yearly Sale-save on thousands of select products for women & kids! 100% pure bareMinerals Liner Shadows from Bare Escentuals offer intense, radia...More at Nordstrom
Use dry as a soft shadow or apply to the base of eyelashes w/moistened brush. To use shake closed jar then swirl brush inside lid to pick up color. Ma...More at QVC
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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