A sweet follower asked me what I could recommend her that would be similar to the Mac Desires and Devices, well, I had so much to talk about that I thought I could use a little post 🙂
I think many of us are drawn to complex shades, I am addicted to taupes… but here I will try to show Helen, and you, Â some green-gold-bronze type of shadows.
Helen, I hope this will help you in your hunt for the perfect green-gold-bronze eyeshadow or pencil 🙂
In this picture, there are some similar products that could come close to that Mac Desires and Devices liner, others would need a little help but I will explain :
The Mac Buried Treasure is a great long-lasting pencil eyeliner, I love to use it, it’s actually nearly all the time in my daily makeup bag. It’s quite similar to the Mac Desires and Devices and if you put Chantecaille Sel on top of it, the result gets even a bit more complex, when I wear Mac Buried Treasure on the outer eye, I extend the liner in the inner corner with a bit of Sel eyeshadow, gets lighter in the inner corner of the eye and darker in the outer corner… you get the idea, a gradient application. I always keep it very thin, if needed I will use a smudge brush to apply the pencil very close to the eyelashes.
The Shiseido Shimmering cream are really nice cream shadows, they don’t crease on my eyes and I love their colors, you can mix them and create very beautiful looks very easily !
Le Metier de Beaute Penelope Kaleidoscope is quite interesting, if you mix the brown and the green in that palette you get a gorgeous green-gold-bronze …
Here is the Laura Mercier Khaki Caviar stick, if you use the smudge brush you can also apply a very thin line close to the lashes.
Here some pencils and gel liners, my favorites are the Mac Buried Treasure and the Chanel Celadon, great lasting power and fantastic texture.
I prefer a very dark brown gel liner close to the lashes but sometimes I wear a more complex shade although I don’t find these gel liners to be so excellent.
I have swatched some of the eyeshadows shown in the first picture, you can see that some have much more shimmer and therefore are less forgiving, if I find that an eyeshadow is too shimmery, what I do to be able to wear it is apply some cream base (like the Laura Mercier sticks or the Becca tints or any other paintpot, and on top, just in the middle of the lid, I pat a little bit of sparkly shadow, it will stick to the cream shadow and when you close your eyes the result is amazing ! Also this kind of application is more appropriate for my age.
This is the Suqqu palette in Usumoegi, it’s a such gorgeous palette, extremely flattering and easy to wear. If you mix the green and the beige shadow, the result is a complex green taupe that I find more easy to wear than the RBR Abyssinian Catbird.
On the left the two Suqqu shadows mixed together :
First, I recommend you the Laura Mercier Caviar stick that you can blend and use as a base or use a smudge brush to apply it as a liner… Also the Suqqu palette is a must-have. Then you might need to play with some shadows to get to the result you exactly want. The more shimmery, the less forgiving but there is something about Suqqu that makes shimmer look good ..
I couldn’t find an exact dupe but I hope that helps 🙂
16 comments
Thank you so much ! So many luscious colours I was unaware of…..where shall I start ?! This is soooooooo very helpful , and I feel really excited that these colours you’ve chosen exceed all expectations , they are truly gorgeous and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of them 😀 I’ll let you know the ones I purchase – I’m going to have some serious fun aren’t I ! Many , many thanks Helen x
Hello Helly Potter:))
You’re going to love the RMK 04 blush too I think.
I went ALL out to get hold of it after Sonia’s rave & I like it MOST of the 4 RMK mixed cheek colors! Is it because it was hard to get or because it’s just so subtle & suitable??
It’s really one of those ‘no thought involved ‘ blushes. It’s always going to give your complexion a lift & look good:)))
Hi Buggsiebee , that’s reasurring after spending so much on it , thanks . I know exactly what you mean about wanting products that are difficult to get – how perverse we are !!!! Sonia’s now got me feverishly raking the web-sites for the Suquu Usumoegi eye shadow now : but it’s so satisfying when you get a product that really works for you , isn’t it ? happy shopping Hx
You are welcome 🙂
Some might not be available since they are Limited Editions but if you need some help finding them, let me know..
Have fun 😀
First of all let me thank you for the idea of mixing eye shadows , which I had not thought of doing before , duh ! The Suquu palette is gorgeous as you promised , also the Chanel Celadon eye liner . Going completely off-piste , I ordered Le Metier de Beaute True Colour Eye Shadow in Spicy , and it is gorgeous , I had to tell you .It’s a very grown-up warm gold/bronze which is lovely to accent outer corner of eyes , but also I mixed it with MAC’s Coquette to get a green/gold/bronze effect ..So I’m sorted for eyes and cheeks now ( still waiting for RMK 04 WHICH BEAUTYBAY HAVE TOLD ME THEY NO LONGER STOCK ,BTW).I looked on your list of products for Foundation , but not there !!!:(.Chanel seems to feature a lot on some other blogs-would really appreciate your recommendations so I don’t waste money on mistakes ! Thanks again Sonia .hx
Hi Helen, thanks for letting me know, fantastic !
I also own Spicy, it’s a really beautiful shade, something I can recommend is if you place a brownish cream base and this on top (or any other similar color), the result is just gorgeous. I saw that on a pixiwoo video and since then I am doing that very often. It’s like a not dark still sultry brown smoky eye, very luminous and flattering, Eva Mendez style 🙂
For foundation it depends what kind of result you want to achieve and what your skin is like (dry, combination, oily), are you looking for a no-foundation look, a medium coverage, and what is your price range … I will let you know what my recommendations are 🙂
Even Superwoman needs some sleep!
Goodnight dear Sonia….saviour of all makeup junkies:)))
I need to google Usumoegi before i’ll be able to sleep. I have Absynian Catbird but it’s never been used. Sadly it’s just too much for these old eyes. I’m absolutely going to investigate the Suqqu palette!! Sleep tight:)
Thank you Buggsiebee, I shall now go to sleep, good night to you too 😛
I knew you would have Abyssinian Catbird, such a unique and strong shadow ! It’s too metallic for me too but I use it as a liner and that’s ok, but it will last me forever and beyond …
I have abyssinian catbird, it is so pretty but makes me look tired, kaki greens don’t really suit me, I think, it doesn’t dissuade me to always be attracted by them, it is sich a complex color. there is very nice bronze kaki in T. Leclerc line, I’ll check the name. For those who have access to catrice, there is 050 Metall of Honor wich pools quite dark kaki on me and price is really inexpensive (4 euros), stays well especially over a base. And there is in the same line a green liner Sherlock & Khaki Holmes wich is not bad (a liitle bit too creamy). For kaki lovers, check the YSL creamy eyeliner in bronze black, it’s a must have.
Same thing here. I am always drawn to khaki & taupe shadows but they are not a good choice for me – especially if they lean too grey. I f I do wear them I have to lift the color with a bit of lilac or peach. It’s so sad because the khaki & taupe shades are generally the most complex & interesting & I have masses of them in my stash:((
Oh Sonia!! You’ve done it again! Not only do I have a headful of ideas on using products that I have but I also have added to my shopping list! I too have RBR ACatbird and don’t give it any use but as an eyeliner… Great idea! Thank you Sonia for the light bulb moment!!
Helen, have a wonderful day shopping!!!!
Wish we could all be there! 😉
I think your way of layering shadows and liners is so creative. And gosh, how could I not not comment on a post that references Chante Sel. That is one gorgeous eyeshadow. It will be mine one day. 🙂
Thank you BooBooNinja, I am with you, this Chantecaille Sel is a must-have, I wish you can get it soon 🙂
It’s on my Christmas list. 🙂
I have just discovered your website and am caught between heaven (all those brushes and makers I never even knew existed) and hell (oh no, more makeup gear on my list). You are the ultimate brush guru and I’m grateful you are there to lead us astray and through the maze of options.
could you please tell me what brushes you recommend for using the LM Taupe caviar stick as an eyeliner (what is the one in the picture and if it is one of the uber expensive options, can you recommend alternatives?) I am wondering for example if the billy b #12 or WG #20 are decent options. Thank you for improving the lives of makeup mavens who are part of the over 40 crowd.
Thank you Nikki, how sweet of you! I am just doing that to help, makes my day if you find useful info!
Let me try that and I will get back to you! Love that stick and since I have new brushes I want to see what will work best. Do you want a thin line or slightly thicker smudged line ?