Lately the makeup world has been filled with controversy about palettes that have been released containing a mixture of eyeshadows and pressed pigments, rather than just eyeshadows as most consumers are led to believe. Didn’t realize there was a difference? Then you’ve come to the right place!

So what is the difference between the two? Eyeshadows contain a mixture of pigments, micas, binders and preservatives to create a creamy smooth formula that is seamless and blends with little effort. Pressed pigments are just as they sound, they are actual pigments pressed into a pan. Since there are not often extra ingredients added to the pigments, they tend to be used in colors that are extremely vibrant and rather than providing a “wash” of color, they provide full pigmentation. They usually require an eyeshadow base or concealer for the pigment to “stick” to. Different techniques are also used to apply them. Rather than using a fluffy blending brush to apply a pigment, they preform better when used with a small dense packing brush and tapped onto the eye. There is a bit of a learning curve when using pressed pigments, but it is easy to master!