I have had this problem for awhile,even before AL. I have bought shades that are way too pigmented,leaving them really hard for me to work with. It seems I always make a mess with them. For instance,this is just an example,Smokescreen, I used it and it just seemed dirty on me. I know that's not quite right,but I find it hard to describe. I have tried alot of different eyeshadow brushes.The Ultra Cute Fiber Optic brush is one. Also a Nars 12 brush, that sometimes gives good results but not all of the time. I also have a few MAC brushes, but they don't help either. So I was wondering, what kind of brushes do you use, what techniques can you share,besides blending, that will help me? I have tried the blending thing. I just don't do well with it. Not sure why. Thanks!

I use a mix of the Fiber Optic and taklon brushes. The fiber optic ones work better for me with the darker shades (particularly Rocks), they prevent me from putting it on too heavy....I tend to be quite heavy handed with my shadow!

Try applying the thinnest layer you can - tap excess off your brush, just get the tiniest bit on there. You can apply more as needed, which is easier than trying to evenly disperse too much on one swoop. That's what works best for me.

I use a mix of the Fiber Optic brushes and some non-AL natural hair brushes ... I normally only wear dark colors as crease or liner colors, so for example, with a crease color I'll apply a thin line of shadow in the crease using a very small non-AL brush (similar shape to AL's taklon Smudge and Line brush), then use the Ultra Cute FO brush to blend out the edges of the crease color and make it softer.

If you find the shadow looks "dirty", perhaps you are over-blending the colors -- Smokescreen may just be mixing with the lid color too much and making everything look muddy. So maybe you should try blending less! I also normally apply the crease shade first, then apply the lid shade on whatever part of my lid is not already covered by the crease shade. Applying shadows side-by-side like this instead of layering them on top of each other can also help prevent them from getting over-blended and muddy. With mineral eyeshadows, patting the shadow on rather than sweeping it on also helps prevent it from looking too blended (and tends to make any sparkles stand out more!)

It's also possible that you're just not using the best colors for your skintone -- Smokescreen is not that flattering on my warm skintone; if I want to wear dark colors something like a dark brown (reddish browns are my favorite) works much better than grey

I agree, you are probably over blending and you should try placing the colors side by side. Also, try doing a really defined crease and then blending out as necessary. I use a Loew-Cornell 3000 round 5 brush:

http://www.hofcraft.com/loewco...000seriesbrushes.htm

I picked mine up and Michaels (it is a brush for painters).

Just draw on a little line where you want your crease shadow to be, possibly making the line a bit wider on the outside of your crease. Then blend until you are happy with the look. (Using this brush, you don't have to worry about sweeping versus patting because the brush applies just the right amount of pressure and the bristles work just right to prevent the sparkle from falling everywhere).

Everything GG said is great advice.

Here is a look where I used that technique:

Elegie crease, Aurora lid

Thank you,Cin: Yes, I have been known to be heavy handed with the eyeshadows.

Girl_Geek: I use the Nars 12 brush, which is really thin,and apply the crease color,after I've applied my lid color. I go in and apply the lid color way past the crease, to compensate for not blending the crease color. I tried your technique today,with some highly pigmented purples I haven't used in awhile,and it turned out alot prettier than I expected. Thanks!

Tally, I will check out that Lowe brush next time I get to Michaels,although the prices on that web link you gave me are outstanding! 40% off! Wow! Thanks to all of you for your help!

Sparklekitty: I found that MAC 217 blending brush works so well in crease! I use my NARS 12 now in tearduct area or outer corner. If I remember correctly, you have also MAC 217? Just use a minimal amout of pigment! You can always add some more

yes I have the MAC 217. It is pretty good, but like you said, I probably need to apply less color. You see, I don't have that problem much with the Aromaleigh shadows, because most of them ARE very wearable and not too highly pigmented.