Stagelight: Smoky Topaz

These days loose pigment cosmetics are pretty easy to find.  Some cosmetics companies (Bare Escentuals, Fyrinnae, Aromaleigh) are built on them, others (MAC, Urban Decay) offer them as part of their larger catalog.  Back in 1982 when this was purchased, they were relatively uncommon.  I bought this in Hollywood, in a store on Melrose that had a lot of stuff geared towards performers and clubgoers - exciting stuff for a 15 year old girl!

Despite its exotic origins, this pigment is quite wearable, either close to the lash line as a dark bronze liner or all over the lids for a metallic smoky eye.  If you aren't careful in application there will be a TON of fallout (and subsequent clean up), and using a primer is an absolute must if you don't want it to fade and migrate, but the gorgeous color is worth the extra step.

Swatches are on unprimered skin and were done with a finger.

Shade.

Sun.