Next in Givenchy’s Maharani Collectionare the Prismissimes, which are compacts filled with nine shades to be used on the face or the eyes. The Spring collection features #21 Maharani Pinks and #22 Maharani Apricots ($53.00 each). Both palettes feature eight subtly shimmered or matte shadows, plus one frosty shadow smack dab in the middle.
Maharani Pinks contains four shades of soft brown-based beige paired with four shades of soft, subtle pink. In the middle is a frosty, warm, copper bronze color. The way Givenchy does their Prismissimes, the four shades are actually a gradient–meaning there is the lighest brown-based beige, a medium colored, then a medium-dee, and then a darker shade–that are all similar to each other. The same story is repeated with the pink colors, too.
The texture of Prismissimes’ shadows is always velvety smooth. I tend to find that there is not enough variation in one Prismissimes to do a whole host of eye looks, but you can get some good standbys with this quad (what with the beiges) and subtly cheeks with the pinks. For me, each color squaer is too small for me to really love it as a face/blusher, unfortunately. I’d much rather get one of their Prisme Again! Blush Quartets ($40.00).
Maharani Apricots is formatted just like Maharani Pinks, except the colors are a little darker to begin with. Four shades go from light to dark in a neutral brown color family, while the other four are a peachy-brown shade going from apricot peach to peach-brown. In the center is a rich, frosty medium-to-dark brown shade. Again, the textures of this product is the same as Maharani Pinks — smooth and velvety.
Each Prismissime comes with a cute little brush that’s designed to be used as a face brush (since it’s quite wide). What I liked about the brush was that it was also appropriately designed with the same theme as the palettes themselves. It’s just a nice touch, you know? Overall, I’m not sure these are totally worth their value, and I’d probably rather get two of the Blush Quartets instead. Then again, I haven’t tried using either as a face product, and I am curious to see how pinks and browns end up together…
Givenchy’s Maharani Collectionfor Spring was definitely captivating as soon as I saw the promotional images for the launch. It also sounded extremely warm-toned and flattering for my skin tone, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to check it all out!
The real standouts from the launch are the two blushes–Maharani Orange and Maharani Pink Sari Glow Iridescent Blush ($42.00 each). The packaging for the entire collection is really fabulous with the rich orange and pink-purple with the gold overlay. On the actual blush product, there is a black design overlay, which will sort of flake away as you use the product, but it’s a nice touch. Both shades are amazingly pigmented and perfect for spring and summer. Maharani Orange is a softly shimmered peachy-orange, while Maharani Pink is softer, almost neutral pink with subtle shimmer. I can’t wait to wear them!
Expect a few more reviews from this launch over today and tomorrow I’m off to meet my mom for a lil’ bit and meet my “friend” Charles Schwab to do boring, adult things (booooo!).
Like a Bollywood film, Nicolas Degennes creates an extravaganza of colour to make everyday life a dream. “I saw India as a bombardment of colours bursting forth to the rhythm of filmi music. I had already been a fan of this infectious, upbeat music for a long time, but of course it was the imagery that really grabbed me — Bollywood and its palettes of colours burst with beams of light. Melodramatic love stories… But love stories all the same, with all the emotion, the ardour, the passion of hearts that are torn apart and the struggle through hardship… The stuff of life! And the women! So beautiful, vivacious, dazzling… … and yet so sweetly demure. A homage to Indian beauty, heightened with a discreet air of eroticism and anchored in the purest tradition. What I adore in these love sagas is the eternal femininity in a showcase of flashy, ultra-kitsch glamour and gaudy music.
Givenchy Prisme Again! Blush Quartet in Euphoric Orange ($40.00) looks intimidating at first, but it is really a great pop of coral for your cheeks. I truly thought, “No way!” when I first saw it, but lo and behold, it is a much subtler color when it’s actually used. What I’ve noticed isn’t that it isn’t pigmented, but the product itself is very silky and fine, so when it lays down on the face, it blends so effortlessly into your skin. This results in a very natural coral glow, nothing garish or clownish whatsoever. Also, the shimmer is very subtle; when you see it, it has more to do with how the light hits your face than seeing chunks of glitter or shimmery bits. Overall, it’s such a natural coloring that I often wear this on my minimal makeup days. I’ll pair it with lightly mascara-coated lashes and a Philosophy Lip Shine. I might have to try some more Givenchy blushes soon!
To coincide with the launch of Phenomen’Eyes – a revolutionary high-precision mascara with a patented ground-breaking spherical brush – Parfums Givenchy commissioned British artist Ian Wright to create a work of art using approximately 5,000 of the Phenomen’Eyes brushes. The result was “5045 Lashes,” a work that symbolizes the “remix” of a fashion-inspired beauty collection with art.
The project began in August 2008 and was completed 12 days later. In the end, Wright chose to recreate an illusion of a 45′ record using only the mascara brushes as his medium. The unique circular brush shape brought back memories of Wright’s early childhood, listening to the voices of Dusty Springfield and Roxy Music on the record player. The pure glamour of glistening black vinyl became thoughts of glistening black lashes, and the inspiration for the Phenomen’Eyes project was born.
Looks kind of cool, doesn’t it? Definitely reminds of black vinyl. It makes me REALLY want to try Phenomen’Eyes now. Between the raves I’ve heard from some of you and my own indulgent nature, I might have to cave soon.
“5045 Lashes” was unveiled at the Christopher Henry Gallery (127 Elizabeth Street), and will now appear throughout New York City in pop-up galleries this fall (Oct 10th and 11th at Sephora SoHo; Oct 17th and 18th at Sephora Union Square).
For Autumn/Winter, Givenchy’s Dandy Collection is a nice mix of smokiness and ultra glossy lips. Givenchy continuously does an amazing job on packaging. The eyeshadow quartet is so portable and compact, and the polka-dot theme for both product packaging and the eyeshadow itself is adorable. However, don’t count on the cuteness of the black and white polka dotted eyeshadow, because the polka dots vanish upon first swipe. Givenchy shadows are well-pigmented, but what always amazes me is how utterly soft they are–like butter. The above quartet is #43 Smoky Shimmer ($49.50), and I like the polka dotted shadow the most, actually. It’s this grayish black, really sultry. A nice way to tone down a smoky eye if you don’t want to use black.
I’m off to meet my mom for a lil’ bit and meet my “friend” Charles Schwab to do boring, adult things (booooo!).
