An Eternal Gold from Lancome

Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow ($24.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “shimmering gold.” It’s a medium yellowed gold, muted by a hint of brown, with a frosted, metallic finish. L’Oreal Gold Imperial is nearly identical. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine is very similar–perhaps a touch warmer.

I’ve had the best luck with Eternal Gold when it comes to Lancome’s Infinite Eyeshadows–the other two I tried were disappointing. The pigmentation is fully opaque both wet and dry, and when dry, it looks a bit more intense and less frosted (more metallic). It has a soft, finely-milled texture that applies smoothly and evenly. I tested wear for twelve hours, and I didn’t experience any fading, creasing, or fall out.

Lancome’s Infinite formula is definitely comparable, generally, to Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows–all three companies are owned by L’Oreal. What I’ve noticed primarily is that Giorgio Armani’s shades are much more nuanced and complex in comparison to Lancome and L’Oreal. Lancome offers several shades, but of the three I’ve tried, they are composed like L’Oreal’s as all solid colors.  The only difference I could find was that Eternal Gold is just a little smoother/finer compared to Gold Imperial but the color and wear are the same, though the latter is a limited edition shade for the holidays, so if you want to get the same color for a lot less, you’ll need to track it down sooner rather than later.

The Glossover

P	Eternal Gold A+
	The only difference I could find was that Eternal Gold is just a little smoother/finer compared to Gold Imperial but the color and wear are the same, though the latter is a limited edition shade for the holidays, so if you want to get the same color for a lot less, you'll need to track it down sooner rather than later.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
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Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow

Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow

Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow

Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow

Lancome Eternal Gold (101) Color Design Infinite Eyeshadow

Lancome In Love Collection for Spring 2013

Blush In Love ($49.00)

• Peche Joue-Joue (10) Peach
• Pommettes D (20) Pink

Baume in Love ($25.00) (Limited Edition)

• Rose In Love (100) Baby pink
• Urban Ballet (110) Satin bright pink
• Coral Electric (120) Bright orange
• Midnight Rose (130) Lavender violet

Vernis in Love ($15.00)

• Peach Melodie Orange
• Rose Macaron Fuchsia
• Sugar Rose Pink

Khol in Love ($25.50)

• Deepwater Blue (401) Dark blue
• Chocolate Affair (101) Brown
• Jade Crush (501) Dark green

Color Design Infinite 24H ($24.50)

• Boundless Blue Dark blue
• Evermore Lilac Light violet
• Persistent Peach Peachy pink
• Tremendous Turquoise Bright blue

Availability: Now @ Nordstrom

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Underneath the Moon, You’ll Glow Pink

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder ($42.00 for 0.18 oz.) is supposed to “give the skin a light-reflecting, luminous glow.” It’s a pale, warm-toned pink with a fine, frosted shimmer that sheers out easily when applied. If applied with a damp brush, it will take on a more metallic finish. Chantecaille Les Petales de Rose has a finer shimmer that turns to a sheen, so it is subtler on the skin; there’s also a slight golden tint that Lancome’s dosen’t have. Guerlain Cruel Gardenia is slightly warmer, but it’s incredibly similar. MAC Light Sunshine is less shimmery, paler.

It has a soft, finely-milled texture that makes for effortless blending during application.  Though very soft and the shimmer is fine, it did emphasize the pores on my cheeks very slightly.  I think the luminous, lit-from-within result is worth the trade-off, as the emphasis is subtle.  Moonlight Rose wore well for seven hours, and after eight hours, there was a touch of fading along the inner edge where I applied it.  This shade should work well across many skin tones, because it does not have a white base, even though it is a lighter color.  For paler complexions, it might show up as a very soft tinge of pink as well.

The Glossover

LE	Moonlight Rose A
	This shade should work well across many skin tones, because it does not have a white base, even though it is a lighter color.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 8/10 Application 5/5
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Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Lancome Moonlight Rose Illuminating Powder

Just Hydration — by Lancome

Lancome Bienfait Multi-vital SPF 30 Sunscreen Cream ($45.00 for 1.70 oz.) is supposed to have 24-hour hydration with a greaseless formula and contains SPF 30. For sun protection, the active ingredients are Avobenzone 3.0% (UVA I) Octisalate 5.0% (UVB), and Octocrylene 7.0% (UVB), so the formula does not protect against the UVA II portion of the spectrum.

I tested this moisturizer out, because I was looking for something with sun protection (ideally, you’d get full coverage across both UVA and UVB ranges, but many sunscreens miss UVA II part of the UVA range) and didn’t want a juiced-up, hopped-up, anti-aging-injected moisturizer.  I just wanted something that would 1) hydrate and 2) offer sun protection.  I’ve really tried to reduce the amount of skincare products I accept for testing, particularly those that are high in price and (supposedly) high in anti-aging benefits, only because I don’t feel I can adequately test the efficacy of most anti-aging products to ever justify a three-digit price tag. Check back with me in a few years

It’s a thicker cream, but I felt like it was rather airy–so it didn’t feel too heavy in the jar, and it had great spreadability on the skin.  It took about fifteen to twenty minutes to absorb and really sink in, but after that, it didn’t feel greasy or look oily.  I wore it under makeup numerous times, and it did not interfere with the longevity of my foundation, blush, and the like.  It hydrated incredibly well; my skin never felt dry or parched in the evening, and some lighter-weight moisturizers can leave me anxious to take off my makeup and apply my night cream.

The elephant in the room is the amount of fragrance Lancome puts into their skincare range.  Bienfait Multi-Vital was tamer compared to other Lancome moisturizers I’ve tried, but it was still heavily scented with a nondescript floral perfume.  Because of the scent, amount, and that it’s not a scent I want to tolerate, I wouldn’t purchase a jar.

I only tested this product for three weeks or so, because Shaun was also using this (mostly) daily in the morning as well–much to my dismay, of course.  If I don’t give him his own moisturizer, he will steal whatever is my section of the bathroom counter!  I did ask him for feedback, and he didn’t have much, other than it has a strong scent but otherwise worked well for him.

Enduring Vert is Long on Wear, Short on Color

Lancome Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow ($24.50 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “satin pastel green.” It’s a muted sea foam green with a frosted, metallic finish. I thought Chanel Riviere was a dupe, but it’s a lot softer and lighter. MAC Sweet & Sour is greener. Dior Garden Pastels is similar. Lancome Fashion Forward is lighter. Giorgio Armani Green Jacquard is greener, slightly darker.

The Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow is supposed to “stray true for 24 hours without creasing” with a “powder-to-cream texture.” If they sound familiar, they should. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows are both iterations of this type of formula, and it’s not surprising that the three have more in common than not when they’re all owned by L’Oreal (parent).

Enduring Vert is sheer when applied dry, but it’s not much more pigmented when applied damp/wet.  I was able to pack it on and get more opaque color, so it’s possible, but it took several passes of color.  The texture was a little chunky, and it looked like it on the lid.  It just didn’t have a smooth finish once on.  It did, however, wear without creasing or fading for twelve hours.  There was some minor fall out that I noticed during wear.

The Glossover

P	Enduring Vert C-
	These kinds of greens can be versatile and flattering across skin tones, but the lack of intensity and chunkier texture make it a no-go.
	Product 7.5/10 Pigmentation 4/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 3.5/5
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Lancome Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Always Fuchsia / Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadows

It’s Not Always Love With This Fuchsia

Lancome Always Fuchsia Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow ($24.50 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “metallic pink plum.” It’s a pinky purple with a metallic finish. The amount of pink in this shade is what makes it less dupeable. MAC Butterfly Party is darker, more purple. NYX Violetta is darker. Shades like Urban Decay Fishnet is cooler-toned and more fuchsia.

The Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow is supposed to “stray true for 24 hours without creasing” with a “powder-to-cream texture.” If they sound familiar, they should. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows and L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows are both iterations of this type of formula, and it’s not surprising that the three have more in common than not when they’re all owned by L’Oreal (parent).

Always Fuchsia is more one-note in color, which makes it more like the Infallible range. I expected the formula to be nearly flawless, but the color payoff when used dry is incredibly sheer. It really needs to be used damp or wet to achieve even, full color coverage (which is how I applied it to the lid, no base used).  When used dry, even when pressed, it doesn’t seem to bind together well, so it ends up sheer and harder to apply.  There was some fall out during application either way.  It wears well, though–I tested Always Fuchsia for twelve hours, and I didn’t experience any creasing or fading (both over and without a primer).   The texture wasn’t quite as finely-milled as some of the best shades from the Eyes to Kill Intense and Infallible ranges; it was a little chunky to me.

I was personally more than a little disappointed, and I’m wondering if I happened to receive samples of two of the poorer performing shades (because I also tried Enduring Vert, which I’ll review next, and my experience was similar there).  I’m definitely going to see if I can try some of the other shades to see; I hope this one is just one of the misses and the rest are hits (like what Perpetual Purple was for Infallibles).

The Glossover

P	Always Fuchsia B-
	There are really two points really driven home about this formula: intense pigmentation, incredible long-wear. It wears long and well overall, but the color payoff when dry is sheer.
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 6/10 Texture 8/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4/5
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Lancome Always Fuchsia Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Always Fuchsia Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Always Fuchsia Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Always Fuchsia Infinite Luminous Eyeshadow

Lancome Always Fuchsia/Enduring Vert Infinite Luminous Eyeshadows