NARS Lhasa Eyeshadow
NARS Spring 2012: Lhasa Eyeshadow
NARS Lhasa Eyeshadow ($24.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “shimmery lavender-gray.” It’s gray, just slightly brown, with a stormy, smoky purple brewing in it. The color payoff is good, though just a touch sheer, but it has a really silky-smooth feeling to the texture. It also adheres really well to the lid. Urban Decay Bust is browner. theBalm Come Hither Heather is grayer, more cool-toned. Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha is lighter. Bare Escentuals Rowdy is a touch lighter. MAC Shale is similar but a touch darker.
NARS’ pressed eyeshadows are supposed to be long-wearing, crease-resistant, and highly pigmented on their own, and they do a good job of staying in place without fading or creasing, but only for around eight hours without a primer, at which time there is very slight fading and noticeable (but not deep) creasing. With a primer, I have no concerns as they last until I take off my makeup.
Where to Buy: NARS on January 13th, $24.00
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 8.5/10
PIGMENTATION : 9/10
TEXTURE : 10/10
LONGEVITY : 8.5/10
APPLICATION : 4.5/5
PACKAGING : 5/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
Admittedly, it seemed more unique when I first swatched it, but there are a fair number of shades that come close to it! If you don't have a shade like it, though, it is extremely versatile. It can be used in a neutral eye as well as a more dramatic, smoky eye.
OVERALL: A-
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
NYX Orange Eyeshadow
NYX Orange Eyeshadow
NYX Orange Eyeshadow ($5.00 for 0.07 oz.) is tangerine orange with a lighter peach-orange shimmer. The finish is more of a frosted, but it doesn’t read heavy. It’s a very wearable orange because of the softness in the color. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a dupe among all of these orange eyeshadows. Givenchy Candide Garden was the closest but still darker. Most shades that were in similar in lightness had a pink-tone or really gold sheen (think MAC Melon).
The color is true-to-pan and opaque on the skin, while the texture is dense, buttery, and very soft without being powdery or loose (which is probably the most common issue of NYX’s eyeshadow line–but many shades are just fine, such as this one). Without a base, this shade wore for seven hours, but with a base, I had no wear problems after eight hours. This is definitely one of the better NYX eyeshadows I’ve tried, and personally, I’m always in awe when I can’t think of dupes for a shade!
Where to Buy: NYX, $5.00
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 9/10
PIGMENTATION : 10/10
TEXTURE : 10/10
LONGEVITY : 8.5/10
APPLICATION : 4/5
PACKAGING : 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is definitely one of the better NYX eyeshadows I've tried, and personally, I'm always in awe when I can't think of dupes for a shade!
OVERALL: A-
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
Estee Lauder Blackened Sapphire Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner
Estee Lauder Blackened Sapphire Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner
Estee Lauder Blackened Sapphire Pure Color Intense Kajal Eyeliner ($20.00 for 0.04 oz.) is a deep navy blue with a hint of indigo. It has a matte finish, and it has a fair amount of pigmentation in a single pass, but it builds up really easily and well. The texture is creamy without being slippery. It has a really dense feel and wears well on the lash line for ten hours or so (waterline is less, five to six hours). I couldn’t think of any dupes–a lot of my navy blue eyeliners are lighter or have shimmer, which tends to lighten the overall appearance.
Navy blue is an excellent alternative to black while still getting a really defined eye. It can also add a pop of color without adding brightness to your favorite neutral look (which is my favorite way to wear it). The matte base makes it more versatile, too, because you can smudge a shimmery eyeshadow to play with the finish and dimension of it.
Where to Buy: Nordstrom, $20.00
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 10/10
PIGMENTATION : 9/10
TEXTURE : 10/10
LONGEVITY : 10/10
APPLICATION : 4.5/5
PACKAGING : 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
It has a matte finish, and it has a fair amount of pigmentation in a single pass, but it builds up really easily and well. The texture is creamy without being slippery.
OVERALL: A
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil: Demolition, Perversion, Woodstock
Urban Decay will be adding three previously limited edition shades of 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencils ($19.00 for 0.04 oz.): Demolition (matte deepest darkest brown), Perversion (matte blackest carbon black), and Woodstock (bright fuchsia pink with silver micro glitter). I’m sure fans of the formula will be more than pleased to see such an ultra rich (and coveted) black made available year-round. No need to go easy any more!
- Demolition is a dark brown with subtle amber warmth around the edges. This is a new and exclusive shade. Try CoverGirl Brown as a possible dupe.
- Perversion is a really deep, dark black with a matte finish. It’s very creamy (more so than the majority of the 24/7 Pencils) but still works well.
- Woodstock is a fuchsia-red pink with a satiny sheen and silver sparkle. The pigmentation was decent but not fully opaque in a single pass. It is buildable (see the larger swatch).
I’ve reviewed Urban Decay’s eyeliner formula many times in the past, including this past holiday season as they launched two holiday sets of pencils (which is where you’ll find all three of these). The all-day wear from these eyeliners is the obvious selling point, but I also really like the range of colors and that they’re just creamy enough to glide across the lash line without tugging but not so creamy that they smudge. Both Demolition and Perversion apply like a dream, while Woodstock is sheerer than your average Urban Decay liner.
Which is your favorite?
Where to Buy: January/February 2012 at Urban Decay, Sephora, ULTA
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 9.5/10
PIGMENTATION : 9/10
TEXTURE : 10/10
LONGEVITY : 10/10
APPLICATION : 4.5/5
PACKAGING : 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
The all-day wear from these eyeliners is the obvious selling point, but I also really like the range of colors and that they're just creamy enough to glide across the lash line without tugging but not so creamy that they smudge. Both Demolition and Perversion apply like a dream, while Woodstock is sheerer than your average Urban Decay liner.
OVERALL: A
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
NYX Seafoam Green Eyeshadow
NYX Seafoam Green Eyeshadow
NYX Seafoam Green Eyeshadow ($5.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a green-teal with a white frosted sheen and chunkier silver sparkle. It’s a bit like MAC Aquadisiac, which also has a similar grit. Urban Decay Minx has a darker appearance, almost leans less green. Make Up For Ever #168 is much more intense and smoother. It’s lighter and more teal compared to MAC Jealousy Wakes.
It looks similar to how it does in the pan, actually–you can see a fair amount of white pearl in the eyeshadow from the get-go, which is what gives it that softer, light color. I like the muted quality of the shade, and it would work for someone who’s a little less fearless when it comes to color! What I didn’t like was the sparkly grit to it, which made it less lovely to use, as it tended to fall out underneath the eye. It could be more pigmented, too — you can see it’s not fully opaque and even in the swatch. When I tested Seafoam Green, it wore for six hours before it started to fade somewhat without a base, but it seemed fine after eight hours when applied over an eyeshadow base.
Where to Buy: NYX, $5.00
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 8.5/10
PIGMENTATION : 8.5/10
TEXTURE : 8/10
LONGEVITY : 7.5/10
APPLICATION : 3.5/5
PACKAGING : 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's actually a good dupe for MAC Aquadisiac, and I like the texture and payoff of this shade better, so if you're always had an eye on that one, you may like this one more! For $5.00, I think it's good, but in the grand scheme of things, it's an average eyeshadow.
OVERALL: B-
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
Chanel Tigerlily Ombre Essentielle / Soft Touch Eyeshadow
Chanel Spring 2012: Chanel Tigerlily Ombre Essentielle / Soft Touch Eyeshadow
Chanel Tigerlily Ombre Essentielle / Soft Touch Eyeshadow ($28.50 for 0.07 oz.) is described as a “golden orange.” It’s a warm tangerine orange with a soft golden orange shimmer set in a low-sheen finish. It reminded me a lot of MAC Juiced, which is a little dirtier–not quite as clean of a color as Tigerlily. MAC Straw Harvest is also similar but lighter.
The color payoff is good, delivering a healthy amount of color without having to pack it on, and the texture is soft, smooth, and even. Though I’m not always in love with Chanel’s eyeshadow quads, I’ve had really good luck with their individual eyeshadow formula. They tend to have that silky-smooth feel that just adheres to the lid without work; it’s like they just melt against the skin for a smooth appearance that’s about as natural as orange skin is ever going to look. The shimmer is faint but noticeable; it enhances but doesn’t overwhelm, so if you find frosty finishes tend to accentuate lid texture, this is a nice way to get some of the reflective qualities of a frostier finish without that problem.
Where to Buy: Nordstrom, $28.50
THE GLOSSOVER
PRODUCT : 10/10
PIGMENTATION : 9.5/10
TEXTURE : 10/10
LONGEVITY : 10/10
APPLICATION : 5/5
PACKAGING : 4/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
This type of orange is very on-trend for 2012, and the balance between softness and vibrancy is done well with Tigerlily. It has enough brightness not to look burnt, but it's not so bright that it reads neon.
OVERALL: A
See more photos & swatches! Keep Reading!
