Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows Swatches, Photos, Reviews
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fall 2011: Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new product for fall, and it comes in six different shades. Chanel describes these as: “This intensely shimmering long-wear eyeshadow offers true versatility. An innovative gel texture that is both soft and cushiony allows it to be worn as eyeshadow or eyeliner. Includes a specially designed shadow/liner brush, developed specifically for this unique formula.”
I think the most common question I got asked regarding these was, “How do these compare to Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense?” The easy answer: they don’t. They’re in glass pots with black lids, and they’re really quite differennt otherwise. The formulas are not the same at all. There is such a drastic difference in the texture alone that they do not invite comparison. In terms of color, there may be similarities, but that is no different than comparing any eyeshadow to either of these products. It’s like comparing a the formula of a cream eyeshadow to that of a powder eyeshadow. The texture of these is most like Buxom’s Stay There eyeshadows but these are springier.
- Fantasme is a bright white with silvery-white shimmer. Of the six, this was the only one that I would categorize as sheer. This is more like white and silver shimmer spread through a clear base. It adds sparkle rather than color. MAC’s Pearl Reflects Glitter is most comparable, but it is a chunkier glitter and will need an adhesive base or modifier to get it to stay (and last I heard, MAC’s Glitters were not eye safe).
- Emerveille is a soft peach with a hint of brown and a champagne shimmer-sheen. theBalm’s Luscious Lani is very similar in color, perhaps a touch less peach. It seems like it would also be comparable to Benefit’s RSVP.
- Illusoire is a smoky, purple-mauve over a grayish-brown base with a silvery sheen. This has a frostier finish, compared to the subtly metallic finish of Emerveille. It is similar to MAC Hint of Sapphire, but it doesn’t have the multi-colored shimmer (however, it applies infinitely better). It’s a little taupe, but it does lean purple, so it’s not a true taupe. It ends up looking rather similar to the grayish-purple shade from the same collection’s Prelude Eyeshadow Quad, just with a more shimmery finish.
- Epatant is a smoky, muted taupe with a hint of green with an antique gold shimmer-sheen. MAC Greensmoke is much darker and greener, while Make Up For Ever #84 is closer in overall color/feel, it is more intense.
- Mirifique is a dark black with multi-colored shimmer and larger silver sparkle. I can’t think of a dupe for this particular shade, because the way the glitter sits on the black base makes it different. Perhaps MAC Black Tied, but Black Tied is a weaker formula with less color payoff.
- Ebloui is a burgundy brown with warm, red undertones and multi-colored shimmer that is dominated by gold and cranberry. On me, my yellower undertones pull out the brown tones, while I would expect pinker undertones to pull out the burgundy tones. I couldn’t find a dupe for this one; it’s brown yet burgundy. It might be duped with a mix of Urban Decay Gash and MAC Cranberry.
The texture of these is bizarre–they’re spongy but they bounce back. I imagine this is the texture most expected out of MAC Big Bounce Eyeshadows, actually. They are a gel-based formula, but they have the thickness of a cream, creaminess of a mousse, and springiness of a sponge. It spreads really nicely and evenly on the lid without being sheer (unless you deliberately apply a minute amount).
I found five of the six to be nicely pigmented with no concerns for lack of color payoff–Fantasme was the only one I found lacking in that department. The colors themselves are soft and subtle, with an edge of smokiness, and they tend to be more than just one flat color, so they will easily take on different tones depending on how they’re worn, what they’re paired with, and the undertones in the skin.
On me, these wear twelve hours (worn alone, no primer) without creasing, fading, migrating, or smudging. They apply evenly over the lid, and they’re blendable for long enough to give you time to soften any edges but are never fully wet, so they don’t gather into the creases and lines of the eye before it fully sets. Once it sets, it really doesn’t budge.
The brush included with each shade is actually useful, though in all honesty, it’ll be thrown into a drawer (along with all of those velvety pouches that I don’t use but can’t bear to toss). It works, and it does work well with these–it’s a nice touch, because it’s a quality brush with a thin, angled edge to allow for lining but with enough area to also apply all-over the lid. I prefer brushes with longer handles, but this is one of the better brushes I’ve seen included with a product.
Fantasme, again, was the only shade that was less-than-stellar, and of course, it would not earn the same marks as these do overall or as the other shades. It is one of six, and it is the only one with any reason for a reduction in rating. I would give it a 7 on pigmentation and 8.5 on texture. Again, this is why I prefer reviewing individual shades rather than groups of shades in one post!
Where to Buy: Chanel, $36 each
The Glossover
With the exception of Fantasme, these are really standout products with an excellent, truly long-wearing formula, gorgeous color selection with nuanced shades, and a product that applies easily.
See more photos & swatches!
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Fantasme Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Emerveille Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Illusoire Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Epatant Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Mirifique Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Chanel Ebloui Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadows
Product & Review FAQ
Where can I purchase it? How much is it?
Chanel, $36.00 each.
Is it limited edition?
No.
Any dupes?
See individual shade descriptions -- I did my best to list any comparable shades.
I have the illusoire and it is beautiful. I want all of them! (working on it). I love cream shadows and love love loved the Guerlain Divinora cream shadow pots that have were discontinued a few years ago. These Chanel ones are not the same texture but are equally as beautiful and easy-to-use with beautiful results. The Benefit cream shadow pots are nice but are not THAT much cheaper and do not compare to the quality or results you can achieve with the Chanel ones. I also have L'Oreal (infallible) and Revlon (Tattoo) newest cream shadows. Both are OK for their prices too...if you have to go chi-chi, go real chi-chi. :) Buy the Chanel ones...totally worth it!
Hey Christine, New fan over here! Love that you take the time to review all these products--SO helpful. It looks like Mirifique has a green in it, or is that just a deceptive silver? Thanks!
More deceptive silver I'd say!
after calling my local sephora every week since christmas to know if they had got them back in stock I finally got illusioire... it's so pretty!!!! perfect for a soft daytime smoky eye or a night out dramatic look... but the first time I wore but..it creased like mad! the next day I tried it with urban decay primer potion underneath and...it creased so bad too after a couple of hours! :-( I couldn't believe it! then i realized I was wearing a super rich moisturizer on my face (it's unusually cold in italy right now) ...avoiding the eye area made the trick and my illusoire lasted a whole night out perfectly! try a lighter moisturizer on the eye area if you had my same experience! :-)
Wow, i might actully buy a few. they look very nice! do you need a primer with these shadows? does the little applicator work och should you use a normal brush?
I am really interested in buying this for my eyeliner. I was just wondering if you knew the lifespan of these eyeshadows? Does it dry out fairly quickly?
I haven't had issues!
hi christine! i wanted the genuine treasure pp from mac....is the color of epatant look close to genuine treasure? thank you! (i'm from france and i love what you do..thank you a ton for this site! muah!)
Genuine Treasure is much browner!
I live in Mexico City. I had visited all the stores that have Chanel products - makeup- Unfortunatelly it is an "impòssible mision" to buy any of the new eyeshadows Illusion d´Ombre. I also visited some internet pages without any results. I am trying to buy eyecream no. 83. Can somebody provide me a place to buy the cream eyeshadow. regards
ya los tienen en el palacio de hierro
I tried Illusoire right next to Buxom's Stay There in Pug, and on my skin tone they look exactly the same (at least inside the store, I'd have to go and check both swatches on daylight).
These are so expensive :( but nevertheless, I want to save up to buy Illusoire and Epatant - I love them!
I wonder if I did something wrong... I had the lady at the counter apply it on my lids and then i walked around with it all day (ok it was a very hot day-) but it creased quite a bit on me... Is there maybe a time to let it set or.... Because I LOVE the shade illusoire... but if this keeps creasing on me? I dunno maybe its just me?
try to wear it over mac paint or paint pot-I was wearing illusoire over painterly paint pot-no creasing just perfect bulletproof wearability ;)
Absolutely gorgeous! too bad they are so expensive...
I'm doing my own makeup for my wedding next Saturday, these sound like a good idea...what do you think, Christine? I loved the look of the ombres perlees palette and would love to use that on my wedding day...but I feel that those shadows do not wear long enough!
If you haven't used them before, I wouldn't use a brand new product so close to the wedding date!
Do you know anything about how they wear as eyeliner? I know that Chanel describes them as eyeshadow AND -liner, but I fear that they might be too soft to wear as a smudge-proog liner. Do you have swatches of the shades applied as an eyeliner?
They wore fine for me! :)
Since these are so expensive, I've been searching...found some dupes for Chanel D'Ombre Eye Shadows! Try these for much lower cost options: Bare Escentual's Cherry Coco Truffle = Chanel Ebloui (reddish brown) $12 Mattify Cosmetic's Summer Storm = Chanel Mirifique (silver)$5 Mattify Cosmetic's Lucky Penny = Chanel Emerveille (shiny copper)$5 Theyre all long lasting and almost identical matches. Love them!
does anybody know if they dry out fast? because i´d love to purchase 3 or 4 but only if they last for a bit! (probably nobody could tell YET but maybe a forcast? or guess. i didnt try the concistency yet.(sorry my english is bad i know)
I bought Illusiore and Mirifique when they first came out about a month ago and have been using them 3-4X per week. I bought Epatant last night and I immediately noticed how different the texture of the first two have changed! They are definitely not as springy and mousse-y anymore, but fortunately there is no change in performance. I still love them and now I'm loving Epatant too!
I bought Ebloui yesterday. Love it! The texture is so unique, easy to work with and soft. Might pick up Emerveille next week,
Gosh darn it! I saw the advert for these in a few magazines recently so decided to pop on here and see what you thought of them. I'll probably have to pick up Illusoire thanks to the great review.
mirifique is jaw dropping
I love Mirifique! I bought it and Fantasme and really love both of them. The Mirifique is so stunning as is the Fantasme..I apply a bit of the fantasme over the mirifique for a little more sparkle. I also find the Mirifique works well as an eyeliner and both colors are long wearing and no fallout. I am lemming for the other colors in the collection too!
hi I went to Chanel's site to get one of these but I dont see a picture of the brush anywhere??
Thanks for posting the ingredients. I am allergic to silica. It's in almost every product. Only the cooper shadow didn't contain silica, but at least I don't have to run to the counters and have the salespeople show me the box. Thanks great reviews!
Hey Christine! Gorgeous swatches! I'm having a hard time deciding between Illusoire, Mirifique and Epatant? Which one would you choose?
These are a nightmare to work with, they are just awful. Sent them back!
Hi Christine! I got this in illusoire and it's gorgeous but it just won't set on me. No matter how long I wait, I could literally easily wipe it off with just a tissue or my fingers, and my lids aren't oily or anything. :( Do you think any of the other colors would wear any better? Any tricks for setting the product? It's just sad because the color is gorgeous and it doesn't crease...but if I accidentally touch my eye it messes everything up. :(
It also creased on me... so weird, I love the color.. but im not sure if i should buy it...
After reading your review on the blog and YT video, i ran out to Nordstrom and bought Epatant & Illusoire. Wearing Epatant today, and it's beautiful. The color payoff is amazing!! It's so easy to blend when compared to Make Up For Ever Aqua cream, Benefit Creaseless E/S & Estee Lauder Double Wear ES. I've only worn it for about 3 hours, so can't say if they will crease by the end of the day or not. But so far, i'm really impressed with these.
Just bought three: Illusoire, Epatant and Emerveille!!! I tried it with Chanel #2 brush when I was at the counter, it applied very well, very smooth and evenly on the lid. It is glitter but not overwhelmed and it does not make my eye a glitter ball. It has this jello bouncy texture. Color payoff is excellent. Definitely a little goes a long way!!!
Do these dry out like MAC paint pots do? Approximately how long do these last?
I've only had them for a very short period, so I could not tell you, but they seem fine to me at this time.
It is much easier to apply than MAC paint pot!
omg, i NEED epatant!!! and illusoire totally reminds me of chanel's previous hit nail polish, paradoxal. love!
I would like to post your link to a board, cause several ppl might want to see to texture and the true color of this CHANEL new collection, tks in advace.
do you think these will be wearable in a school or office environment? specifically epatant? as maybe an liner or something?
Picked up #83 Illusoire today and I am in love. The texture of these is amazing. So, so gorgeous.
I purchased Illusoire with Prelude and Khaki Platine last week. I used it today. It's difficult to describe the texture; its like a gel-spongy substance. I used a sponge tipped applicator instead. It applies very easily, has good pigmentation and is easy to blend. The color is a rich purple. I wore it over UDPP; it stayed nicely in place all day. Didn't lose color. It's a lovely product. I may try the peach and khaki shade next but @ $36 a piece I may not. I like it very much.
I think I just fell in love with Mirifique.
I feel like we might be looking at lorac liquid lustre kind of, and then paint pot in rubenesque, dangerous cuvee, greenstroke, blackground kind of, and then coral crepe? Like the whole line but better. I need to go to the swatch gallery. It's late y'all.
How does mirifique compare to MAC blackground paint pot both formula and look? Are these easier to blend than paintpots. Do they take longer to dry? I love cream shadows the most.
Mirifique is blacker and has a bunch of shimmer and glitter. These are easier to blend than paint pots, just because they're not as thick. They don't take long to dry at all - they're not super wet to begin with!
Why all these super glittery e/s? Disco is dead or so I thought.
Christine, do you think Mirifique could be worn as an eyeliner?
Maybe - the glitter might be bothersome, though.
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