Chanel Spring 2011: Ombres Perlees

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette ($65.00 for 0.17 oz.) is a new and limited edition eyeshadow palette from Chanel’s spring collection that features five shades.  It contains: a pearled, metallic barely gold-tinged white; metallic pinked bronze withc hampagne sheen; dirty mauve gray; darkened, charcoal foreest green with metallic sheen; and dirty charcoal navy blue with sheen. All five were really pigmented except the purple shade, which was noticeably sheerer. The finishes on these is rather metallic, with some being true metallics and others being a cross between frost and metallic.

Initially, I likened the texture of these shades to Stila’s Jewel Eyeshadow Palette or Urban Decay’s Stardusts — but not quite. Those two have a wetter, glittery texture, while these as drier but smoother and are about shimmer, micro-shimmer, sheen, but not so much about glitter. They’re similar but different enough that I wouldn’t say they are the same.

These are creamy, buttery shadows; they feel almost like a cream-to-powder eyeshadow, but they’re powder. The texture is really lovely, and if you have the chance to, get a feel (though I have no idea how well these hold up as testers!). Again, all of the shades except the purple one were pigmented; the swatches are shown with just a single pass of color–there’s no layering required–and they’re incredibly easy to blend out, because they apply so smoothly. I liked using the 239 or the 242.

I am disappointed in the amount of product, though, because the average eyeshadow quad contains 0.24 oz. of product, which retails for $56, and while this one is $65, you’re getting only 0.17 oz. I don’t, however, think this will prevent it from being one of the more sought after items from the spring collection, and I can certainly see why it has been flying off the shelves before it’s even officially hit counters.

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• Product: 27/30
• Value: 6/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: The texture is phenomenal and something one has to try out in person to really understand, but I’m not sure this color scheme is as workable as I’d like to see in a palette. It runs cooler, with even the coppery shade seemingly cool, so it will work best on cooler skin tones. I think because the shades are darker but cool, warmer skin tones can still pair them with warmer shades for an easy look.

WHERE TO BUY: Nordstrom

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette