Top 10 of 2012: Eyeshadows

These are my top ten powder eyeshadows (I say that, because there were a few cream eyeshadows I thought about including, but there were so many powder ones I wanted to include, too!). I’m not going to do a breakout for cream eyeshadows specifically, but know that Milani’s Shadow Eyez and Maybelline Color Tattoos would be taking honors on that list! There were numerous L’Oreal Infallible and Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense shades to choose from, too, so I went with my personal shade favorites.

• Make Up For Ever #303 — Holodiam powder is glittery fun
• OCC Overlook — plum
• Bobbi Brown Slate — matte taupe
• L’Oreal Golden Emerald — shimmering olive green
• Illamasqua Burst — matte blue-teal
• MAC Modern Pewter — dirty gold
• Burberry Pale Barley — warm medium-dark brown
• Chanel Complice — shimmering beige
• Milani Shocking Pink — matte fuchsia pink
• Giorgio Armani #24 — dirty olive-gold-brown

What was your favorite single eyeshadow from 2012?

5 Soft Brown Eyeshadows to Be Sweet On

Rich browns are absolutely gorgeous to wear and especially to look at, but softer, lighter browns can be beautiful, too! Soft and light enough that they’re not rich or dark, but not so light that they become more beige than brown.

• Burberry Pale Barley — light-medium golden brown with a gray cast
• Buxom Mutt — medium brown with a hint of taupe
• Bare Escentuals Guru — almost a cool-toned soft brown
• Urban Decay Suspect — medium warm brown with a soft gold-bronze sheen
• Urban Decay Naked — light-medium neutral-warm brown with a matte finish

What’s your favorite soft brown eyeshadows?

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow ($29.00 for 0.088 oz.) is a pale, almost cool-toned medium-dark brown with a wheaten gold shimmer and sheen. Think taupe meets gold–it’s warmer, less gray than a true taupe, but it’s the warmth comes from the shimmer rather than an undertone. Urban Decay Suspect is warmer, less gray. theBalm Sultry is similar but doesn’t have any shimmer. MAC Patina is grayer, less golden. MAC Era has less of a golden shimmer.

Pale Barley is an easy-to-wear shade; it’s flattering on warmer complexions in particular, but I think the lack of red undertones will make this a wearable warmer brown for cooler skin tones as well. It has a soft, finely-milled texture that applies smoothly on the skin and adheres well without a base (lasts around eight hours without creasing, very subtle fading).  This is a shade that seems “boring” on the surface, but it’s something I could see myself reaching for a multitude of neutral looks. It’s not too shimmery or too dark, so it can be used for softer, daytime looks or combined with darker shades for an evening eye.

Burberry eyeshadows aren’t easy on the wallet, but at least they give you a fair amount of product (the average eyeshadow contains 0.05 oz., Burberry’s contains 0.088 oz.).  My go-to highlighter is Trench, and I’ve used that since Burberry debuted their beauty range–there’s only a small amount of pan showing in the middle, but the sides are still full.  The packaging is gunmetal gray with reflective packaging and the signature check logo on the outside (which does hold fingerprints).  Each compact comes with a velvet black-and-check patterned case.  There’s a sponge-tipped applicator and mirror inside as well.

The Glossover

	Pale Barley A
	This is a shade that seems "boring" on the surface, but it's something I could see myself reaching for a multitude of neutral looks. It's not too shimmery or too dark, so it can be used for softer, daytime looks or combined with darker shades for an evening eye.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow (Diffused/Bounced Flash)

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow (Natural Light)

Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow (outer corner/crease), Tarina Tarantino Jasper/Agate duo
elsewhere, Tarina Tarantino Glamorous Thief to line