NYX Hot Yellow Eyeshadow ($5.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a pale, pastel-like yellow with a frosted sheen. It has decent color payoff, but it’s not as dense as some other NYX eyeshadows. It also felt powderier and was less true-to-pan in terms of color; it looks much lighter, which could be a result of the higher pearl/frost content. Make Up For Ever #102 is a bit more pastel and has a matte finish. MAC Gorgeous Gold is a little yellower and has more iridescence.
While the texture was undeniably soft, it had a definite powdery feel that wasn’t easy to mitigate, even knowing that NYX’s eyeshadows are softer (compared to say MAC eyeshadows, which tend to be harder–not necessarily a bad thing!), so there was some fall out. The color payoff could have been better, too, because it had an underlying sheerness and the softness of the shade, while providing for a smooth look, made it just as easy to blend out the color so it looked almost faded. Without a base, this shade lasts four to five hours and then begins to look noticeably faded. With a base, I had better results, though after nine hours, it did seem a bit faded.
If you were looking for an intense yellow, you won't find it in Hot Yellow--it's much more muted and less yellow than it appears in the pan. The powderiness makes for below average wear between the fading and fall out, so it's definitely not a must-have NYX eyeshadow.
Product
8/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
8/10
Longevity
7/10
Application
3.5/5
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Lancome Volcano Color Design Eyeshadow ($18.00 for 0.042 oz.) is described as a “muted taupe-grey” with a shimmer finish. It’s a great variation on taupe–a cool-toned brown with a grayish overcast and has more of a satiny sheen than an overt shimmer finish, but it doesn’t deliver on full color coverage. As far as similar shades, theBalm Selfish and NARS Grand Palais are close in color but much more shimmery. MAC Satin Taupe is much more intense and deeper.
Unfortunately, the color payoff is somewhat lacking; it deposits decent color, and I discovered it performed a little better applied on the eye, but it’s just not as good as it could (or should) be and definitely requires some packing and pressing of the color onto to the lid to get decent payoff. The texture is soft without being powdery or too fragile. The formula is designed to be long-wearing with “pigment-packed color” that “stays true for daylong wear.” As expected, the wear is not perfect without a primer–I get around eight hours, after that point there is very subtle creasing–but have no issues when it is applied over a primer.
It's really too bad about the color payoff--I was really hoping to add another fantastic taupe to the list, as sometimes finding the right shade of taupe can be a challenge, especially one that nails it on texture, pigmentation, and color.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
6.5/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
8/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Dolce & Gabbana Jewels (142) Eyeshadow Quad ($59.00 for 0.16 oz.) is part of the Precious Stones collection, just in time for the holidays. Everything is inspired by the “sumptuous shades and textures” of precious stones and gem colors. It’s not exactly the interpretation I would expect when one is looking at jewels and gems–I always think turquoise, sapphire, ruby, but there are certainly lighter, less dramatic stones, too.
The first shade in the palette is a pale pink-lilac with a soft, frosted finish that is just slightly sheer. theBalm Curtain Call is purpler. It’s actually very, very similar to MAC Seedy Pearl. Make Up For Ever #303 is pinker and frostier. Next to that is a softened orange–kind of like a peach shimmered pale orange with a frosted finish. Like the first shade, it’s a touch sheer. The hue is similar to theBalm Stubborn Eyeshadow.
On the bottom left, we have a frosted, cool-toned white. It’s just shy of being silver-tinted. The theme of the quad is definitely softer color, because this one was also a little sheer. theBalm Sassy is similar in color. MAC Forgery is also similar but has a chunkier texture. Inglot #453 is similar but more opaque and has a more metallic finish. The last shade is medium-dark red-tinted brown with a champagne sheen. This was the most pigmented shade of the four. Bare Escentuals Vow is similar in color but has a satin finish, so it doesn’t look quite the same.
From Dolce & Gabbana’s press release on this collection, this quad is supposed to be a contrast between highlighting and shading, though I’m not sure where they’re getting “light jet” or “dark topaz.” I’m going to assume “light jet” is somehow the white shade. At some point in the press release, they describe the eyeshadow colors of the collection as “soft pearl hues to vibrant jewel shades.” Nothing about the Jewels quad is at all vibrant. They’re all very soft and muted. If you want intense color, look elsewhere, but if you like your eyeshadow soft and more natural, this should be right up your alley.
The confusion as to the pigmentation level aside, the texture of these was a bit powdery, with the peach-orange shade being the least powdery . It’s a very soft formulation, but it’s too soft, because it creates a lot of excess product without enough binder. I find I have to pack and pack and pack on the color to get a noticeable, even layer of color. They don’t just blend but disappear. You have to use a heavy hand to get enough color to show on the lid, but then you have to use the lightest hand to blend away any edges. It’s marginally better when they’re used wet, but not by much, because the color still fades–there’s just a little less fall out.
I always find Dolce & Gabbana eyeshadows require more work and patience than an eyeshadow ought to. I think these can work for someone who only sweeps on a single color and loves the idea of variety in color but really loves the idea of barely-there color on the lid (I have a friend just like this!) and is happy to see a visual difference in the pan but doesn’t mind the actual results. They just don’t cooperate well when they’re used together.
I haven't been impressed with a lot of Dolce & Gabbana's eyeshadows lately, which is a shame. They can do an excellent lipstick, but their range of eye products has been full of misses.
Product
7/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
8/10
Longevity
8/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
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Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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shu uemura Glitter Fuse Rouge Unlimited Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.13 oz.) is described as an “innocent beige shade with a heavenly splash of golden dust full of hope.” It’s very slick and shimmery with a rosy beige base color (that’s barely visible) with soft golden shimmer and a shiny finish. MAC Gel is frostier and less beige. MAC Quietly Please is a little pinker.
On my lips, it adds warmth to my otherwise corpse-like lips (cool-toned, grayish mauve) along with plenty of golden shimmer. The shimmer is noticeable but feels smooth on the lips, even as it wears away. It seems like the sheerness of the lipstick does make it prone to wearing away quicker than the average lipstick–I managed two and half hours of wear. The Rouge Unlimited formula is marketed to wear for up to eight hours, though. I didn’t notice any scent or taste, though, and I really appreciated that it didn’t feel gritty after awhile.
It's a great shade for everyday wear, but you'll need to keep it with you for frequent applications! If you like the effect but want it to last longer, you could layer it with a lip pencil or lipstick, though it may alter the appearance slightly.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
3/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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MAC Pearl Iced Delights Eye Bag ($45.00) includes Taupeless (lavender pink), Celestial Black (rich blue-black with red pearl), and Purple Dash (purple), along with a full-sized Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara and 275SE brush. There are three different Eye Bags and all three contain both the mascara and special edition brush, but the eyeshadow duo and eyeliner vary. MAC Ice Parade launches on October 27th, 2011 in-stores.
Taupeless is an icy pink with subtle cool undertones and silver sparkle. It has a lustre finish, which means it is prone to fall out. The pigmentation is so-so with some underlying sheerness. This particular shade is a repromote. It is similar to MAC Seedy Pearl, which has a smoother finish.
Celestial Black is a burgundy-tinted black with red shimmer. It has a velvet finish. It’s dry, stiff, and tends to work better when used with a fluffy brush (like the 222). The color payoff is underwhelming. MAC Beauty Marked isn’t as black-based.
Purple Dash is a purple-plum with fuchsia-purple shimmer. It’s creamier than the limited edition Technakohls from the holiday colour collection. This is part of the permanent range. It is similar to Make Up For Ever #4L.
This kit would be a skip for me, because the fall out from Taupeless combined with the stiffness of Celestial Black make it less than appealing at $45. The mascara and special edition 275 are nice additions but likely not the reason you were interested in it! I think some will love the bag, while others will hate it. It’s very soft and squishy, so it feels cheap to me, though it is lined and feels durable enough.
This kit would be a skip for me, because the fall out from Taupeless combined with the stiffness of Celestial Black make it less than appealing at $45. The mascara and special edition 275 are nice additions but likely not the reason you were interested in it!
Product
7/10
Pigmentation
7.5/10
Texture
8/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Just in time for fall, Dolce & Gabbana’s Cocoa Eyeshadow Quad ($59.00 for 0.16 oz.) offers a seemingly perfect mix of hues for the cooler temps and falling leaves. The first shade is soft peachy beige with a matte finish. It has a slightly powdery texture that may not work so well with drier skin types and lends itself to a sheerer application overall. The shade reminded me of Inglot #328 (which is a touch darker) and, to a lesser degree, Inglot #330 (which is lighter). To the right of that is a medium-dark orange with a matte finish. It has a similar feel and texture as the peach shade, which is a little powdery and sheer in places. MAC Rule is similar but has better color payoff.
On the bottom left, there is a warm, red-toned medium-dark brown with a soft golden bronze shimmer and satiny sheen. It has good color payoff and has a soft, silky smooth texture. I felt it was the best out of the four shades in the palette. MAC Lie Low is similar but a step darker. MAC Faux Gold is similar but more intense. MAC Texture is less red-toned. Beside the medium-dark brown, there is a burgundy-brown with a satiny sheen but less-than-stellar color payoff. The texture is on the drier side, which makes it harder to blend and achieve the intensity as seen in the pan. It’s too bad, because I think the mix of burgundy and brown makes it the more complex shade of the four. MAC Twinks is browner and darker. Chanel Ebloui is darker. Bare Escentuals’ Kismet is very similar but matte in finish.
A lot of the issues are really emphasized during application than when they’re swatched. I have more trouble working with Dolce & Gabbana’s matte and semi-matte eyeshadows than I do with their shimmery shades (especially when the texture is dense and feels buttery to the touch). They have a tendency to apply in a chalky, uneven way and require a fair amount of color-packing to achieve decent color payoff. Fluffier brushes (think MAC’s 222) work better with the dry texture of the bottom right shade, while a flatter and firmer (think MAC 249) brush will work better with the powdery shades. I’d recommend tapping the brush lightly against your forearm before applying to the lid or else be prepared to do some clean-up.
This is a palette more suited towards warmer complexions (with peach, red, or yellow undertones), because of the abundance of peach, orange, and red here. None of these shades are cool-toned, and two shades have fairly strong red undertones, so it may turn muddy or lean too strongly in the red/orange direction to be as flattering on cooler complexions. I am an advocate of wearing whatever you like, though, because it’s in the way one wears it and ultimately outweighed by the confidence to wear it. If you’re cooler-toned, you might try pairing it with ashy browns, grays, or blue-based pinks.
Unfortunately, only one shade applies as well as it swatches (the bottom left), while the other three require more finesse. The two matte finished shades need to be packed on, because they are powdery and don't build well.
Product
7.5/10
Pigmentation
8/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
8/10
Application
3.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
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