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Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove & Charred Emerald Eye Metals Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Eye Metals ($45.00 for 0.10 oz.) is supposed to be a “rich color powder eyeshadow” that is “densely pigmented” that can be worn alone or layered. There are two shades in the collection, and they performed similarly, though Bitter Clove is a bit richer overall and longer wearing. They were nicely pigmented with very dense, almost cream-like textures that blended out easily on the lid and adhered to bare lids. I found that they were prone to creasing within six hours of wear, but the wear time improved to eight hours (before creasing) over primer, so primer helped but can’t say these are the longest wearing formula. I did not experience much fall out, though, despite the high sparkle content in Bitter Clove (Charred Emerald has more of a pearly sheen). I liked them, but at the price point, it’s definitely a lot for a single eyeshadow, so they’re not going to be worth it for everyone.

They come in the same leather (or leather-like, even in the official press release I now have, there is almost nothing on packaging) compact with heavy-duty gold clasps and good weight to them. These are larger eyeshadows in terms of overall size, and the weight is about double most eyeshadows (MAC, Urban Decay, etc.).

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals ($45.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark golden blackened-brown with larger, gold flecks of sparkle and shimmer that has a more metallic finish. It was intensely pigmented with a dense, cream-like texture that blended and adhered well to the lid. The color started to crease faintly after six hours of wear. Gucci Beauty Iconic Gold (DC, $37.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Sydney Grace Firelight Glow (LE, $6.00) is cooler (95% similar). Bobbi Brown Bronze (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Anastasia Brownie (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Urban Decay Zap (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Danessa Myricks Muse (P, $18.00) is cooler (90% similar). Tarte Shake Down (LE, $14.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). ColourPop So Quiche (LE, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Starlight #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Natasha Denona Raw Gold (13M) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Give Me Glow Glamorous (P, $10.00) is lighter (90% similar). Give Me Glow 90s (PiP, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Amira (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Huda Beauty Dubai (Remastered) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Too Faced Don't Settle (LE, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Urban Decay Lithium (PiP, $20.00) is warmer (95% similar). Guerlain Les Precieux #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Arendelle (LE, $6.00) is lighter, less pigmented, warmer (85% similar). MAC Put U on Gold (LE, $21.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Urban Decay Burn (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals ($45.00 for 0.10 oz.) is a deep, blackened teal with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen. The pigmentation was fantastic and was easy to apply to the skin. While it was intense on the lid initially, I noticed that the brightness seemed to fade within a few minutes, and it had more of a blackened look. From there, the color wore well for six hours before it started to crease on me. Milani Mix It Up (DC, $6.99) is less shimmery (95% similar). ColourPop Water Me (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). Anastasia Throne (LE, $12.00) is darker (95% similar). Coloured Raine Forbidden (DC, $6.99) is lighter (95% similar). bareMinerals Dazzle (PiP, ) is more muted (90% similar). Marc Jacobs Beauty For Once (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar). Dose of Colors Nightsky (P, $20.00) is warmer (90% similar). Dior Denim #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Viseart Boheme Dream #10 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). Too Faced Storm Cloud (LE, $16.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). bareMinerals Deep Sea (LE, $14.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Deep Blue Green (PiP, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar). Viseart Dark Matter (GPV2 #18) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Tonight's the Night (LE, $22.00) is brighter (90% similar). ColourPop Mermaid Boy (PiP, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar). Charlotte Tilbury Cleopatra (DC, $34.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Viseart Shameless (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Fishy (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Dose of Colors Palma (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar). MAC Prrrplexing (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Bitter Clove Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Look breakdown is here

Estee Lauder x Victoria Beckham Charred Emerald Eye Metals
Look breakdown is here

38 Comments

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Katherine T. Avatar

I love the pigment and sparkle in Bitter Clove, but I have a feeling it’s going to crease on my super oily lids, even with primer. At $45, will only consider buying if I can swatch in person, hopelessly fall in love with it , and can return if it doesn’t work out

Mariella Avatar

Given the price of these, the fact that they are singles and how hard they are to get hold of, I am very glad I have several dupes for each of them. It would be good if EL gave info about the packaging (I doubt it is real leather but you never do know) since vegetarians and those opposed to animals being used in cosmetics would really want to know this information.

Christine Avatar

Yes, I was surprised as well, for that reason, but also that you would think if it was real leather, then that would “justify” the price point of the line. The fact that it didn’t seem to be called out made me think it wasn’t real, though.

Mariella Avatar

At the risk of sounding cynical (what? me? nahhh!), I would think the price point has to do more with the licensing they’re paying to Victoria Beckham than to the material on the compacts. But, like I say, it’s the cynic in me!

maria Avatar

I love both these eye shadows and pre ordered both but with the review I am not too sure of Emerald charred. I also pre ordered a 2nd Highlighter in Modern Mercury all at Saks today. When I went to Saks a minute ago I was going to cancel my order and place a new order minus the Emerald Charred I am glad that I didn’t because I noticed they are not pre ordering the Highlighter in Modern Mercury any longer. They might have stopped taking orders for it but you can still pre order everything else.

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

These remind me of some Laura Mercier individual eyeshadows that were meant to be used wet. They were very metallic but not glittery, one color is a black gold, one was a teal, a peachy pink, a violet and some other colors. I will have to see if I still have them and if they are as similar as I recall.

kjh Avatar

That look, omg. You certainly know how to work shadows. Despite the high tag on this whole collection, these are the first that scream at me. Most of the people I currently know probably spend 45$ on makeup for a year. And a pound of this would feed many, if the $ were given to a hunger charity or a dog shelter. These make me feel a tad guilty over how acceptable high price makeup is to me, and how much I spend, in view of real world needs. Guilty as charged. Gotta realign my priorities.

Lauren Avatar

Hi Christine,

I’m surprised at your swatches and color pay off in your photos. I listed after this color for weeks and when I finally got it from net a porter, the shadow lacked the richness you see in your photos. As for applying with a brush, the color payoff was terrible. So light, with barely any powder on the brush. Once I put it on it disappeared in a couple hours. So disappointed ? I returned it.

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