Contour with a Clean Slate

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow ($21.00 for 0.08 oz.) is described as a “medium grey.” It’s a softened gray-tinged taupe brown with a matte finish. MAC Omega is lighter, warmer. theBalm Celebrational is darker and has a satiny sheen. Bare Escentuals Vow is a few shades darekr and has a strong red undertone. MAC Twilight Falls is frosted and darker. MAC EarthlyM is a little browner and has a shimmery finish. Inglot #360 is a bit darker and less gray, but it was the closest I could think of.

This hue is part of Bobbi Brown’s permanent matte eyeshadow range.  The pigmentation is true-to-pan, but it looks soft, almost sheer, but not really.  I think the matte finish, combined with the soft texture and muted color, might give off that impression.  This kind of shade works well as a contouring shade (great for defining the crease or layered to add definition over another crease color) on light to medium-dark skin tones.  Darker complexions may like this has a general lid shade but will not see as much contouring with it as it starts to blend in more with the skin color on the darker end of the spectrum.

It has a soft texture that’s not too dense or buttery but not horribly dry and stiff and firm. There are two distinct matte formulas:  one is softer, more buttery/dense (but often can be powdery) and the other is firmer, drier, but so long as it’s soft and not stiff, it will work quite nicely and deliver great color payoff, blendability, and wear.  The same is true for eyeshadows, but I’ve noticed the distinction is much stronger within the matte category.  Slate is dry but soft, so it isn’t powdery and blends out easily–but not so easily that you have to go back and add more color.  It wore for eight hours (without a primer as well as with a primer) without creasing or fading.

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow

Bobbi Brown Slate Eyeshadow