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Chanel Fatal (837) & Initiation (827) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadows Review, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “silver purple.” It’s a plummy burgundy with soft warm, brown undertones and a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff, but the texture was still creamy and soft, so it could be sheered out to a softer color–I found the warmth of the undertone came through the more I blended it out. It wore well for nine and a half hours and was somewhat faded (but no creasing) after ten and a half hours of wear. Disney Rococo is browner, darker. Kat Von D Fur Elise is matte. theBalm Just This Once Jamie is browner. MAC Universal Appeal is similar. MAC Star Violet is browner, warmer. Giorgio Armani #27 is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches.

Initiation (827) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “platinum bronze.” It’s a medium-dark, warm, bronzy brown with gold shimmer and sheen. It had stronger yellow undertones than most bronze hues have. It had fairly good color payoff, but it wasn’t fully opaque. The consistency is lightweight and creamy, so it also sheers out easily if you want a wash of color. It wore well for nine hours, and it was showing some signs of fading (but no creasing) after ten hours. Illamasqua Ore is similar but a powder. Girogio Armani #26 is darker, less sparkly. Maybelline Bad to the Bronze is less gold. MAC Woodwinked is powder. Dior Golden Savannah #2 is less metallic, browner. bareMInerals Ritzy is darker, powder. See comparison swatches.

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Fatal (837) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d'Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow
Chanel Initiation (827) Illusion d’Ombre Long-Wear Eyeshadow

48 Comments

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Lauren Avatar

Ok, my order of Initiation just arrived yesterday, and I was going to take it back because it had totally shrunken up from the jar like yours–I thought it had dried out. But is that how they normally look? This is my first Illusion D’Ombre.

Christine Avatar

Yep, they look like this! I think it might have to do with change in temperatures? The product tends to stick together, so it moves on its own. I’m not entirely sure, but this is how I’ve experienced the formula (and not just with Chanel, with any brand) – texture always feels fine.

Jaime Avatar

The same happened to me with Illusoire after a few months, and when I asked a Chanel SA about it, she exchanged it out for me, even though it had been over a year! (I hadn’t used a whole lot of it, though.) She said it might be due to the climate where I keep my makeup – the bathroom. (my MAC pots slowly dry out too, even when I store them upside down.)

Sunny Avatar

Aww to be honest I’m a little disappointed in Initiation! It looks a tad too sheer for my taste when it is sheered out. Still, it’s a great shade and I’ll give it a swatch to see how I feel. Thanks for the reviews, Christine!

Kortni Avatar

These colors aren’t really my taste. If they were darker I’d love that. Are these from the Rouge Moire collection? Chanel has so many collections it’s hard to keep up!

Kay Avatar

Hi Christine, thanks for getting the review up so quickly!!

I was wondering how you would compare Fatal to Ebloui from the permanent range of IdOs.

Thanks so much 🙂

M Avatar

Christine, do you know why they are not entirely ‘covering’ the packaging? I bought Fantasme and it looks even more “faulty’ than those ones in the pictures? Is that a production flaw or something?

Jill Avatar

I’m in Canada and we always get our launches later than the US, so I’m not sure if I’ll get to a counter to preview it…I also want Accent blush, but the US non-baked version. I will have to ask a US friend to purchase that for me. Will you be reviewing the Ombre Matelasses palette?

Kate Avatar

So pretty! And so fast, how is it time for Holiday Collections already!?

Will you be reviewing any of the Moire collection from Chanel? They have this Rouge Allure color Farouche that I’d love to hear your thoughts on!

Yen.Lin Avatar

Christine, how does Chanel’s Fatal (837) compare to Maybelline’s Pomegranate Punk? Also, which brush do you use to apply the eyeshadows? Thanks.

SandraJT Avatar

Wow, seeing these all pathetically shriveled up worries me since I’ve now purchased 3 or 4, although none have looked like this brand new. I’d definitely – or definitely will – take them back for an exchange if they ever start to appear like this. They’ve got significantly less product than Dior’s Mono Fusions, for a lot more cash. So I expect even more from Chanel’s product than I do from Dior’s.

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