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Chanel Mirage, Utopia, New Moon Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “bronze.” It’s a golden, medium-dark bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had excellent color payoff, and the texture was lightly creamy, velvety, and easy to blend on the lid. This shade wore well for twelve hours before slightly fading. MAC Crushed Clove (P, $15.00) is lighter, powder. bareMinerals Hot Commodity (LE) is less metallic, powder. Too Faced Jingle All the Way Eyeshadow #4 (LE, $16.00) is lighter, powder. Too Faced Buttered Rum (LE, $16.00) is similar, powder. Chanel Initiation (827) (LE, $36.00) is more glittery but still similar in color. Maybelline Downtown Brown (P, $6.99) is similar, powder. Urban Decay Suspect (LE, $18.00) is lighter, powder. MAC Woodwinked (P, $15.00) is darker, powder. Benefit Thanks a Latte (P, $20.00) is lighter, powder. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “luminous lavender.” It’s a pink-purple with a frosted, metallic finish and very fine sparkle. It had slightly cool undertones. The texture was velvety and smooth, but the color payoff was semi-opaque; buildable to a point but not fully opaque. This shade wore well for ten hours on me before starting to fade. MAC Great Beyond #2 (LE, $21.00) is darker, powder. Urban Decay Grifter (P, $18.00) is brighter, cooler-toned, powder. MAC Kitschmas (P, $21.00) is warmer, powder. Bobbi Brown Cool Lilac (P, $24.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow ($36.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “iridescent copper.” It’s a glittery, medium-dark brown with warm, red undertones and a metallic finish. The texture had that velvety, spongy feel that is expected from this formula, but it doesn’t apply as smoothly–looks almost gritty at times–due to the high glitter content. It had fairly good color payoff, but it seemed more prone to fading over time and only wore well for nine hours on me. Clarins The Essentials #9 (LE) is less glittery, powder. Makeup Geek Blitz (P, $6.99) is less glittery, powder. Le Metier de Beaute Champagne Shimmer (P, $28.00) is lighter. Disney by Sephora Chateau (LE) is less glittery, cooler-toned, powder. Tom Ford Beauty Platinum (LE, $40.00) is cooler-toned. Guerlain Les Fauves #1 (LE) is less glittery, powder. Estee Lauder Violet Underground #2 (LE, $21.00) is less glittery, powder. Chanel Ebloui (P, $36.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Mirage (95) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Utopia (96) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadow

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadows

Chanel New Moon (97) Illusion d'Ombre Eyeshadow
Chanel Illusion d’Ombre Eyeshadows

79 Comments

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G Avatar

What brush would you best recommend for applying these? Also, I have Emerveille, and while I wouldn’t say it “dried out”, it’s sort of gotten packed down from my finger in the pot. I think using a brush might help this not be the case, but I’m curious to know how your collection of Illusion d’Ombres has held up and whether they are still the original spongey, moussey, bouncey texture that they originally were. Thanks!

Karen Avatar

Hi Christine, do you think it would be possible to stir up the eyeshadow with a toothpick to fluff it back up, kind of like what you could do with a gel liner when it feels like it is getting a bit dry? Stirring it up, especially a gel liner seems to bring it back to life. But these are such a different texture, I wouldn’t want to stir it up in fear of encouraging it to dry up.

Kate Avatar

My experience has been that once you get past that very first light, spongy layer they start to feel more like a regular cream to powder shadow. This doesn’t seem to change how they apply, pigmentation etc. just the feel.

I have all the released shades and so far none have dried out, except Initiation which arrived pretty dry, but still works just fine. I’ve had the original 6 since they were released, so almost 3 years, and they haven’t dried up at all.

Teralissa Avatar

Hi Christine! I bought one of these in Fatal after Muse had swooned over it. I love the color. Love the staying power. Intrigued by the formula. I’m stumped on the application. What do you suggest for easiest application? The included brush seems better for lips. :/ Thanks in advance. 🙂

Nichole Avatar

I bought these yesterday online and can’t wait to get them. I’ve been impatiently waiting for this collection ever since Lisa Eldridge talked about it a few months ago.

Juliana Glumac Avatar

Are you wearing all 3 eyeshadows here rather than just New Moon as stated. Think I will try Mirage. I have not used this formula before.

Anne Avatar

HA I was so looking forward to the new Illusions d’ombre! I’m glad Mirage lives up to the expectations. I might also get New Moon regardless, it’s so pretty… (Utopia looks cool too, but I wouldn’t get as much use out of it, and a girl gotta choose :))

PJ Avatar

Wow! I almost ordered a couple of these last night , but held off , hoping that you would have swatches soon! I was hoping that New Moon was similar to the coppery, very LE, BB shadow stick Bronze of this past holiday season. Nope. Also, Im curious, how close is Utopia to Laura Mercier Caviar eye stick in Orchid– I love that one! Will you be reviewing the Amber Dore eyeliner, or any of the Chanel Polishes for summer 2014 soon? Thank you !

PJ Avatar

I tested LM orchid today against Chanel Utopia. Utopia is much much sheerer when applied and LM Orchid has better color payoff and much better staying power! Verdict: I nixed the Utopia and purchased Mirage and New Moon! May go back for Cheeky!

Chrystin @ A Mate & a Rottweiler Avatar

These are all so gorgeous!!! Love the look you created using the three colors! Of course I would like all of them, but if I had to choose one I think I would choose New Moon.

Just came across your blog last night and I’m loving all of your reviews & swatches!

Kisses from Buenos Aires xx

Emma M Avatar

Just got back from my Nordstrom playing with these!! Ended up getting New Moon although in person it is a lot more glittery – very very beautiful. I was tempted to get Mirage too but I don’t use bronze colors often. Can’t wait for Cheeky to arrive home, I am loving this collection already and haven’t even played with the lip glosses or mascaras yet!

Jenni Avatar

Am i the only one who thinks Mirage has got olive/green undertones (khaki) and will look bad on NC25 skin!?

New moon is definitely going home with me though!! Will have to ponder on Utopia for a bit!

Sarah Shah Avatar

Hi, Nice swatches. Love your website. Do you know which one is permanent among all three of them? I think Mirage is permanent and Utopia and New Moon are LE. You have any information about it? No need to rush and buy it Mirage is permanent. I have bought New Moon. Its Awesome….. 🙂

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