Into the Ashes of Leaves

Giorgio Armani #25 Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow ($32.00 for 0.14 oz.) is smoky, blackened-olive green with lighter olive green and antique gold shimmer. MAC Smutty Green is greener, less olive. MAC Vintage Coin is similar but warmer and lighter. Bare Escentuals Speaker Box is browner with more olive and less black in the base color. Estee Lauder Cyber Green is blacker. MAC Greensmoke is a smidgen lighter. MAC Femme Noir is slightly greener but similar to the base color (it has no shimmer). Make Up For Ever #84 comes the closest in color, though it’s a bit less olive-tinted and has a flatter finish.

The color payoff seemed lackluster when applied dry, but it was a little better (decent to good) when applied to the lid with a brush. When applied damp/wet, it’s much better, though–totally opaque, the richness of the blackened base color comes through, and the finish becomes more metallic. When it’s used dry, it has a more muted appearance, because the base color appears more charcoal-like. The color is impressive when used damp or over a primer, and if you only use it dry, you might find it lacking. #25 wore well–a solid twelve hours–with no signs of fading or creasing.

Giorgio Armani #25 Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow

Giorgio Armani #25 Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow

Giorgio Armani #25 Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow

Giorgio Armani #25 Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow

Giorgio Armani #25, Le Metier de Beaute Nutmeg (12 hours of wear)