Giorgio Armani Eye Tint ($38.00 for 0.22 fl. oz.) is a “fluid eyeshadow” that is supposed to be a long-wearing (“16-hour staying power)’ with “deep and intense color.” When they work, they work well, but there is a definite learning curve with the formula. I noticed that sometimes when I pulled the doe-foot applicator out of the tube for a few shades, the consistency was thinner and more watery, and other times, it was almost clumpy with product, though it never felt genuinely thick. If it is more watery than not, it can apply somewhat sheer, but if it is normal (because a more watery pull was more infrequent), it applied beautifully with rich, opaque color coverage (which was what happened most of the time with most shades). It is imperative to spread out the product with a smooth, even layer, or else it can add a textured (read: wrinkled, scaly, etc.) look to the lid.

They dry down in fifteen to twenty seconds, and it doesn’t stay really wet for long, but it remains blendable for almost a minute. I didn’t feel too rushed, but I’d probably do one eye at a time. If you press and rub your finger gently against the lid, there will be transfer, which is why the formula is still blendable even after it dries down. The formula doesn’t feel heavy on, and it feels and looks more like a powder after it dries down. It is also a buildable formula, if you prefer to apply in layers, but it can be trickier to get a really thin, even layer. I used a flat, synthetic brush to apply and then a synthetic crease brush to blend the edges for this formula. They wear an impressive length of time (though not quite 16 hours) and tend to fade more than crease on my normal-to-dry lids (no primer). Once you get the hang of using them, they’re really lovely to use. If you prefer a sheerer look, it’s very easy to use less and blend out more. They seem overpriced (I would have expected $32-34), but at least they come with a fair amount of product (other high-end cream eyeshadows tend to contain an average of 0.14 oz.), which is slightly mitigated by the tube packaging (harder to get every last bit out of it).

Giorgio Armani Onyx (05) Eye Tint ($38.00 for 0.22 fl. oz.) is a dirty, tarnished gold with a hint of pewter. I want to call it a mix of gold, olive, and pewter. It had a more metallic finish with a hint of gold sparkle. The pigmentation on this often varied; one time it would be very opaque (see it applied to the eye–that was a single layer), the next a little watery and thus semi-sheer to semi-opaque. The color wore well for fourteen hours before fading, but there was some minor fall out after eight and a half hours of wear. Chanel Tisse Fantaisie #3 (LE) is powder, warmer. Kat Von D Division (LE) is powder. Cle de Peau Stardust #4 (P) is warmer, powder. Hello Kitty Cookie (LE) is lighter, powder. Chanel Tisse Venitien #3 (P) is less shimmery, lighter, powder. L’Oreal Gilded Envy (755) (P, $7.99) is warmer, powder. NARS Taiga #2 (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, powder. MAC Cakeshop (LE) is lighter. MAC Modern Pewter (LE, $19.50) is lighter, powder. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Giorgio Armani Green Iron (06) Eye Tint ($38.00 for 0.22 fl. oz.) is a warm, olive bronze with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It was richly pigmented with a very smooth consistency that never seemed watery. The color blended out easily, whether you wanted an opaque all-over lid color with diffused edges or a wash of color. This shade wore well for fourteen and a half hours on me before fading. Cle de Peau Stardust #2 (P) is lighter, powder. MAC Psyche (LE, $15.00) is warmer, powder. theBalm Kawabunga (LE, $16.00) is greener, powder. Make Up For Ever D320 Golden Khaki (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, powder (kind of). MAC Olive Blend #3 (LE) is lighter, less shimmery, powder. Urban Decay Stash (LE, $18.00) is greener, powder. Clinique Whopping Willow (P, $17.00) is greener. MAC Fiction (DC, $15.00) is powder. Giorgio Armani #6 (P, $33.00) is browner, powder. Giorgio Armani #14 (LE, $33.00) is powder. bareMinerals Eureka (P) is powder. bareMinerals Speaker Box (LE) is less shimmery, darker, powder. Inglot #419 (P, $6.00) is greener, powder. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Giorgio Armani Emeraude (04) Eye Tint ($38.00 for 0.22 fl. oz.) is a bold, deepened emerald green with cool undertones and a satin sheen. It was intensely pigmented and applied smoothly with even color coverage. On me, it wore well for fourteen hours before fading. It’s hard to find a shade like this, as cooler-toned emerald greens are surprisingly rare! Charlotte Tilbury The Rebel #4 (P) is more shimmery, powder. Make Up For Ever I300 Pine Green (P, $21.00) is bluer, powder. MAC Green Room (LE, $15.00) is lighter, less shimmery, powder. Urban Decay Damaged (LE, $18.00) is warmer, powder. Sephora Collection Walk on the Wild Side (08) (P, $13.00) is warmer, powder. bareMinerals Max Volume (LE) is darker, powder. Bobbi Brown Forest (P, $28.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Giorgio Armani Onyx (05) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Onyx (05) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Onyx (05) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Green Iron (06) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Green Iron (06) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Green Iron (06) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Emeraude (04) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Emeraude (04) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Emeraude (04) Eye Tint

Giorgio Armani Onyx, Green Iron, Emeraude

Giorgio Armani Onyx, Green Iron, Emeraude