Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette ($88.00 for 0.177 oz.) is a set of two shades, so more of a duo than a palette. It contains almost the equivalent of four, average-sized full-sized eyeshadows. I wish I could figure out why Giorgio Armani’s compacts are so pricey, because their single eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes, etc. are all in line with other designer brands (Chanel, Dior, and so on), but their eyeshadow palettes are totally out of step price-wise.

The way the formula is described is confusing per the press release, as the brand describes it as “discreet and muted or more intense, but ever sheer and luminous with lasting hold,” yet it “can be adjusted to customize the makeup look.” On Giorgio Armani’s website, it says the “collection creates a transparent and lightness effect,” while the blurb for this palette simply says “light and shadow is intensified with a black pearl and shimmery nude … long lasting color with no makeup feel.” It seems like the texture is weightless or sheer (“no makeup feel”), more than the color, though it seems the pigmentation is billed as buildable (“can be adjusted” and “discreet and muted or more intense”). Both shades are intensely pigmented; there is no buildable color here, just very, very richly pigmented eyeshadows with phenomenal textures–soft, smooth, and velvety–that blend easily and go on beautifully. They’re blendable, so you can sheer out each shade if you use the tiniest amount and a good, fluffy blending brush to do so (but basically you can do that with any eyeshadow; there’s nothing about the formula that one would describe as buildable).

Organica (Left) is described as a “black pearl.” It’s a gray-ish purple with subtle cool tone underneath and a sparkling, multi-colored pearl where violet and teal dominate. In the pan, it looked lighter and warmer, but it swatched rather cool-toned. It had excellent color payoff, while the consistency was soft, dense, and buttery. The color wore well for nine hours before fading. It wasn’t, however, all that adjustable or buildable, because a little went a long way. Chanel Tisse Gabrielle #3 (P) is warmer, browner. Too Faced Nashville (P, $16.00) is lighter. MAC Fathoms Deep (LE, $19.50) is purpler. Laura Mercier Violet Steel (LE, $23.00) is warmer. MAC 2x Dare #3 (LE) is more sparkly. MAC Graphic Style (LE, $15.00) is less shimmery. MAC Dynamic Duo 3 #1 (LE, $15.00) is less shimmery. MAC Moth Brown (LE, $15.00) is darker, less shimmery. MAC Electroplate (LE, $21.00) is a cream product. Giorgio Armani #4 (P, $33.00) is grayer. Giorgio Armani #3 (P, $33.00) is purpler. Chanel Illusoire (P, $36.00) is a cream product. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Organica (Right) is described as a “shimmery nude.” It’s a yellowed orange with a frosted, metallic finish. It was intensely pigmented with a soft, buttery texture that applied evenly and blended easily. The color didn’t start to fade until after nine hours of wear. Tarte Up to No Gold (LE) is yellower. LORAC Undiscovered (P) is similar. Sleek MakeUP Gates of Eden (P, $9.99) is darker. Makeup Geek Gold Digger (P, $5.99) is darker, more orange. bareMinerals Gold Nugget (LE, $18.00) is slightly darker, less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

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Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette (Giorgio Armani Mercury Nude Eyeliner)

Giorgio Armani Organica Eyeshadow Palette (Giorgio Armani Mercury Nude Eyeliner)