Laura Mercier Caviar du Jour Caviar Stick Mini Set Review & Swatches
Caviar du Jour
Laura Mercier Caviar du Jour Caviar Chrome Mini Set ($39.00 for 0.12 oz.) contains three miniature-sized pencil eyeshadows. Two shades had good pigmentation and smoother application, while two were absolutely dismal across the board. The two better shades were still harder to diffuse along the edges as they set very quickly. They ended up being easier to use as eyeliner or as a base on the lid.
Ingredients
Caviar du Jour
LELimited Edition. $39.00.
Magnetic Pink
Magnetic Pink is a pale pink with warm undertones and a sparkling finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation, which didn’t improve upon layering as this just moved product around into clumps of uneven, thick product all over my skin. The pencil felt lightly emollient as I moved it across my skin, so there was no tugging, but I could not get the product to apply evenly.
I tried using fingertips to apply as well as to blend out, which didn’t work well, partially due to how quickly the formula sets. At best, it could be applied quickly all over the lid and roughly blended for a one-and-done look. There was some fallout after eight hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- Huda Beauty Amethyst #8 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Tokens (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Fantasyland (LE, $4.50) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Faithfully (PiP, $4.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Moira Sparkling Pink (P, $7.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Rose Brunch (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #9 (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Iconic Ingenue (LE, $25.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Claretluxe #1 (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Sparkling (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Mica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyethylene, Lauroyl Lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Citric Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir/(+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Carmine (Ci 75470), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Magnetic Pink
PPermanent. $29.00.
Intense Moonlight
Intense Moonlight is a dirty, medium-dark gold with warm undertones and a sparkling, frosted finish. While the texture seemed emollient and glided easily across my skin, it applied unevenly and blended terribly–the color just seem to lift up or bunch up, which resulted in patchier and patchier application that yielded some fallout. It had semi-opaque pigmentation and did not build up well. It lasted for nine hours with light fallout over time (but it looked so badly applied no matter what I tried!).
Top Dupes
- LORAC Time Keeper (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Mushroom (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- YSL Golden Glow #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Risky Richez (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Touch in Sol Aurora Taupe (7) (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Viseart Cashmere #5 (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sydney Grace Tiara (P, $6.25) is darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Her Style (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Avant-Premiere #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil Neige #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate,Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyethylene, Lauroyl Lysine, Ozokerite, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Silica, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Citric Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir/(+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Intense Moonlight
PPermanent. $29.00.
Metallic Taupe
Metallic Taupe is a light, golden bronze with warm undertones and sparkling sheen. It had opaque pigmentation a single pass, which applied evenly to bare skin and never tugged on my lid. The texture felt emollient without being too slippery, and it dried down quickly, which kept it out of fine lines but made it hard to manipulate, even when working one eye at a time. It stayed on well for nine hours without creasing but had some fallout over time.
Top Dupes
- Sydney Grace Mascot (LE, $6.25) is darker (95% similar).
- LORAC Lust (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Buxom Style Icon (P, $12.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Satin Tan (58P) (PiP, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- BH Cosmetics Foil Eyes 2 #2 (PiP, ) is more muted (90% similar).
- ColourPop Da Coco (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Dione (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- LORAC Smokey Topaz (LE, $19.00) is more muted, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Gone Galactic (LE, $4.50) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Dior Smoky Sequins #3 (LE, ) is darker, more muted (85% similar).
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyethylene, Lauroyl Lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol, Synthetic Beeswax, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silica, Tin Oxide, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Citric Acid, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate. May Contain/Peut Contenir/(+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Metallic Taupe
PPermanent. $29.00.
Intense Amethyst
Intense Amethyst is a bright, medium-dark taupe with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single stroke with a lightly creamy consistency that glided across my skin with ease. I’d highly recommend doing one eye at a time and using fingertips (the warmth will help) to blend out quickly. It wore well for nine hours without fading or creasing on me, and it had a touch of fallout over time.
Top Dupes
- NABLA Cosmetics Entropy (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- elf Galaxy (P, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Chantecaille Triton (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Amethyst (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Natasha Denona Vintage (49M) (2019) (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Up Too Slate (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Satin Taupe (P, $17.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Tokyo Drifter (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Morning Frost (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Geode (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar).
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polyethylene, Mica, Lauroyl Lysine, Ozokerite, Octyldodecanol,Synthetic Beeswax, Silica, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Citric Acid. May Contain/Peut Contenir/(+/-): Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Aluminum Powder (Ci 77000), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Womp womp. What did Laura go and do here? These Caviar Stick sets are usually phenomenally good, plus a great value. But this time around something went very wrong.
Oh wow, I did not expect this! I’m very disappointed because I adore the Caviar Sticks I own. On the other hand, it’s money saved!
This is disheartening! I purchased one of these holiday sets a few years ago and while the quality was good, all the colours but one were pretty much identical when applied. I wish Laura Mercier would use the best of her regular Caviar pencils (in terms of quality and application) and put in a variety of shades instead of just nude, nude, more nude and a variation of Amethyst.
Yes! Totally agree!
Yas!
This set had bad reviews this year on Sephora! Now I see why. I love the standard Amethyst caviar stick!
So glad I didn’t rush out and pick this up! I have 3 or maybe 4 of the Caviar Sticks and the ones that I have are great. I use Cobblestone the most but also have Amethyst, Fog and a Khaki Green that I can’t remember the name. They all perform well for me but I do agree, you can’t dally at all or they will dry down on you and there will be no blending after that occurs. I tend to spread them with my finger and primarily use them either as an all over the lid shade or a “one and done” look. I have also used those little sponge applicators and apply the pencil directly to the sponge and then apply to the eye. It just depends on the type of look I am going for. I was going to pick up Intense Moonlight but saving my money instead.
I have one called Khaki, maybe that’s the one you mean? Cobblestone is still on my want list…maybe I’ll get it during the next Rouge sale. The original Amethyst and the original Moonlight are my favorites. Burnished Bronze is beautiful, too. I find that Caviar Sticks work really well to line under the eyes, too. My eyes water a lot and these things just don’t budge!
Duh Deborah, Khaki would be the name, LOL! I love Cobblestone as it is a more cool/neutral tone which I love. I also use them on the lower lash line and fine that they work well. The only one, of the ones I own, that I don’t love is Fog. I almost returned it and probably should have but it isn’t the performance that I don’t care for but rather the shade. I was looking for a neutral/cool leaning grey but it pulls very “blue/grey” on me. I don’t think I have used it more than once or twice. I will check out the bronze shade as I like most bronzes.
That taupe shade caught my eye but at $40 with tax, getting 2 duds just isn’t worth it. I have a pile of her caviar sticks but only ever use 1..
I’m going to echo the previous commenters: what, how? I have a set of Caviar Sticks from ages ago, and they are amazing even after all this time. So sad.
Are you planning on showing any eye looks like you usually do with a pallet?
Sorry, I didn’t take any photos as they weren’t looks! Sometimes I just put very different products on for testing only but they’re not cohesive/blended.
Wow – that is so, so poor from Laura Mercier! Thank goodness we have you Christine…
And I really liked Intense Moonlight too.
Is it just my perception, or does it seem like this has been a particularly bad year? I feel like I’ve seen a lot more low grades in your reviews, especially F’s. I’m really trying use what I already have and not buy anything new, so I’m kinda glad because it’s less temptation, but at the same time, it’s so sad.
Oh dear. Good to know. I’m so glad you do these reviews, i’ve always found your ratings accurate to my experience (on the occasions where i’ve purchased product before you have reviewed it).
Wow, I wasn’t expecting that grade. What a shame for Caviar Stick fans.