L'Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow Review, Photos, Swatches
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow ($7.95 for 0.12 oz.) is a berry-tinted pink with a soft, frosted finish. When applied dry, it has a slightly more subdued, redder appearance–it’s not quite opaque. When applied damp, it takes on a pinker hue and the frosted finish is more pronounced, and the color itself is opaque. At a glance, you’d think it was similar to MAC Cranberry, but it’s not at all–Cranberry is much, much darker, more of a burgundy (so it has more brown in it than pink). MAC Moon Rose is pinker. Milani Pink Twice is pinker as well.
If you’re familiar with Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense, these are very similar. I found the biggest difference between the two was in the texture of the formula and the overall appearance of the colors–L’Oreal Infallibles are more one-dimensional, less nuanced, whereas you’ll see an interplay of colors with the Eyes to Kill Intense. L’Oreal owns both brands, so I imagine there was some trickle-down effect in the technology once Giorgio Armani rolled it out. It’s not really a negative that these are more what-you-see-is-what-you-get in color. The Eyes to Kill Intense shades can look really stunning in the pot and look a little less complex when swatched.
The texture of Glistening Garnet is soft, smooth, and finely-milled. It’s a compacted loose powder–you could break it up if you really wanted to, but it arrives already pretty solid, and there’s a little topper inside that you can use to press and compact the powder should it loosen over time. It can be used wet or dry, though the payoff was significantly better when used wet–but other shades in the line-up were better dry than this one, so it seemed like it fell a little short as far as pigmentation went for dry use.
I originally tested a few shades of the formula that the lovely ladies at Beaut.ie sent me from Ireland, because these weren’t available in the states at the time (and L’Oreal told me they weren’t going to be released here). A few months later, L’Oreal did end up releasing them state-side. I had some trouble with the original shades I tried, so I can’t say that all of the shades perform consistently or as well as this shade did.
Glistening Garnet, however, did perform well, and I didn’t have any trouble using it. Even after 16 hours (without primer!), I didn’t have any creasing, though there was some slight, but noticeable, fading along the outer corner. The only thing I have to note is that I needed to use it wet to make an impact; if you use it over a primer, you might be able to skip that step, but I still preferred applying with a damp brush. I used a small eyeshadow brush (like the MAC 239) to apply it to the lid.
L’Oreal does state that these are supposed to wear for up to 24-hours, which is the same claim Giorgio Armani made. I’m not really comfortable wearing makeup that long personally, so it will take me some time before I work up the courage to test it for that long! The longest I’ve tested these has been 16 hours.
Glistening Garnet
PPermanent. $7.99.
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Glistening Garnet Infallible Eyeshadow
L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows in Liquid Diamond, Glistening Garnet, Perpetual Purple
L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows in Liquid Diamond, Glistening Garnet, Perpetual Purple
I would say inconsistent is a fair description of the performance of these as a whole. I have four and one is great, one is pretty good, one is ok, and one is just plain terrible. I doubt I will buy anymore even though L’oreal keeps releasing some very tempting colors.
awesome! I really wanted to try the eyes to kill formula, but as an incoming college freshman, my income isn’t really ready to take such a hit…because i really want all the shades…so now that there’s a similar formula at my price point, i can’t wait to try!
That looks like MAC Star Violet to me… are they similar?
I have tried a few of these shades and I absolutely love the wear time,they easily stay for 10+ hours on my oily lids without a primer. I find the packaging a little inconvenient but love the formula!
I have all the Loreal infallible eyeshadows. They are amazingly easy to use and looks gorgeous on anyone. I do agree that the brush should be wet for a better performance.
The new Loreal infallible eyeshadows are gorgeous. I do agree with the damp brush for some of the colors. However they perform really well with a primer. There is a coupon on last week newspapers for a $1.00 off. Check that out if you can.
The new shades are very pretty. I just bought this one and Endless Sea over the weekend. Can’t wait to wear it now!
What a beautiful color .. that I can’t wear .. lol. Mac’s cranberry makes my eyes look irritated, so I’m sure this product would be a big no.
I do really like this Loreal product, I have the gold ‘eternal sunshine’ and the pink ‘pink sapphire. Both are lovely colors.
I have Iced Latte and liked it a lot. This shade is so pretty (and mostly unlike anything else I own) that I might end up picking this up too.
So beautiful! I love the look that you did with it!
Ah! And there’s the eye look I’m crazy about 😉
I’m never sure what we’re going to get in Canada (sometimes we get US-only shades; sometimes we get UK-only shades; sometimes we don’t get the product line at all), but I’ll be keeping an eye out for these ones! I’m a bit less crazy about Glistening Garnet, but the violet hues of the other shades are right up my alley. 😀
I’ve heard a lot of people like these…probably because of the price! I’m too lazy to always apply eyeshadow wet, though. Hopefully I’m not alone in that. :p
@annedreshfield I’m too lazy most days to apply my eye shadow wet too, but I’ve still had good luck with these. Maybe it’s just the particular shades I own and wear (Golden Emerald, Endless Java, Golden Sage, Amber Rush and Bronzed Taupe), but all have worked really well dry. The only one I’ve tried where that wasn’t the case was Perpetual Purple which had a more crumbly texture compared to the others.
@queen_frostine Good to know, thanks! 🙂
Typically the kind of shade I can’t wear without looking like I have an eye infection… I’ll probably check the formula with another shade, cause I’ve always been curious about the Eyes to Kill but they’re not in my price range nowadays.
The color is lovely, but I think I’m done with the Infallible eyeshadows. I have 8 of them and they’ve never been touched since I reviewed them. They’re nice and soft and all, I just feel like it always goes on a little heavy…there’s no real sheering it out in a pretty way–it’s all or nothing. I usually like to wear a sheer wash of color on my lids most days and these Infallible shadows are not the product to use for that! They’re nice though
The photo of the application is absolutely stunning. I’m good with makeup but I don’t think I’m that good. Are myy brushes too big or do I load to much product? Was this a wet or dry application? Thank you for showing!
@Susan Dowman Nevling I applied Glistening Garnet wet!
I just bought this yesterday along with Eternal Sunshine from the same line. I like them quite a bit. 🙂
I’m in love with that look you did! <3
I have 8 of these, and I love them *all*, but then I really like L’Oreal in general (I’ve only had one product that was a total fail). This shade reads more ruby too me than garnet, though.
@xamyx I think I might just have to go and raid the drugstore 🙂
I have two of these shadows, in Iced Latte and Bottomless Java. I tried the iced latte and my husband’s reaction was less than positive, so either I’m Doing It Wrong or these shadows aren’t made for me. I can’t seem to get an even layer of shadow across my eyelid; it looks cakey and heavy.
@blueraccoon try a smallish really fluffy brush and applying in small pats with very little product on the brush. Maybe that can help?? I haven’t tried one of these yet, just ETK and this is the method I use for them. 🙂
What a beautiful makeup look! The pink and purples are gorgeous (:
Love the price! The ETK price is painful when you looking at buying more than one. I think these are a PERFECT alternative! At 8 bucks you can have an entire wardrobe of colours for just one Armani. The finish looks really pretty too and not at all a lesser version.
Love, love, love these. I agree that the ETK have slightly more complex colors, but comparing the one ETK I own versus the…I think I’m up to six or seven of these, I like the texture of these a bit better. My ETK (one of the summer LEs) just seems a bit on the dry side, though the color is lovely.
I apply these with my finger over a shimmery primer (almost always UD Greed), and they look and perform beautifully.
I am kind of wishing I got this color over the darkened plum shade, but that’s just because I don’t use smokey colors all that often.
@Quinctia
I too love UD’s eye primers and their Porefessional to fill, camoflage pores. I use Laura Mercier primer usually. I also love UD’s new shadows. hey have been recently reformulated. I live close to Ulta who carries UD. Sephora is a bit farther away and parking is difficult. Since I use a walker, I don’t go there as much but still love their products and they carry Laura Mercieer, Nars and other good stuff. Once I find colors I like, I tend to order on line for sephora. If you try something and don’t like it, Sephora has free returns for 30 days, I think.
@Susan Dowman Nevling
I just wanted to let you know that Porefessional is by Benefit,in case someone wanted to purchase it.
@Angelcat47 @Susan Dowman Nevling And Urban Decay’s got a face primer labeled Pore Perfecting, so depending on which one she was referring to, we’ve got ’em both labeled properly now! 🙂
@Angelcat47
Thanks for catching that. I knew that but was having my afternoon brain cramps.
it looks so pretty when it’s wet! like a sunset 😀
Oh my god! people you guys realize that LOREAL test on animals!, right?? Unfortunately when i discover it, I stopped buying immediately. I know! i know! this eyeshadows are soo pretty =/ i almost can’t handle it >.<, but are loads off dupes around. SO people please spread this news!
I have a handful of these and love them. I use all of them dry and I don’t think I’ve ever noticed a lack of color impact using them that way. I just use a good semi-stiff brush and get more than enough pigment for day wear. My current favorite is Golden Emerald.
I just bought both Liquid Diamond & Glistening Garnet. Let me just say they’re amazing! Also they are BOGO 1/2 off in Rite-Aid. 🙂
L’Oreal test on animals, though in their disclaimer they maintain that they “don’t test the finished products on animals” though the company who makes their products does throughout the creation process.Clever wording can help to conceal things no?I’m usually not a moaning type I just can’t justify spending the €11 here in Ireland on something I know is so wrong.
On L’Oreal and animal testing etc: Ethisphere named L’Oreal as one of 2012’s most ethical companies worldwide. They may test on animals, but they are one of those companies big enough to use their money, clout and sway to veer away from unethical and inhumane cosmetic practices, and in doing so forcing other companies to follow suit to keep up. Smaller makeup companies may have the luxury of promoting ethical practices, but the big corporations are never going to go away. Why not support the ones that are trying to change for the better? ore on topic, these eyeshadows, by the way, are fantastic. 😉
Link, press release: http://www.loreal.com/_en/_ww/html/our-company/awards-recognitions/l-oreal-named-to-ethisphere-2012-world-most-ethical-companies-list.aspx