YSL Onde Sable, Pink Cascade, Steamy Coral Full Metal Shadows Reviews, Photos, Swatches
YSL Onde Sable (04) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Full Metal Shadow ($30.00 for 0.15 fl. oz.) is a liquid eyeshadow that’s supposed to be “pigment-packed” and last for “16 hours without creasing, flaking, or fading.” It goes on to mention “pure color payoff” and that the applicator is actually supposed to be functional (including for lining). If you use the applicator, you’re going to get pretty poor color coverage and blendability, as the applicator seems to pick up far more water and not enough pigment two out of three pulls. I had the best luck by using a brush and letting some of that water soak into the brush, rather than being spread across my lids. Some shades wore well, while others gave me problems with color that flaked right off (in actual chunks and flakes) well before the sixteen hour mark. They’re not as blendable once they dry down, but you don’t want to blend too furiously while they’re still quite wet, or else you’ll end up with streaky color. I think this formula may work best as a one or two-hued look that has a more diffused, gauzy look to it, rather than as a richly pigmented eyeshadow.
I really, really wanted these to be as impressive as Giorgio Armani’s Eye Tints, which I love, but the price point is tough. I’m really at a loss as to how these were so different in general performance compared to the Eye Tints, because they’re very similar in feel and description–they’re both owned by L’Oreal. I had similar issues with some shades of the Eye Tints where the amount seemed too watery without enough pigment, so the product would go on more sheerly than if you tried again. For that reason, I don’t think the doe-foot applicator is the best delivery system. The Eye Tints are $172.72/oz., while the Full Metal Shadows are $200/oz. The major difference between the two was actually in the finish and dry down; YSL’s Full Metal Shadows are much more metallic with a heavier frost/shimmer element that seems to give a chunkier, thicker consistency when applied with more opaque coverage. It was almost like YSL’s version had more shimmer than base color, and the end result didn’t work as well layered or applied as a mutli-colored look. I was able to get better wear out of the product when wore with one or two shades as a semi-opaque wash of color. You can compare the two ingredient lists below, and they’re very similar in what’s in each, but the order of the first few ingredients is slightly different.
Giorgio Armani: Aqua/Water, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Lauroyl Lysine, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Zea Mays Starch, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan, Isotearate Phenoxyethanol, Stearath-20, Argilla/Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Magnesium Silicate, PEG-75 Stearate, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica[Nano]/Silica,Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteth-20, Alumina, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, May Contain CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/Iron Oxides, CI 77007/Ultramarines, CI77400/Bronze Powder, CI77400 Copper Powder, CI77288/Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 75470/Carmine, CI 77163 Bismuth Oxychloride, CI 77510/ Ferric Ferrocyanide, CI 77742/ Manganese Violet, CI77120/Barium Sulfate, CI19140/Yellow 5 Lake, CI42090/ Blue 1 Lake, Mica.
YSL: Aqua/Water, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Sodium Borosicilate, Talc, Lauroyl Lysine, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Calcium Aluminum Borosiclate, Zea Mays Starch/Corn Starch, Dipentaerythrityl Tetrahydroxystearate/Tetraisostearate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimtehicone Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Isotearate, Argilla/Magnesium Alumnum Silicate, Glycerin, Silicia, Phenoxethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates Copolymr, Alumina, Magnesium, Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Tin Oxide, Silicia [Nano]/Silicia, May Contain Mica, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/Iron Oxides, CI 77007/Ultramarines, CI77288/Chromium Oxide Greens, CI77400/Bronze Powder, CI77400 Copper Powder, 77510/ Ferric Ferrocyanide, CI 77742/ Manganese Violet, CI77120/Barium Sulfate, CI19140/Yellow 5 Lake, CI42090/ Blue 1 Lake
YSL Onde Sable (04) Full Metal Shadow ($30.00 for 0.15 fl. oz.) is a peachy gold with warm undertones and a frosted, metallic finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that went on fairly evenly when applied with a brush. It wore well for ten hours before creasing on me. MAC Natural Vigor #2 (LE, $21.00) is powder. Makeup Geek In the Spotlight (P, $9.99) is more orange, powder. Tarte Rose Champagne (LE) is less shimmery, powder. MAC Lorelei (LE, $19.50) is darker, less shimmery, powder. bareMinerals Ball Gown (LE) is rosier, powder. LORAC Light Bronze (P) is lighter, powder. Disney by Sephora Splendid (LE) is powder. Urban Decay Blunt (P, $18.00) is warmer, powder. MAC All That Glitters (LE, $16.00) is darker, powder. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
YSL Pink Cascade (06) Full Metal Shadow ($30.00 for 0.15 fl. oz.) is a rosy peach-copper with warm undertones and a metallic finish. It was semi-opaque to opaque, depending on how much product was caught on the applicator, but it thickens a lot on the skin, so you may want to apply less than you think. This shade flaked off in clumps at the eight-hour mark, but when I wore it as a semi-opaque wash of color blended all-over the lid, I had less issues with flaking until twelve hours of wear. Lancome My French #5 (LE) is a powder. Chanel Envol (847) (LE, $36.00) is similar. Urban Decay Last Sin (LE, $18.00) is a powder. Tom Ford Beauty Nude Dip #2 (LE) is darker, powder. bareMinerals Bare Skin (LE) is a powder. Tom Ford Beauty Orchid Haze #1 (P) is lighter, powder. Too Faced Cheers! (LE, $16.00) is less pink, powder. Urban Decay Sin (P, $18.00) is lighter, powder. MAC Naked Lunch (P, $16.00) is a powder. MAC Sweet Heat (LE, $19.50) is darker, powder. Estee Lauder Pink Zinc (P, $24.00) is similar. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
YSL Steamy Coral (05) Full Metal Shadow ($30.00 for 0.15 fl. oz.) is a brightened, orange-copper with warm, orange-red undertones and a metallic sheen with finer shimmer compared to the other two shades. It had semi-opaque to opaque color payoff that went on more evenly and seemed less watery. It wore well for almost fourteen hours before creasing. MAC Red Alert (LE, $16.00) is less metallic, powder. Makeup Geek Flame Thrower (P, $9.99) is a powder, brighter. ColourPop Sequin (P, $5.00) is browner. Makeup Geek Roulette (LE, $5.99) is powder. Make Up For Ever I702 Mahogany (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, powder. Maybelline Caramel Cool (100) (LE, $6.99) is lighter. MAC Amorous Alloy (LE, $19.50) is darker, powder. Urban Decay Trick (P, $18.00) is powder. Makeup Geek Vegas Lights (P, $6.99) is powder. Sleek MakeUP Sunset #9 (P, $9.99) is powder. MAC Star Myth (LE, $16.00) is similar. MAC Coppering (P, $16.00) is darker. MAC Brash (LE, $16.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.
Onde Sable (04)
PPermanent. $30.00.
Pink Cascade (06)
PPermanent. $30.00.
Steamy Coral (05)
PPermanent. $30.00.
See more photos & swatches!
YSL Onde Sable (04) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Onde Sable (04) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Onde Sable (04) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Steamy Coral (05) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Steamy Coral (05) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Steamy Coral (05) Full Metal Shadow
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YSL Pink Cascade (05) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Pink Cascade (05) Full Metal Shadow
YSL Pink Cascade (05) Full Metal Shadow
Onde Sable (inner lid), Pink Cascade (middle of lid), Steamy Coral (outer lid),
Sephora Love Affair Eyeliner
Onde Sable (inner lid), Pink Cascade (middle of lid), Steamy Coral (outer lid),
Sephora Love Affair Eyeliner
These look really nice, I love cream formulas. Love the packaging too. They seem to be great for summer, just a wash of metallic color, a bit of liner, some mascara and we’re good to go!
They could work for summer!
Thanks for the review, Christine. These are such an easy pass for me – for the price ($2 less) I would rather have another Laura Mercier caviar stick. Seems like you can do a lot better for your money with this formula.
No problem! 🙂
I love the colors here but I’m not 100% sold on the formula.
Same!
Wow, some hit and misses here. If it’s flaking off of you, and you have normal lids, it’s probably going to slide off of my oily ones. I’m ok with a sheer wash, as I usually use them as bases, and if they are too opaque, might look too OTT on me since they are so shimmery/metallic. These are too warm for me, but I’m hoping the taupe and the blue perform well, as Armani doesn’t have those colors.
Fingers crossed! 🙂
I was already a little nervous of these because I’ve had allergic reactions to both cream/ liquid shadows and YSL products before. I think I’ll stick with my beloved Eye Tints.
(Also, what I understand from people who’ve worked there is that L’Oreal keeps operations in their subsidiaries, particularly the high end ones, very separate. Every division works on its own projects and often competes with the others for resources. In the end, the parent company takes the best/ most successful formulas and adapts them for the mass market under the L’Oreal brand proper. So my guess is that if you want something that performs similarly to the Eye Tints at a lower price point, your best bet would be to wait until L’Oreal introduce something under their own name.)
The ingredient lists for the two are almost identical in what is in both, and I think only two ingredients are in a slightly different order (notably, talc is higher up in the list in GA’s than in YSL). I was surprised to see the YSL version so close on the release of GA’s launch! I think I typically have seen L’Oreal adapt for mass first, but if it is successful, it seems like every brand gets something like it (GA’s ETKs come to mind – L’Oreal and Lancome both have very similar products). shu seems very standalone, though.
Yeah, YSL has Calcium Sodium Borosicilate as #4 and Talc as #5, while GA has Talc as #3 and Calcium Sodium Borosilicate as #10 on their lists, but I think the rest is the same – definitely enough to alter the formula between the two, though. More surprised that it impacted the performance of these since they’re both billed at 16-hour wear and blah blah blah, you know?
Despite the issues you mentioned, this turned out to be a pretty eye look! (P.S. I think your descriptions just say Grey Splash instead of the names of the color names!)
Fixed!
The colors and finishes on these are so beautiful! I’m especially liking Pink Cascade! But I don’t think I’m willing to do $30 a pop for such finicky application…
I hear you! 🙁
Rather glad I took a pass on these. They make me think of other products I have in stash which are similar in look but not problematic in application.. The GA comes to mind as well as the Marc Jacobs stick eyeshadows.
Even days later, I can’t believe these performed so differently from the Eye Tints.
I picked up the Copper shade and wasn’t impressed. Unfortunately, I threw away the box and can’t return it. I layered mine over a gold shadow on the outer corner using my finger, which worked well. Got to find some way to use it since my money is out the door.
Glad you were able to find a way to use it! Have you tried using it as more of a wash? Or maybe as an eyeliner.
Ohhh, Pink Cascada looks SO pretty!
It is a pretty color!
Oh wow, I was thinking these would be identical to GA Eye Tint which I love. I guess it’s good news for the wallet then! I do really love the look you put together tho!
Me too! 🙁
At this price point, unless the color is super unique, I will pass. I am guessing Armani will bring out more shades in the eye tints near fall. I am pretty happy with those. Like I said in a previous comment, I had a YSL SA sell me the Armani eye tints while these sat right on the other side of the counter. I buy a lot from this guy and at Nordstrom they work on commission. I know he is not going to try to sell me something he thinks I probably will want to return. My wallet is thankful. 🙂
I hope they will launch more shades!
Pink Cascade is lovely. I like the other two colors, but I don’t like how the shadow looks dried down.
I wish these were easier to use/better wearing.
Ouch. So they are in fact MORE expensive than the Armani Eye Tints, it’s just that the container is tiny… I just bought the Armani version in Senso and I don’t regret it!!
Yep!!
Very pretty colours for warm toned complexions. I don’t think I would pay that kind of money when the colour pop one looks better….Sequin. I wonder would they dry out too easily.
If I was going to pay out that kind of money I think I would go for the Armani ones.
I don’t think they’ll dry out, but I haven’t had any of these for long. I think it takes awhile for even liquid liners/glosses/etc. to dry out (if ever), so the packaging could be okay.
You wrote: “If you use the applicator, you’re going to get pretty poor color coverage and blendability, as the applicator seems to pick up far more water and not enough pigment two out of three pulls.” This was exactly my issue with them, Christine! I played around and had the most luck shaking the container to make sure it was well-blended before applying. They make a lovely shimmering wash of color, so I think I’ll love them for Summer. 🙂 (But I had higher hopes for this price point.)
I wonder if perhaps a squeeze-tube would be more appropriate with these, with perhaps a needlenose applicator or thickening the formula so it wasn’t quite a watery liquid style but not a true cream.
What a shame that the formula is so inconsistent on these! You did create an amazing look with them, though. Very pretty and summery. Although, I can definitely see where Pink Cascade looked like it would be causing issues, just appears chunkier?
Yep! It really thickens on the lid!
gorgeous look! like another commenter said, you totally can’t tell that the application was finicky from your look! as much as these colors are more of what i’m looking for, i can’t commit that kind of cash to anything less than A rating!
Hopefully you have some powder dupes until they come out with good liquid versions!
Steamy Coral is the only one of these I was interested in, and I’ll probably get it. I’ll be curious how it performs on me, as I did end up getting the Armani eye tint in Emeraude and I’m not actually that impressed with it – it doesn’t seem to set properly for me.
Let me know how the YSL one works for you, El!
Sorry to hear about Emeraude 🙁
I like the look of Pink Cascade!
Yay!
I really, really like the coral one, but I’ll not buy it as I want at least an A for the amount of money YSL wants us to pay. I have MAC Coppering, so I wont be out of the corally shade. That said, had tis got a top grade I would have run to the YSL counter to get it.
Very beautiful look, good job, as always!
Thank you, Helene!