Finding Treasure

I'd always been keen to try the L’Oréal Color Infallible Eyeshadows, but the $19.95 price tag put me off. Priceline is currently selling a L’Oréal gift pack called the Silver Collection to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. The set retails for $39 but has been marked down to $15, incredible value given that each pack contains a Lash Architect 4D Mascara, NutriShine by Colour Riche Lipstick and Infallible Eyeshadow. There are 3 varieties of the gift set, with a different eyeshadow (a choice between Hourglass Beige, Flashback Silver and Endless Chocolat), the lipstick in either Shiny Grapefruit or Rose Guava, and the same mascara in Noir/Black. Considering the whole pack costs less than one eyeshadow (and being the hopeless beauty junkie I am), I purchased all 3. I gave away the multiples I had of the lipstick and mascara, but kept the individual eyeshadows.

But it didn't stop there. There was a stand for the L'OR Precious Gold Collection that showcased some seriously gorgeous shades. Sahara Treasure especially caught my eye, but I didn't purchase it at first considering it was still full price. When I returned to my local Priceline to take a closer look, to my surprise, there weren't any left. For two weeks, I searched fruitlessly for the elusive shade in every Priceline, Kmart, Target, Big W, Myer and random chemist that I happened to come across. I was about to give up until miraculously, I located a sole pot tucked away in some plastic stand at one Target last weekend. Most recently, taking advantage of 30% off all L’Oréal products at Priceline, I decided to pick up Bronze Goddess to complete my collection.

l-r: Hourglass Beige, Sahara Treasure, Flashback Silver, Bronze Goddess, Endless Chocolat

With flash, out of focus so you can see the glitter

Hourglass Beige is a super shimmery light champagne that leans white. Sahara Treasure is a multidimensional old gold shade, not brown or dark enough to be a proper bronze, not quite warm or saturated enough to be a gold. Almost like a metallic, cool-toned tan. I've heard people describe this as a taupe, but I don't see any grey in it to classify it as such. Whatever it is, it's one of a kind. Flashback Silver is a blueish, slightly lilac-toned silver with white shimmer. Bronze Goddess is somewhat inaccurately named as it's not really a bronze, but more a rich olive gold. Endless Chocolat is, as its name suggests, a bronzy, deep, warm chocolate brown.

These compressed shadows, especially the lighter shades, can be a little tricky to apply with a brush as the texture (somewhere between a cream and a powder) makes it a little hard to pick up the product. I'm sure there are brushes that can do the trick, but I find it easier and get better results just dabbing these onto the lid with my fingers, then using a brush to blend out the edges or blend with other shadows. Being ultra-shimmery, they're not for everyone, but used in moderation, the lighter shades really do give a brightening effect. Only 3 of the colours are completely wearable for me, as for the most part, I envisage only using Hourglass Beige in the inner corner of the eye as a highlight, and as pretty as Flashback Silver is, I don't think the colour flatters my skin tone when applied as a wash over my lid. But Endless Chocolat is great for a bronze smoky look, or to add depth and definition to the eyes, and Bronze Goddess and Sahara Treasure have become my newest favourite eyeshadows. It's a shame those two are limited edition, because I vastly prefer them to the shades in the permanent line.