Sunday, April 7, 2013

All Day Shimmer

After looking through my matte eyeshadows, I felt I needed to balance things out and feature my favourite and most used shimmery eyeshadows. The majority of the shades I picked are neutral eyeshadows that I reach for in the mornings to apply over the lid. I usually opt for a second darker colour (a deeper bronze, purple or green) that I place along the upper lash line and blend out slightly for more definition. I haven't included any of those darker shades here, though they would certainly be among my most beloved eyeshadows (namely, the bronze from the Sleek Storm palette). I've also confined the list to powder eyeshadows, even though two cream shadows (Maybelline Bad to the Bronze and Essence Pas Des Copper) are absolute staples.



Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Silent Treatment (Eyelid shade)
I almost much never touch the other two shades in this trio because they just don't hold a candle to the Eyelid colour. This is a very wearable purplish taupe that isn't too cool, grey or silvery. It takes 2-3 layers for full pigmentation as it can apply a little on the light side initially. It has more of a soft sheen and isn't overwhelmingly shimmery or frosty. I usually pair this with a darker purple (lately, the right side of the L'Oréal HiP Metallic Shadow Duo in Electrified).


Laura Mercier African Violet (from the Lingerie Eye & Cheek Palette)
There's a reason why African Violet seems constant in every Laura Mercier eyeshadow palette release. Nothing that I have in my whole collection comes close to it. It's a warm pinkish-purple infused with the most beautiful coppery-gold shimmer. The glimmering finish and chameleonic quality of this shade makes it truly special. It could easily be too much and appear overly glittery, but it's sophisticated and surprisingly wearable for the daytime. Goes really well with a matte brown (I like Rich Cocoa from the same palette).


Revlon Luxurious Color Satin Eyeshadow in Polished Bronze
Brown and bronze shades are my default choice because they're easy to wear and go with anything. Polished Bronze is one of those ever-reliable colours that I reach for constantly. It might not be the most unique shade, but it's exactly what I'm after when looking for an everyday bronze that's a complete no-brainer. Not too dark, not too metallic, not too cool or grey, or overly warm/copper. Just right.

Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade)
This is similar to Polished Bronze but quite a bit darker and a touch warmer, so it's better as an all-over lid colour when I can't be bothered to add more depth with a separate, darker shade. I find it a bit too dark for the day time unless I apply it lightly and blend well to soften the edges and sheer out the colour. It's nicely pigmented and the texture is smooth, soft and not at all crumbly or powdery. On the downside, the packaging seems flimsy as the hinge of my palette recently shattered.


Urban Decay YDK (from the Naked2 palette)
Honestly, YDK is ridiculous. So pigmented and stunningly metallic. It's a treasure in my collection. Just a light swipe is all you need for intense colour payoff. It's almost too shimmery for the daytime, but that hasn't stopped me. It's a copper-tinged, frosty bronze that I usually pair with Busted from the same palette.

Urban Decay Toasted (from the Naked palette)
Such a good eyeshadow staple. Sometimes I forget how amazing both Naked palettes are, as I haven't been reaching for them lately. Along with Smog, Darkhorse and Hustle, Toasted is my most used shade from the original Naked palette. I usually wear Smog with Darkhorse, and Toasted with Hustle. I think I marginally prefer Toasted to Smog, as the warm, slightly pinkish bronze is more neutral and wearable than Smog, which is darker and a little more antique in tone. Although metallic, there's a softness to it and it's not at all frosty.


Maybelline ExpertWear Eye Shadow in Rock Icon (Crease shade)
I had to include a green, because along with purple and bronze, it's one of my favourite colours. Green complements brown eyes and goldish olive/khaki shades are an accessible way to venture into colour while still remaining relatively neutral. I used to wear the crease shade in Rock Icon pretty often, but have neglected it for a while. I do have similar colours that I reach for now and then or were once on high rotation, including L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronze Goddess and the fourth shade in the Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow palette in Khaki Suede. The shadows in this quad might not be the best quality, but the crease shade is decently pigmented (moreso than the lid and browbone), and with a primer, they hold up fairly well.

l-r: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment (Eyelid), Laura Mercier African Violet, Revlon Polished Bronze, Revlon Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade), Urban Decay YDK, Urban Decay Toasted, Maybelline Rock Icon (Crease)

l-r: Wet n Wild Silent Treatment (Eyelid shade), Laura Mercier African Violet
Revlon Polished Bronze, Revlon Naturally Glamorous (fourth shade)

l-r: Urban Decay YDK, Urban Decay Toasted, Maybelline Rock Icon (Crease shade)

39 comments:

  1. These swatches are stunning! I love african violet, so multi faceted. Great post x

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  2. I love the colours, especially african violet. Just wished there was a cheaper version of the shade!!

    My blog: Cheeky Monster

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  3. Beautiful post, I love a nice shimmer eyeshadow.
    Toasted looks so nice as well as Polished Bronze, I think the Laura Mercier is beautiful, I wonder if there is a dupe anywhere for it.

    Amy xx
    A Little Boat Sailing

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  4. I love how much work you put into your posts! The swatches came out beautifully! I was also super excited to see you mention the eyelid shade of the Wet n Wild palette! It's one of my favorites. I also adore toasted! It's such a versatile shade.

    -Tara Joy

    http://beausandbows.wordpress.com

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  5. The only shadows I've tried from this selection are YDK and Toasted. I adore YDK on the lid alone with just some mascara, it's the prettiest shade!

    Emma x

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  6. Love the look of the Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio! So pretty xx

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  7. Happy sigh <33 I love looking at all your makeup pictures, and I am definetly going to pick up one of those Wet n Wild eye trios!

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  8. I really need to get myself a Wet n Wild quad being that it is such a good bargain! Eyeshadow is one of the things that I haven't figured out to do yet, but once I get a quad, I will definitely get on it!

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  9. Gorgeous swatches! I really enjoyed reading this post :)

    Kimberley x

    www.kimberleysbeautyblog.com

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  10. What an interesting post! And you have quite a collection lady.

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  11. I love shimmery eye shadows! mainly because they are so easy to wear, one shade, one swipe good to go.. while matte eye shadows sometimes need some more efforts so they don't look 'dull'.
    Urban Decay YDK belongs to my fave list. i love how intense it is, but not overly shimmering like glitter balls.

    The NARS eye shadows look so beautiful!!

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  12. I love toasted from the Naked Palette! I also really want to try those Wet n Wild trios! xx

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  13. Love all the colorful collections you have :)

    Joyce @ carouselstreet.com

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  14. I'm wondering if Rock Icon is still available because the shades look really interesting. I'm also a huge fan of African Violet either as a crease shade or layered over brown pencil liner. Another post filled with temptation!

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  15. Oh my! These eye colors are so cute and shimmery! I love eye shadows even though I barely wear them anymore. You make me want to go shopping for nothing but eye shadow, lol. It's the only type of make up that I wear.

    -Carrie
    http://4forevermedia.com

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  16. wow, i have to get that african violet! its stunning

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  17. Great swatches :D All of your pictures are gorgeous!

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  18. I love your swatches :)

    x
    http://holaflo.blogspot.com/

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  19. Guhhhhhh so gorgeous!! You just reminded me how much I want LM's African Violet in my life... but I need to be good and not buy any more makeup for the time being T__T And this probably sounds super nerdy-stupid of me but I love seeing the little dents in each of the eyeshadows amongst the not-so-used shades; really shows how much you love and use the ones you mentioned ^__^

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  20. African Violet is definitely my favourite out of these shimmer shadows. I've never seen anything like it!
    Oh and once again you amaze me with your stunning photos! x

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  21. You captured all of those colours so well, I now have a long list of eyeshadows I need to try...
    Toasted is such an amazing shade, it suits my fair skin but looks great on my darker skin toned sister as well :)

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  22. These are all so beautiful shades! Love all the different bronze/copper shades, definitely a colour I would go for an everyday look as I absolutely love the neutral look. African Violet is amazing, what a beautiful colour! I haven't ventured out to trying green or variations of green eyeshadows yet, but I like the idea of the more safe option of khaki. Silent Treatment looks so pretty too :)

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  23. What beautiful shades! I absolutely love Silent Treatment.
    Shimmery shades are so gorgeous swatched, but I just really dislike those that have fall out. I also prefer matte shades so I feel like I need more every time I buy eyeshadow :P

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  24. Really really beautiful eyeshadows! yay for african violet and for the ones from the Naked palette! :) Shimmer is actually my second-favorite finish - I like mattes the best, but a good frost/shimmer/pearl is always amazing :)

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  25. THEY ARE SO PRETTY! African Violet and Toasted especially. I'm all for mattes, especially with flashback face and all, but shimmers are gorgeous. I've asked for the Naked palette for my birthday so hopefully my best friend gets around to it! I swatched YDK at a friend's house and it's gorgeous- pree sure if I get the Naked2 palette in some lifetime it'll be purely for YDK, Busted and Suspect. I don't care for Pistol or Blackout or Foxy. :P

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    Replies
    1. The original Naked palette? When's your birthday? How exciting - it's amazing the restraint that you exercised, I caved loooonnnggg ago :p

      I generally only use 4 shades in each palette on a regular basis, and maybe 1-2 now and then, and the rest pretty much never. You're the same as me - I've hardly TOUCHED Pistol, Blackout or Foxy lol! Busted is so good and Suspect is absolutely gorgeous. I think it's a fraction too cool for me, but it's the closest thing I have to Burberry Pale Barley, so I'll take it.

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  26. YDK sorta looks like a powder version of bad to the bronze!
    would love to see what you normally do for eye makeup on an everyday basis :) x

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  27. You make me grave an intense shimmery look right here, so many beautiful colours! YDK has to be one of my fave shimmery shades, but it has to be the only focus on the eyes! Those swatches make me want "all of the things!!"
    xx

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  28. Gorgeous and such lovely picks! I'm a huge fan of shimmery eyeshadows, always love them, always will, especially shimmery browns! I can't wait to acquire more shimmery shades and palettes slowly!

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  29. My boyfriend's mother has Naked 2 and I've been eyeing it so hard lol. I love shimmery neutrals.

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  30. I couldn't agree more on the shades that you picked out! I'm a lover of shimmery neutrals as well. The Laura Mercier palette is so tempting :P

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  31. I've been "loving" all colours and finishes throughout the years and came to a conclusion: neutrals are a girl's best friend whether matte or shimmery but one must not neglect colour because they can add that extra something when everything else fails. You have an impressive eyeshadow collection and you seem to make use of it all which in my opinion justifies all other purchases ^^

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  32. gorgeous shimmer eyeshadows! UD Toasted will forever be my fave shimmer eyeshadow. looks so amazing any day :) i love your choices, shimmer eyeshadows are really beautiful but i cannot stand it when they have chunky glitters shedding all over the face. like some of the shadows in the UD Oz The Great and Powerful palettes, some have crazy glitter fall-outs.

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  33. I love shimmery eye shadows and this post is very interesting! Laura Mercier African Violet looks gorgeous!
    Alice

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  34. Palettes are one of my makeup kryptonites. Love these shots so much! UD YDK is a stunning shade.

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  35. YDK looks so so pretty! x

    http://thebeautyvisual.blogspot.co.uk

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  36. Oh sweeetie all ar beautiful palettes!
    Really lovely the color from the Laura Mercier palette & Wet n Wild´

    xoxo

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  37. I love these posts that you do, like also your all matte shadow post. It is really helpful to see your top picks of shadows grouped by finish!
    - Andrea Marie xx
    frominsidemycloset.com

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