Two US Drugstore Buys

Last day of the year, why not squeeze in a (hopefully) quickie post about the two products I bought from the "drugstore" when in the US in September. One of the things I most look forward to while in the States is of course, the makeup shopping, especially when it comes to permanent products or limited edition releases not available in Australia. Which is precisely why I bought Maybelline Leather Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige and L'Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush. The former is a matte shade, said to be a dupe of MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, that hasn't been released in Australia (doubtful whether it ever will be), while the latter is a shade that is missing from the permanent line up here.

l-r: Maybelline Creamy Beige, L'Oréal Amber Rush

Both are excellent eyeshadows in terms of texture, pigmentation and application/performance. I do find that the Maybelline Color Tattoos dry out over time (unlike other cream shadows like MAC Paint Pots or Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow), which is one major downside to them. But when they're fresh, they work brilliantly. Good colour pay off, easy to apply with the fingers, blend nicely, non-patchy, can be built up in pigmentation, long wear time. The L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadows are arguably even more exceptional. They're truly some of the most pigmented, ultra metallic eyeshadows on the market — high or low end. They're frequently compared with and described as a dupe for the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows, especially since L'Oréal owns Giorgio Armani Beauty. However, my experience with them has been mixed (see reviews on the first five I bought, plus Tender Caramel, Bronzed Goddess and Metallic Lilac, Bronzed Taupe).

Assuming an eyeshadow meets the minimum quality requirements we now expect all eyeshadows to meet, the only factor between love and indifference is the shade itself. A tiny bit cooler-toned, or frostier in finish, a tinge more grey than brown, slightly darker or lighter, can make or break an eyeshadow. Since you can't really try out an eyeshadow on your lids at the store, more often than not, it's a process of trial and error; a long, arduous journey littered with disappointment, but punctuated by rare moments of triumph and redemption. Sadly, in the case of both Creamy Beige and Amber Rush, there was no spark.

Put simply, Creamy Beige applies too cool-toned on my lids — a bit too greyish and muddy against my complexion, not as medium neutral brown as I'd hoped (especially if it was meant to be a dupe for MAC Groundwork). It's a common complaint that if you've been reading me for a while, wouldn't come as a surprise. It's not completely terrible (like Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Trespassing Taupe, or even the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, which was unwearable for me), but it's still significantly off.

l-r: Urban Decay Trick, L'Oréal Amber Rush, Makeup Geek Grandstand, Urban Decay Chopper, Max Factor Auburn Envy

The problem with L'Oréal Amber Rush is IT IS WAY TOO SHIMMERY. Just look at it beside similar shades. It's practically white in comparison because of how frosty the finish is. I would've preferred if the metallic finish of the shadow was more in line with the coppery-orange base colour, rather than simply silvery/white. I just don't like how it looks on my lids ... too much mirror shine, not enough actual colour. Even if the extremely pronounced frost finish was toned down, the colour itself is something I have multiple approximations of, so the inclusion of it in my stash was wholly redundant. I do think the quality of the Infallible shadows is undeniable, and for that reason I continue to buy them (my collection is probably around 8-9), but there's not a single one I'm infatuated with. Because, as we know, it's all about the shade.