Monday, February 18, 2013

Cool As Taupe

I've been eyeing Max Factor Earth Spirits eyeshadow in Burnt Bark (107) for possibly over a year, but it took Priceline's current Max Factor sale to finally convince me to add it to my collection. The main fascination with Burnt Bark was this post favourably comparing it to a number of taupe eyeshadows, including MAC Satin Taupe. I have no idea whether my refusal to spend $15 on Satin Taupe while in the US last year was a remarkable act of uncharacteristic restraint and sanity, or whether I was ultimately stupid to have resisted it, finding myself still interested in barely cheaper dupes when I could've bought the real thing and have been done with it. This happens a lot (see NARS Orgasm, Urban Decay Naked2).






Burnt Bark is a cool, mushroomy brown with a a touch of purple and grey which gives it a slightly murky quality. It needs about 2-3 layers to be built up to very good pigmentation. It has a soft satin finish with only a hint of frostiness. It's probably a little bit too dark as an all-over lid colour for everyday wear, but can be applied more sheer and blended out around the edges. I had a look at similar shades I had and found three that were all fairly close, but not identical.

l-r: Max Factor Burnt BarkL'Oréal Bronzed Taupe, NYX Iced Mocha, Savvy by DB Iced Coffee

In direct sunlight

L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe (890) is vibrantly metallic, buttery and smooth. Amazing quality eyeshadow — it's a total mystery why this shade isn't available in Australia as I'm sure it'd be popular. Lighter than Burnt Bark and not as grey or purple. More a traditional bronze, but distinctly cool-toned and with a tinge of grey.

NYX Iced Mocha is the lightest of the three, though still taupey and greyish. Revisiting it today after months of neglect, I found it incredibly powdery and relatively weak in pigmentation unless built up in intensity, which was surprising. It's closest to Bronzed Taupe but a bit warmer and a fraction more yellow, not as dark or shimmery.

Savvy by DB in Iced Coffee is more of a chocolate brown with slightly more red than the rest. Like most baked eyeshadows, it's not the best in terms of pigmentation or lasting power. Compared to the other three, it looks flat, fades easily and has a thin, soft texture.



Burnt Bark is my pick over NYX Iced Mocha and Savvy by DB Iced Coffee, though I feel that L'Oréal Bronzed Taupe stands in a league of its own. However, Bronzed Taupe is insanely shimmery and doesn't have as much complexity in its colour as Burnt Bark, with its mix of brown, purple and grey.

48 comments:

  1. I'm obsessed with this colour! I've just recently been given Satin Taupe e/s as a gift (Idk why I forgot about it) and I think it's time to experiment with it. I also love this colour in nail polish!

    http://jemaroons.blogspot.ca/

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  2. A girl can never own enough Taupes in my opinion! I completely understand your hunt for that perfect shade! The Max Factor version is really lovely.

    I think you made the right decision in passing up MAC's Satin Taupe. I honestly think that eyeshadow is a bit overrated- I found it made me look tired and like I had been punched in the eye :/

    xx Louise
    A Little Beauty Luxury

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  3. I love taupe eye shadows! I should try the L'Oreal ones!

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  4. Your swatches are amazing, I love Taupe shadows too. I think I'd buy Bronzed Taupe or Iced Mocha x

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  5. I steer clear away from Taupe shades because I find that it makes me look... tired? I just probably don't know how to apply it properly! Haha! Bronzed Taupe look so nice!!

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  6. I'm in love with taupe :) They all look great!

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  7. Iced Coffee is so gorgeous!!
    These swatches are amazing :)
    xx

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  8. i L-O-V-E taupe! they are always my on the go shade! ^_~

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  9. BOOOOO TO L'OREAL FOR NOT GIVING US THAT BEAUTIFUL COLOUR! It's riiiiight up my alley. lol

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  10. I absolutely adore taupe coloured eye shadows, the neutrality of the shade makes it so wearable! Burnt Bark and Iced Mocha would be my picks, but Bronzed Taupe looks so strong and pigmented. I always hate the regret that comes after missing a great opportunity- and I agree, I don't know what it was that drove me not to purchase something at a decent price! Oh well. On a side note, I can't access Cherie's blog anymore and I really loved reading it :( Did you know what happened to it?

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    1. I think she fiddled with the settings that made it inaccessible to anyone. I complained to her multiple times about being unable to read it :p It seems fixed now thankfully!

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  11. Taupe heaven!!! I used to have NYX Iced Mocha, bought it thinking it would be the same as one of the greyish taupes found in one of their 10 eyeshadows palettes, turns out it wasn't and neither were the other 5 singles I tried after that : / I completely agree, pigmentation wise it wasn't great. Burnt Bark and Bronzed Taupe look amazing! I don't think I have anything similar in my collection... well, except for maybe Selfish in the Nudetude palette and the gazillion 'taupey' colours in various other Hot Pots, quads and small palettes I own... I'm going to close this window now or else I will find myself adding more makeup that I don't need to my wishlist LOL xx

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  12. Difficult to pick any one as they all look beautiful to me but undoubtedly Loreal Bronzed Taupe rules! :D
    I love Iced Mocha too for a lighter neutral look! ;) xoxo

    Jasmine Catches Butterflies ʚϊɞ

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  13. Taupes are always so pretty, there's no problem with having 4 of the same colour! Satin Taupe was my first MAC eyeshadow :) although I only have 2 hehe. xx

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  14. I remember when I used to think taupey colors were boring, now a good portion of my collections include taupes :P Iced coffee and Bronze taupe are very pretty!

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  15. I have not successfully found many taupe colors. I love them and I'm always on the lookout so these are great suggestions xx

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  16. ah i really love the first and second shades, they're so natural looking

    hope you'll visit back
    www.marylee31.blogspot.com

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  17. taupe is such a nice color to begin with! i think out of the 4, i like the burnt bark and iced mocha! bronzed taupe is abit too frosty for my liking! great swatches :D

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  18. I love everything taupe! It always looks so nice in the crease!
    I don't have any of these! I will need to hunt them down!
    Very helpful post! :)

    - Andrea Marie xx
    frominsidemycloset.com

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  19. oh Taupe is my cup of tea! I swatched satin taupe on my last visit to MAC counter, but I decided to leave it in store, because it was a bit too silvery for my like. it could be because of the lighting, but I thought it was too cool-toned for me.
    burnt bark looks perfect imho, I'll check this out once I'm back in Berlin ;)

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    1. I totally can relate - I had the same issues when I was scrutinising Satin Taupe at MAC. It just looked way too cool-toned and frosty - like a shade that I theoretically could like but wouldn't look that flattering on me. But looking at comparison swatches online, it seems Satin Taupe is still warmer than Burnt Bark :p

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  20. NYX Iced Mocha is a big hit! I have this shade but in the Jumbo Pencil formula and I love it as a base for champagne-y eyeshadows :) It eyeshadow formula looks lovely and now I am considering giving it a try to go along the creamy pencil
    fusels x

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  21. I started look for taupe eye shadow after your "Best of 2012" post. Bad to the Bronze from Maybelline looks like she knows a conbinient way to apply taupe colour. It is becoming one of my makeup staple!
    Burnt Bark is so adorable! I am adding it to my buy-it list for trip to LA next mont XD

    http://hoynnis.blogspot.ca/

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  22. I super love all the colors. I will add everything in my to buy list. :)

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  23. These are so pretty. Now I must go back to swatch my Mac Satin Taupe and compare!

    www.novelave.com

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  24. I don't really wear much taupes anymore, but Bronzed Taupe looks lovely! I'll definitely look for it next time I'm out shopping.

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  25. I hate to rain on the parade, but if you ever get the chance to get Satin Taupe again, DO IT!!! It's probably one of my fave shades!!!
    All these are lovely though, I really like the look of the Max Factor one, and I wish I could easily get NYX stuff!

    xoxo

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  26. I can't believe you don't have Satin Taupe! It's definitely one of the best shades out there (and the only MAC shade I have). :D

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  27. I'm addicted to brown shadows, I can't get enough! That Maxfactor's is really pretty.

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  28. That's a really pretty taupe shade, though I like all 4 of the taupe colors you showed. :-)

    ~ Yun

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  29. I love Taupe eyeshadow *___* Iced Mocha is on my wishlist

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  30. all so pretty! x

    http://thebeautyvisual.blogspot.co.uk

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  31. Do you buy your NYX online, or is there a bricks and mortar shop in Aus that sells them?

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    Replies
    1. I bought it from a stand in a shopping centre, lol.

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  32. How nice it is to have 4 shades of the same color range. Well in this case the shade of Max Factor Burnt Bark is a bit darker than that of L'Oréal and obviously the NYX. I think in terms of range of intense pigmentation and brown the Burnt Bark is a little less dark shadow Savvy by DB Iced Coffee. However this new eyeshadow is beautiful.

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  33. I love taupes xx

    mac lipstick giveaway. 1stepclosereveryday.blogspot.co.uk

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  34. They are all gorgeous shades, great finds! I think my favourite is by Maxfactor though which is quite surprising as it is honestly a brand I never think to look at, this may now change.

    Thank you :)

    Amy xx

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  35. I just did a post on Mac's Satin taupe, it is one of my favourite eye shadows ever :) I like taupes than lean towards grey more than those than lean towards brown.

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  36. I'm a huge fan of taupe eyeshadows and love the look the Burnt Bark, so pretty! x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  37. Nice picks and great swatches! My favorite taupe must be Too Faced 'Sitcom Siren' and Essence 'Party All Night' - they make for great everyday shades!

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  38. i shared a taupe quad today on my blog. i'm really starting to become a fan on them

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  39. Haha and of course, even after getting the shadow you wanted for months, you can rummage around and pull out three similar shades. Still, Burnt Bark is very pretty and understated. I'm trying to get into the habit of using the Comfort Zone and Storm palettes before buying any more palettes. After I get into that routine, Naked palette will be mineee.

    Also, fixed the privacy issue. I think it's currently set on Default lol :)

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    1. Oh, just noticed the new gadget on the sidebar! How did you do that? It looks so cool!

      Delete
    2. Ugh, thank goodness you fixed that up! :p Karen even asked me about it (see above) LOL!

      How much are the MAC quads you're contemplating anyway? Aren't they $15/each in the US (where it's the cheapest) anyway? So just 4 shades would be $60 :S

      Do you mean the Popular Posts? That was such a pain to do. Basically I had to resize and edit the pictures individually on Photoshop, upload to Flickr, create Text gadget on my sidebar, and code in HTML the pictures linked to their relevant posts.

      Delete
  40. i really love the taupe shades for everyday look, even with smokey eyes, it's so versatile :) the L'Oreal eyeshadow looks the best for me :)

    I hope you're having a beautiful day ~ XO
    NEW POST: www.chriissydollxo.com

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  41. I've been loving taupe recently. :)

    www.chochalistas.blogspot.com

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