Eye Shadow

I am on a solo shadow roll this year (read this previous post on some great one swipe shadows I discovered)! I have again found some great formulas that are easy to throw on and go. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good palette, but I think using one color on the lid can not only be easy but look as polished and refined as a more intricate look. Both of these formulations are new and naturally I had to try out the neutral shades – and there are some great ones!

1. Clinique Lid Pop Eyeshadow in shades Cocoa Pop, Vanilla Pop, Cream Pop and Willow Pop – After naming the Clinique Pop Lip Color in my ‘Best of Beauty 2015′ video, I had a feeling I would love the eyeshadows just as much. They are buttery, rich and have a medium pigmentation that allows for a sheer wash or can be built up to be more opaque. In addition to the neutral shades I have shown here, there are some really fun bold shades for those that want a bit more color. Aqua Pop and Grape Pop are the perfect shades for a summer tropical beach vacation. No makeup is ever too bright when on an island – well even if it is, I probably won’t see those people again so no harm no foul! Ha!

2. Cle de Peau Beaute Satin Eye Color in shades 201, 204 and 210 – I already love and use the CDP eye color quads (see swatches here), so I was hoping the formula would be similar to those. While the texture of these solo shadows are as smooth as the quads, the shimmer is much more muted. Shade 204 is a gorgeous champagne shade that will not look like a disco ball on the lids, while 201 is a more gray based green perfect for a smudgy smokey look. Shade 210 is too dark for me all over the entire lid, but has become one of my favorite crease shades to use in order to deepen up a look. As with the Clinique shades, there are also a slew of fun shades in a variety of vibrant colors. Those that are itching for a new spring eye look will find that 115, 203 and 205 are a pastel lover’s dream.

Shop more solo shadow recommendations:

I love makeup as much as the next beauty obsessed gal (or guy!), but when it comes to eye makeup I gravitate more towards a one swipe shadow. I don’t mind doing a more intricate eye look now and then with a lid color, crease, liner, etc, but most days I love to grab one shade and go. I picked up a few new additions to my collection that are perfect for the one swipe look.

1. Burberry Eye shadow in Pale Barley and Shell – Yes, I finally bought the much buzzed about, always out of stock, cult classic Burberry eye shadow shade in Pale Barley. People talk about this color being the perfect natural taupe shade that looks great as both a lid color and a crease color. I have to agree that it is one of the most wearable shades because it has just the slightest amount of shimmer to give it dimension, while providing a medium pigmentation that can be sheered out or built up. It’s definitely a must have in a neutral lover’s collection. Shell is from their new wet & dry glow collection and has much more shimmer than the Pale Barley formula. However, the shimmer is gorgeous and gives the most spectacular gilded golden lid. I prefer to wear it dry though I still layer it over an eye shadow primer (I usually wear this or this). I have already moved both shades into my everyday makeup drawer as I suspect these will become staples of my daily look.

2. Armani Eyes to Kill Shadows in shade 6 and 15 – No these are not new, but as I have stated before – my blog is not always about the newest launches. There are so many products that I haven’t tried that still deserve my attention so I love to discover these hidden gems. These cream/powder hybrid shadows have been on my must-buy list for ages, and I am so glad I finally snagged a few. The formula is not for the faint of heart as these are PIG-MENT-ED. Holy cow! Just trying to wash these swatches off was an ordeal itself. But they blend beautifully and the color pay-off is intense. The two shades I purchased were a bit darker than most of my daily neutrals, but can be sheered out so as not to be too dramatic for day. I suspected the shimmer aspect to border on glitter disco ball, but that was not the case at all and there is little to no fall out which allows me to still wear them during the daytime. In addition to a basic bronze (shade 15), I purchased an olive green shade (shade 6). It looks great with a variety of cheek and lip colors, and is a step (albeit small one) away from my standard brown shadows. I can’t believe it took me so long to come to the Armani Eyes to Kill shadow party, but I’m here now and loving it. Expect to see a few more shades added to the collection in the future. Because I need more eye shadows like I need a hole in the head. Oh well.