(Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights)
Lilac eyeshadows are some of the
most on-trend items for spring 2008, and I have been a fan of them for a while. Today I bring you another lilac palette that can create this season’s hottest look.
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Chanel’s Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights is perhaps the softest (in terms of color) and the sheerest lilac eye palette that I’ve had so far.
– Top left: white with substantial pearly shimmer
– Top right: pale lilac with soft shimmer
– Bottom left: medium lilac with soft shimmer
– Bottom right: a very pale pink with substantial pearly shimmer
Stage Lights is part of Chanel’s spring 2006 collection. While I distinctively remember liking the look of this, I had no intention of buying it at the time. My minty-green-and-turquoise phase was just about to start back then, and I picked up the Irréelle Duo in River-Light later that year.
My lilac phase started later that year and this palette was under the radar several months ago. After testing the shades many times recently and seeing the colors under different lighting conditions, I decided to have it.
The colors go on lighter than they appear in the container. Initially this was one of my reasons against buying it, but then I thought the soft and gentle finishes are great for a barely-there veil of lilac for the eyes. Also, I like the fact that the two lilacs and the pink are on the cool side and that they look more flattering on me than warmer ones.
Compared with many other eyeshadows from Japanese cosmetics brands, the texture of Chanel’s baked eyeshadows can be a little dry and the pigmentation level would disappoint many people. (The Irréelle range seems to fare better on these.) While a smoother texture would be more ideal, I don’t do a lot of layering for a daytime look so the sheerness is not a negative attribute. Obviously this palette can be worn wet for added intensity, but I simply reach for my other lilac palettes for that.
For spring 2008, Chanel released 4 Fleurs de Chanel, which is a very pretty item.
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(4 Fleurs de Chanel,
from Chanel’s spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.chanel.com)
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When I saw it for the first time last November (
here), I thought I would definitely get it. But later on I got less and less excited, hearing that the colors are all very pale and very similar. (The collection was released a lot later in the UK than the US and Asia.) So I actually took a small risk and bought Stage Lights before 4 Fleurs de Chanel was released here. At least Stage Lights has two lilac shades, whereas 4 Fleurs de Chanel only has one.
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When I finally got to try 4 Fleurs de Chanel, things I heard were confirmed. They are essentially white eyeshadows with various undertones (blue, lilac, and pink). While I do think the texture is very smooth and that the shimmer is quite intense but still sophisticated, I have no intention to buy it. I am still very happy with my Stage Lights.
Although, among all my lilac eye palettes, it does not rank as highly as my Coffret D’Or or Lunasol, the fact that the tones of the two lilacs are also spot-on for my skin-tone is enough for me to go back to it from time to time.
[A reader kindly reminded me that I didn’t actually describe my skin-tone in the last paragraph of my review. I have a medium-to-light skin-tone, with a pink undertone. The foundation I have been using in the past few years is ZA Two-Way Foundation in 22. It has a slight yellow undertone and I use it to neutralize my pink undertone. With foundation on, I would still describe my facial skin-tone as having a very slight touch of pink undertone.]
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Related Posts:
Spring 2008 Makeup Trend Report
(not just about lilac…)
Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes in Gem Amethyst
(diamond-dust shine)
Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes
(discontinued but not forgotten)
(part of the EST Summer 2008 collection)
(EST Emotional Aura Gloss)
(EST Emotional Aura Gloss)
