Color has the ability to change how you’re perceived by others, and how you view yourself. It’s one of the reasons that color makeup products are so powerful, and so much fun. With the swipe of a brush or the dot of a finger, you can literally, re-invent your image.
The holidays haven’t happened yet, but I know many of my readers are already thinking about how they’d like to look for the holidays. I would like to suggest a fabulous eye shadow palette to purchase for Holiday 2011 from Clarins. The Eye Quartet Mineral Palette, for example, is $40.00 and offers a whole lot of value and beauty for your dollars. There are six new eye shadow quads, featuring a minerals formula. Use them wet for more intensity and to help them last, or dry, for a more daytime-friendly look for the office, or for the intense color-averse (I know there are some out there who simply cannot embrace the smoky eye or the deep colored lid).
The Clarins packaging is so regal, the mirrored compact is shiny gold, with gold-handled mini sponges (one pointed, one flat). It that’s not regal enough, the compacts arrive in a red box with gold lettering, and inside a red velvet pouch. But it is the products that you’re buying, and there are plenty of reasons to love these, from Clarins.
Each quad comes with 1 highlighter shade, 1 contour shade, 2 base shades, and an application guide to get you started (but do, experiment)! I tried the Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in 07 Smokey Passion, seen above. The name might make you think this is a traditional, smokey eye of grey, black and white, but it’s a modern take on the theme. The two lid colors are taupe and soft pink-ish copper, coupled with an intense, browned grey with gold shimmer (great used wet, for liner) plus a super-glittery sheer silvery highlight/gloss to make a daytime look into a shimmery, night one, when the mood strikes. If you use the products dry, and don’t want a lot of color, simply use a fluffy eye shadow brush, but for intensity you can’t beat wearing these wet (and they’ll last super-long, too).
TIP: in a hurry for a date? Simply smooth the clear glitter gloss over your entire lid up to the brow bone. Instant sparkle! You can also dot a bit on the middle of your bottom lip after you’ve applied your lipstick or gloss, for a pouty-er look.
I didn’t see the other palette in person, But I know they’ll be awesome. It would make a great gift for a makeup-obsessed friend, too. To get yours, visit your favorite Clarins makeup counter or the Clarins Web Site
