Well, well. Quelle surprise!
I really did not expect the cool-toned plum, pink, gray and white shadows in the new Clarins Vibrant Light Eye Quartet Mineral Palette to get along at all with warm-toned skin like mine, but then what do I know? I also didn’t think that watching Bravo every day for a month would turn my brain to curdled cheese, which it has, haha!
I guess if there’s a lesson here, it’s that you just never know when it comes to eye quads or reality television.
That is, unless we’re talking about The Millionaire Matchmaker, in which case you pretty much do know what’s going to go down, but you (I) keep watching anyway because you (I) can’t look away. 🙂
(Incidentally, does anyone else miss Dustin and Rachel? I think the show is pretty lame without them…)
Vibrant Light. One of 14 pieces in the new Opalescent spring 2014 collection. Cool-toned, fo’ sho’, but surprisingly wearable, even on warm-toned skin.
Par for the Clarins course, these shadows perform exceptionally well, blending without a hitch and lasting a full 8-hour day without exhibiting any fallout, and only the slightest fading. They can be worn wet or dry, too (I’m wearing them dry).
I just love how these look on lids — gorgeous! — and the finish glows ever-so-softly.
Expect to do some layering, though, especially if you want something dramatic. I used about three layers of each of the colors here, building up the pink, purple and gray until I was happy with the intensity, but for everyday looks, you should be cool with just pat-pat-swipe-swiping one.
Good stuff, this quad. I feel very Audrey Hepburn in a ball gown with it on my lids. 🙂
PRICE: $42
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Clarins counters and clarinsusa.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A-
Books — the old-fashioned kind
It feels weird to say this, but I haven’t read a real book, like one with paper and covers and pages, in — I can’t even remember how long. The hardback version of A Hundred Summer was the first one in ages, and ya know what? I realized how much I miss reading good ol’-fashioned books.
I’ve grown deeply enamored with my Kindle over the past couple years. It’s convenient and stores a zillion books — books that don’t end up stacked in piles everywhere or cluttering up the floor.
But there’s still something wonderful about real books — maybe it’s the act of physically turning actual pages, the sound of paper touching paper or the smell (am I the only one who digs the way books smell?!) — that I miss.
It’s lovely.
Oh, and I think I sleep a lot better when I don’t stare at a bright screen right before bed.
Do you still read real books, or have you transitioned fully to digital? Anyone else like to feel an actual book in their hands?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Congratulations! We’re over the hump. 🙂
Aida says
I can’t imagine not reading real books :). I just never got into the ebook trend. I love holding the real things, going to bookstores, I love the smell of the paper :).
Ankita@corallista says
The False lashes add so much to the look Karen! Stunning!
hanna says
I love all the colors in the quad!
Vanessa says
I love the smell and feel of real books! ! But, I have switched over completely to e readers. I can’t justify wasting paper and I like having my books with me everywhere. An e reader is so much lighter than a stack of books…
Natasha P. says
That eye look looks soo amazing on you! So gorgeous!
Let says
I’ve never really paid attention to Clarins’ releases, but this palette looks so gorgeous!
On another note, I still fully read real books, and totally don’t get the hype behind e-books. I love the feeling of flipping actual paper pages and holding a book–thick or thin.
Sylirael says
I love books 🙂 Especially large-sized, beautifully illustrated ones. Or battered old Terry Pratchett paperbacks. Or Dictionaries. I love ’em all!
The eyeshadow quad is beautiful, as is the look you did with it 🙂
Erin says
OHHHHH! That looks great! I want it so bad
Marina(Makeup4all) says
I know what you mean about “real” books. I really love my Kindle, but yesterday bought several new books, and it feels great!
Sarah says
Love the way you take your photos!
Cindy says
Love Lilac colors right now.. they’re so trendy for the spring.
http://www.cindyslittleblackbook.com
Danielle says
This palette is insanely gorgeous!
I am one of those crazy book ladies and I have never read an ebook (& I don’t think I ever will be able to). I’m not even a fan of digital music either. You really don’t have the same experience.
Gauri says
Ahhhh this looks PERFECT on you, Karen! Instyle is NOT wrong about it being one of the best shades for olive skin tones!
Julia says
MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER IS SO LAME WITHOUT THEM! Who are these 3 new intern people?! I hate them. ruined the show.
Eli says
Gorgeous lashes and gorgeous look!
M says
I used to be pretty snobby about my preference for real books over ereaders until my husband got me a Kindle for Valentine’s Day one year. I am sort of obsessed — I love that I can just get a new book and read it immediately without leaving my couch. 🙂 It’s especially nice if you like to read fairly large/thick books, which I often do. But I like having physical copies of certain books — for example, I have a growing cookbook collection, and for those I definitely like to be able to flip through them (plus I don’t trust myself with a Kindle in the kitchen!).
M says
I was so excited about books that I forgot the whole point of the post, haha. I really, really love that quad! The combination of those colors + the lashes looks awesome on you. Seriously thinking about picking it up…
Alison M says
I’m a firm believer that warm skin can wear cool tones! It’s all about what you pair it with 🙂
meganlisa says
Beautiful! On you and off! What a lovely palette! I rarely see something that makes me stop like this one.
And books…always…
Dollie says
Like I mentioned on ur instagram pic, ur eye makeup with this quad and falsies is da bomb!!! You look super-stunning. Love the two dark colours in this palette (especially the purple) and more than that, love how even the pink looks on you.
Vineetha says
I rarely touch my kindle myself except for newspapers. There is really somthing about he feel of a real book in my hand that I love. I visit my library every 2 weeks to hoard books no matter what the technology tells me!
BTW I loveeeeed the eyelook and the pretty color combo!
Natalye says
These are some of my favorite colors!
Mari says
I like this! I may have been pulled to the “cool” side of eyeshadow pallets!
Vanessa | Spicy Beautiful says
Oh dearie….
Your hair, your makeup… those eyes…. *ugh… makeup-gasm*
You’re so beautiful, it hurts! (muwah, muwah!)
Kristine says
Loving this look on you Karen. You are inspiring me to take out my purple and grey shadows to experiment with them.
fionastreetlove says
Gorgeous palette. It has my favourite purple and grey in it! Got to hunt these down in Malaysia now.