It’s a jungle out there. Thank goodness for makeup…and cats (what, you couldn’t tell I was a cat lady?).
And whenever my two favorite interests collide, let’s just say, I have a moment.
Like a straggler gazelle on the African savanna in the crosshairs of a hungry lion, I fell prey to the new Dolce & Gabbana Animalier holiday collection… It was inevitable — the cycle of life as it pertains to the new Eyeshadow Quad in Desert ($67).
Leopard-print packaging, golden neutrals and flawless performance? Yes, this is the quad I’m bringing with me when J.Renn and I get stranded on that deserted island (that incidentally also has modern conveniences like plumbing, air conditioning, a Sephora store and Internet access).
Granted, the $67 price tag is like a deep, painful cat scratch for wallets, but that’s Dolce & Gabbana for ya. They may charge borderline redonkulous prices, but when they get a product right, they knock it out of the park…
…and all the way to the Dolce & Gabbana Eyeshadow Quad in Desert. 🙂
The leopard-print packaging
Even if I wasn’t a cat lady, I’d love this limited edition quad’s packaging. Not only do I like the way it looks on the outside, but the colors inside it are based on the print! How cool is that?
The colors
Three of the quad’s four neutrals — the matte beige, shimmery gold and matte light brown — have golden, mid-color temperature tones, which should make them flatter a wide range of skin tones.
The darkest shade, the plummy reddish brown, is a touch warmer than the other colors, and because it’s the darkest, I use to smoke out the other shades and as a liner (works well on lash and water lines).
If you have very cool-toned skin (quick tip: if the veins in your arm appear blue, you’re probably cooler toned; if they’re greenish, more warm), the darker shade might be a little tough to pull off, but it could still come in handy as a fallback liner.
The performance
Man, these eyeshadows should get Hollywood agents because they’re superstars! They’re everything I could ever hope for and expect from a high-end makeup line (that charges $67 for a quad).
I have no idea how D&G managed to make them this pigmented and yet keep them so easy to blend. And the fallout? — what fallout? Zero, nada, zilch. And they last all day long for me without creasing or fading.
If the price is the one thing holding you back, you may already have a few similar colors in your collection. Looking at MAC alone, which has a really wide range, you could use MAC Brule in place of Desert’s beige, Patina or Woodwinked in place of the shimmery gold, Soba or Soft Brown instead of the light brown, and Folie in place of the darker reddish brown.
They wouldn’t be exact dupes; I think some of the MAC colors lean warmer than the Dolce & Gabbana shades, but I think you’d have a similar vibe.
Desert isn’t destined for any drugstore shelves, but I have to say — I love this quad.
I’ve been wearing it a lot lately with Laura Mercier’s Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Gold as a base, MAC Blacktrack Fluidline on my upper lash line and MAC Powersurge Kohl on my lower water line for a classic, timeless eye makeup look.
PRICE: $67
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online at saksfifthavenue.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A- (it only suffers from the price)
Don’t rain, don’t rain, don’t rain…
I wish I could get Mother Nature to put the rain on pause this morning. I’d really, really appreciate it, LOL! I’m driving into the city a little later to meet a friend, and I don’t like driving across the bridge in the rain.
We’re meeting for lunch at an organic place called The Plant Cafe. Never been there before, but some of the things on their website look pretty tasty…
I hope no one gives me grief about taking pics of my food… It happens sometimes, but I’m kind of at the point where I just automatically bust out my camera whenever food is nearby. I forget sometimes that it can seem a little strange. 🙂
Have a happy hump day today. How are things out there?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S.
Not Dolce & Gabbana related, but MAC’s coming out with a new pastel lavender pink Viva Glam Nicki Lipstick ($15 US, $18 CDN) and Lipglass ($15 US, $18 CDN) soon…
Like MAC’s other Viva Glam products, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the new lipstick will go to support the MAC AIDS Fund, helping women, children and men living with HIV/AIDS.
Keep an eye out for it at US and international MAC stores and counters, and online at maccosmetics.com, beginning February 9.
I didn’t realize how much I hate fallout until you mentioned that there’s NONE with this product. I’m like… how!? Even UD has problems with it, this is altering my world.
Tiffany Martin recently posted … It Factor Quick Blowdry Review + Giveaway!
Hi Tiffany,
Yeah, I heart UD’s colors and the palettes, but the fallout can be a pan. I always, always have to remind myself to tap off my brush thoroughly.
I think one of the big things that helps reduce the fallout is the size of the grains. For me, at least, it seems the smaller and the more finely milled the powder, the better it is at sticking to the skin.
Purple is the new pink. 😀
Hey Nina,
Hee hee! Especially when it’s a gloss!
Happy Wednesday…
Happy Thursday now (my fave day!) 😀
The colours look absolutely gorgeous! Wow! Love your blog by the way! just found it and I adore your reviews!
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you! Looking forward to chatting with you here in the comments.
I love that the leopard print is on the lipstick as well. I think I need that red lipstick for that alone.
Leah @ Mile High Beauty Blog recently posted … Could This Be My New Eye Cream?
Hi Leah,
I feel like I haven’t spoken to you in forever! I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and that your corn pudding and mashed potatoes turned out well.
I’m so loving the leopard print… 🙂 Not too crazy about the new MAC lipstick though.
Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Sinterklaas giveaway: win three make-up sets!
Really? Sometimes lavender can be really wearable, believe it or not!
Wow how gorgeous! The casing is to die for. x
Shang J. recently posted … TFC’s Tete-a-tete: 3 Makeup Products in 3 Minutes
Hi Shang J.,
It’s really beautiful! Are you a Dolce & Gabbana makeup fan?
Hey Karen!!! I need $67.00!! That D and G is GORGEOUS!!!
Hi Lydia,
I heart it too. You know me and neutrals, LOL!
Have you tried any makeup from Dolce & Gabbana? Their blushes are great, too. 🙂
Hi karen! What foundation are you wearing? Your skin always looks so great in photos.
Hi Melissa,
Thank you! I used a combination of different things for these pics:
MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Primer (all over)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone (central panels of my face)
MAC Face + Body Foundation (all over)
Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation (chin, cheeks)
Chanel Loose Powder (forehead, nose, chin)
Let me kknow if you have any additional questions. 🙂
Your skin does look amaze-balls!
Ok this is GORGEOUS! My first ever Dolce&Gabbana beauty purchase?? I think so!! 😀
Becca @ The Beauty Sample recently posted … The Sample: NEW Paul & Joe Make Up Collection 2012 Holiday Set in 001 Frozen Lilac Review & Swatches
Ok, I am seriously LUSTING after this quad!! And as usual, you look radiant in your pictures 🙂
Chris El recently posted … DIY Gel Manicures with Red Carpet Manicure
I heard D&G shadows can be hit or miss but this one must be a mega hit. I have to skip because I splurged too much recently but definitely appealing and sexy. And I am super excited the lipstick. Yay for lavender!
Rachel recently posted … Review: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow Quad in 8 Parma
The dark color seems very similar to MAC Sketch. Is it a dupe?
Oh wow, I love the darkest brown, it looks perfect!
Marina recently posted … Nails Of The Day: Rimmel 60 Seconds in 710 Alaska
I have to agree with you, I LOVE the packaging and the colours are perfect for every day wear 🙂 I’m also very excited for the new Nicki lippies.. that shade of pink looks hot!
Kelly – Glitter Diaries recently posted … My Current Fall/Winter Skincare Routine!
This is a great look for you that I think would look good on pretty much everyone. This is why I’m such a fan of neutrals. 🙂
Speaking of fallout, I’m wearing the lightest shadow from my Lorac Private Affairs palette today so the fallout isn’t noticeable at all. However, the shimmer does highlight every crease and line. Darn eyeshadows… HAHA!
It’s a bummer that anyone would give you a hard time about photographing your food. Maybe they think you’re a restaurant spy and don’t realize you’re really just giving them free publicity. 🙂