Sunday Riley Eyeshadows in Siberian Sable, French Press and Little Black Dress
I keep meaning to ask you about Sunday Riley! They’re a relatively new beauty brand, pretty high end (prices ranging from $26 for an eyeshadow single to $295 for a skin care serum), and available at Barneys New York and Bergdorf Goodman stores.
That name is all kinds of awesome, isn’t it? Sunday Riley… Sounds like one of Katniss Everdeen’s friends/adversaries. 🙂
(SIDE NOTE: I’m so excited about that movie! I started re-reading the first book last night.)
There really is a Sunday Riley behind the brand, and she’s from the Lone Star State. Sunday started the line back in 2009 with a handful of anti-aging products containing plant extracts believed by Native Americans to possess medicinal properties.
Being from Texas (her family traces its roots to before it was part of the United States), she spent summers with her grandma learning about some of the most useful plants.
Years later she took that knowledge and created the NV-5 Ageless Complex, a blend of five botanicals that, according to the company, detoxify, heal and recharge the skin. Now, it’s the secret ingredient in her skin care products.
Sunday recently expanded the line to include color cosmetics, and I spent some time with a few of her Prismasilk Eye Color eyeshadows last weekend.
If what they say is true — that variety is the spice of life — these eyeshadows are hot! 
They’re available in 28 shades spanning matte, satin and iridescent finishes, cost $26 each and can be worn either wet or dry.
I’ve been playing with Siberian Sable (a cool brown satin), French Press (a brownish taupe satin) and Little Black Dress (a sheer black satin)…
Eyeshadows clockwise from the left: French Press, Siberian Sable and Little Black Dress
Swatches from the left: Siberian Sable, French Press and Little Black Dress
Wearing Siberian Sable
Wearing French Press
The packaging, with its thick, clear covers, reminds me a little of Shu Uemura. Simple, and not exactly fashion-forward, but it feels sturdy and gets the job done. One nice thing about the clear plastic tops is that it makes the colors easy to spot.
With the exception of Little Black Dress, which applies pretty sheer on me, these smooth powders deposit a good deal of pigment on my lids. According to the PR, the powders contain something Sunday Riley calls “micronized spherical pigment particles,” which is fancy talk for “round silica particles coated with pigment.”
And the texture? Oh, the texture… So soft and smooth. Gradients and subtle transitions are easy with these, and I barely have to exert any energy swiping my brush to soften the seams between the colors.
Better still, fallout isn’t a problem with these. While applying, I don’t detect any on my lower lash lines or cheeks, and as for wear time, the colors cling to my lids all day long, refusing to fade or crease.
Everything adds up to a promising product, even at $26. The pans contain a sizable 4.8 grams of product, which is considerably more than a MAC eyeshadow single ($15 for 1.5 grams) and one from NARS ($24 for 2.2 grams). Per gram, it works out to $5.61 for Sunday Riley, $9.37 for MAC and $10.90 for NARS.
Not bad at all. 🙂
These totally remind me of NARS shadows at the top of their game, and I can already sense a new obsession in the making.
I can’t wait to try more!
PRICE: $26 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Bergdorf Goodman stores, Barneys New York and online at barneys.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
An appetite for reading
Last night I learned that re-reading The Hunger Games many hours after dinner can lead to hunger pains. Yup, I was re-reading the first couple chapters last night in bed, and when I got to a part where Katniss and Gale were eating bread, berries and goat cheese wrapped in basil, my tummy started rumbling.
Mmm…goat cheese.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ruchita says
March 13th, 2012 at 4:52 pmThese colors look really gorgeous on you, Karen! I have never heard of this brand, but I’ll kee it in mind for future makeup purchases.
I am SO excited about The Hunger Games! Luckily tickets are selling in advance in my area so I’m going to buy them this week. 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 5:01 pmHi Ruchita,
Thank you. 🙂 The line’s pretty new to me too. I heard from a friend about it who was like, “Dude, so obsessed!” And now I’m the same way. LOL!
Oh, and thanks for reminding me to buy tickets in advance. I might have to drag El Hub to a midnight show.
Vijaya says
March 13th, 2012 at 4:53 pmBit on the pricey side. I don’t like the look of the packaging; for that price point I expect a bit… sleeker.
Vijaya recently posted … Why I Don’t Like The Hunger Games
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 5:02 pmIt’s pricey, but if you regularly buy products in the NARS range it’s a pretty good deal.
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says
March 13th, 2012 at 5:24 pmThese look like great basics anyone should have, and the texture and pigmentation sound very promising! My only complaint is that for such a high-end eyeshadow, I would expect fancier packaging. The lids do look sturdy and not cheap, but for the price I would push my luck for something with a wow factor!
Sunny @ Mostly Sunny recently posted … In These Shoes?
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:12 pmHey Sunny,
I would love that, too. Imagine something fancy schmancy like Guerlain…ooh, la la!
Hope you had a lovely Tuesday!
lara / the glossarie. says
March 13th, 2012 at 5:52 pmyou’re gorgeous! love your hair up with the bold earrings – oh, and of course the eye shadows are kil-ler.
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Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:11 pmHi Lara,
Thank you! My bangs/hair have suddenly decided to cooperate…it’s been a nice change, LOL!
Do you think you might check these shadows out?
Emily says
March 13th, 2012 at 6:04 pmthey seem soooo soft!
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:11 pmHi Emily,
They *are* super soft. The texture’s like butter. 🙂
Do you think you might try these?
Adrienne says
March 13th, 2012 at 7:46 pmWow, when you really look at it, you may have to pay more upfront, but you get a much better deal on eyeshadow than the other brands, plus it sounds like you get a pretty baller eyeshadow! I might have to look into these next time I’m tempted to splurge a little on shadows!
Also, Karen, the first picture of this post is gorgeous!! You look so very classy and glam 🙂
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:10 pmHi Adrienne,
They kind of rock my socks off. I’m headed into SF to interview someone and may just have to pop by the Sunday Riley counter at Barneys. If another shadow finds its way into my collection… WHOOPSIE! 🙂
How was your day, btw? Good, I hope.
P.S. Tabs sends his love to Daphne.
Adrienne says
March 14th, 2012 at 12:29 amYep, ive had a few of those “WHOOPSIES” moments where stuff magically ends up in my basket… Hehe
My day was quite good, thanks Karen 🙂 i hope everything’s going good out there on the west coast for you! The weather in Philly was in the 70s for a high and gorrrrrgeous!! Had nice customers, and tomorrow the gf is skipping out on one job so we can take her dog for a walk and enjoy the nice weather in the city 🙂 Daphne sends her love and loud purrs back :).
Clare @ The Blossom Shed says
March 13th, 2012 at 8:29 pmI’ve been eyeing this line lately – seems like it’s getting a lot of buzz. While I agree I’d like fancier packaging ( I do love me some Guerlain gilt) they shades look gorgeous – they’re going on my tester list for my next NYC trip!
Clare @ The Blossom Shed recently posted … Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream
Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:08 pmNot gonna lie, I love me some fancy schmancy Guerlain too.
When are you hitting NYC up?
Tracy says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:11 pmThese shadows look great!! I’ve been hearing a lot of good stuff about them. It’d be great to see them be available in Canada!
I just got my tickets for The Hunger Games for next Friday! So excited.
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Karen says
March 13th, 2012 at 9:13 pmHi Tracy,
SO EXCITED FOR YOU!
I’m actually thinking about grabbing a midnight show…who knows if I’ll be able to stay up, though!
dani@callitbeauty says
March 13th, 2012 at 10:49 pmSuch lovely shades!
I’m currently in school for Makeup Artistry and for Fundamentals, we’re focusing primarily on day looks. Because of this, I’ve come to really appreciate a good neutral. Especially taupe!
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Nina says
March 14th, 2012 at 6:11 amThe eyeshadows are GORGEOUSSS! Want em – esp the taupe one! But the price – I cry!
Alison says
March 14th, 2012 at 10:40 amI love what you’ve done with these – that first pic of you is REALLY cute!
Alison says
March 14th, 2012 at 10:44 amPS. I hope these become available in Australia!
Kim says
March 14th, 2012 at 10:56 amMmm, bread. 🙂 I’m purposely not re-reading HG until after the movie because I just know I’ll be mentally picking out all the changes and getting huffy. We can do a sociological experiment and see if we have different opinions of the movie based on whether or not the books are fresh in our minds. hee hee! Btw, have you read Ender’s Game? I read it on the plane going to CA and had to keep looking out the window so my fellow passengers wouldn’t see me teary-eyed. I thought it was a very good (YA sci-fi) book.
Oh, wait. Eyeshadow, you say? 🙂 The colors look really pretty on you. I haven’t heard of the brand, which isn’t too surprising, but it looks lovely!
GenesisCal says
March 14th, 2012 at 1:26 pmHey 🙂 I had written a comment but I don’t know what happened.. What kind of powder, liquid foundation do you use and what’s the eyeshadow you’re using in these photos?
Kristy says
March 14th, 2012 at 1:32 pmKaren! I am so in love with your eye look in the first photo. I am so afraid I’ll be giving in to temptation and heading to Barney’s tomorrow for French Press…can you think of dupes?
corallista says
March 14th, 2012 at 3:42 pmThese look good – very basic cool dark neutrals, perfect for a soft smokey eye. You skin looks wonderful, have u been trying out something new?
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yael says
April 27th, 2012 at 10:34 pmfrench press just looks amazing. maybe it’s because i’m a coffee addict? nah, i seriously think if it blends so great, it could be the perfect cold brown shade!
Jenny says
April 21st, 2013 at 6:28 amI’m obsessed with Sunday Riley as well. Good Genes serum and Charisma Cleanser are AMAZING! I’m also in love with the eye shadows. Little Black Dress is great for use as a liner because it’s so malleable. Great blog!