Chanel should have issued a warning with their new $42 Ombres Contraste Duos: “Caution: The contents of this compact may be hard to resist!” 🙂
Seriously, you might want to steel yourself against potential temptation and simply stop reading now. 
The part of me that loves elegantly effortless makeup just can’t get enough of these eyeshadow duos. The six of them make me feel like screaming, “Gimme, gimme more!”
This fall luxurious textures and intense pigments have been all the rage among the high-end makeup lines (hello, Givenchy Le Prisme Quartets!), and while these duos may not look the part at first, they’re no exception.
Each one comes with a light cream shadow designed to be used as a base and a darker powder matte shadow for contouring and creating the illusion of depth.
Conveniently, skin is where these products really POP! — both in terms of color and texture — and being as smooth as they are makes them remarkably easy to blend.
In the look below I’m wearing Khaki (a matte dark green) from the Khaki-Clair duo. In it I’m barely wearing any, yet the ample pigmentation makes the color pretty hard to miss. BONUS: These leave behind absolutely no shadow fallout whatsoever — zip, zero, zilch.
Wearing Khaki-Clair
Gris-Subtil
Misty-Soft
Berry-Rose
Khaki-Clair
Swatches of Gris-Subtil (left) and Berry-Rose (right) on NC35 skin
Swatches of Misty-Soft (left) and Khaki-Clair (right) on NC35 skin
Maybe because it was a little warm here today, the cream shadow creased a bit, so next time it’s hot out I plan to start with a layer of primer first. I’ve been liking Urban Decay Eden.
Not surprisingly (we are talking about Chanel, after all), these duos are expensive, and I think that’s their Achilles Heel. Even so, Achilles himself probably would have thought them worth it! 🙂 Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Joey says
August 19th, 2010 at 10:53 pmKaren, I think your swatches are confused! =) Berry-Rose and Misty-Soft need to be switched around!
Karen says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:04 pmHa ha, thanks! I must be tired.
Radhika says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:20 pmChanel should have big banners of that warning all over its counters 😀 I like the small brush that comes with these instead of their usual foam applicators. Got Khaki single eyeshadow from the fall collection last weekend and am super super happy 😀 😀
Radhika recently posted … Discover the gloss – Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss
Karen says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:25 pmIt’s really nice, right? I like how the powder shadow wears well even along the waterline.
Radhika says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:21 pmOops I am so sorry I posted that twice!
Karen says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:26 pmNo worries! I’ll take care of the duplicate comment.
Radhika says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:23 pmLove the way you have done your eyes! And I am in love with Tabs…he is the cutest 🙂
Karen says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:26 pmThanks! 🙂 Happy almost Friday!
Rae says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:38 pmYep — definitely should have stopped reading!
P.S. Tabs is just too cute! I wish I had a kitty to pose with my makeup, too :p
Rae recently posted … Fekkai Style Trial Day at Saks
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:09 amLOL… Tabs didn’t reveal his makeup modeling skills until late in our relationship. 🙂 I’m so glad he did though!
Karen B says
August 19th, 2010 at 11:50 pmThat green looks so cute on you. Great look 🙂
Karen B recently posted … Hot Summer Day
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:08 amThanks, Karen!
How are things with you? Any big plans for the weekend?
Karen B says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:47 pmYou’re more than welcome dear.
Not really. I wish I were back in London though. There’s open mic night again tonight and I have to admit I have a bit of a crush on the pianist 😉 Hahahaha.
I’ll probably watch an Audrey Hepburn movie and play with my new NARS makeup 🙂
Karen B recently posted … Hot Summer Day
gio says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:56 amKhaki looks great on you! And Tabs is so cute, as always.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:08 amHe’s a cat who loves his Chanel!
Whitney C. says
August 20th, 2010 at 2:54 amLove the look! I want khaki clair now!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:08 amThat’s my fave shade out of the bunch so far! I hope you try it… it’s *super* easy to use.
Tiff says
August 20th, 2010 at 5:24 amMight be random, but your irises are huge! Are they like that naturally or are you wearing colored contacts?
Oh and the eyeshadow looks so great on you!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:07 amLOL… naw. I think it’s because my eyes are just really dark. They’re dark brown, but in pics they look black.
JamieJamez says
August 20th, 2010 at 5:52 amKaren, What are you wearing on your lips in the first shot of you outside, looks great!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:06 amHi Jamie,
Ooh, that’s one of my current lipgloss crushes, Becca Mimosa. Here’s a review along with pics and swatches:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/i-raise-my-glass-to-becca-glossy-lip-tint-in-mimosa/
LOVE this gloss! I’ve been reaching for it practically every day.
Martha says
August 20th, 2010 at 5:57 amWow, I definitely should not have read this. I might need one, or three of these.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:05 amHee hee! Which color are you thinking about?
Nina says
August 20th, 2010 at 5:57 amWow. Eyeshadow Ombre to match those Blush Ombres! I want these!
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:04 amRight? Chanel knows exactly how to capture my heart every single time.
We made it to Friday… WOOT!
Got any plans for the weekend?
NIna says
August 20th, 2010 at 10:37 amFriday yay! Gonne be a low key weekend for us. Might cook (or might not) … work has kicked our butts bad this week!
I want those eyeshadows … I know ive said no more eyeshadows but how do I resist those???
Joey Chong says
August 20th, 2010 at 6:07 amHi Karen,
They are soooo pretty aren’t there?!
When I saw them, I had the same reaction as you..
GIVE ALL OF THEM TO ME *note the word *GIVE!!
But nope, I had to buy them..
I only got Gris-Subtil & Misty-Soft in the end.
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:03 amHi Joey,
How are you liking your colors? What’s your fave way to wear them?
Happy Friday, btw!
Lisa S. says
August 20th, 2010 at 7:29 amI want Misty-soft and Khaki-Clair. Must have. But ouch! so expensive
Karen says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:03 amBoth are really pretty. What kind of look are you going for? If you want something softer maybe go with Misty… for drama Khaki’s very nice!
Lisa S. says
August 20th, 2010 at 2:16 pmBoth! So I may just have to buckle down and buy both. I’m a very subtle yet dramatic woman, you know! ;0)
lexi says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:13 amThat’s how I like to sleep too – with all my Chanel makeup fanned out around me hahahaha!
Until I procure my UD Naked Palette, I am not buying anymore shadows. Are these permanent? I may have to pick up that Khaki duo when I lift my ban. I stopped with NARS Tzarine last Friday. We’ll see how long I can keep this ban going!
You are looking gorgeous and lovely as always – Happy Friday!
The Budget Socialite says
August 20th, 2010 at 9:16 amI’m torn I love Chanel but the price tag! Oh the price tag. Can’t it ever go on sale?
LuvJ says
August 20th, 2010 at 10:28 amLook at that skin — me so jealous 🙂
Alison says
August 20th, 2010 at 11:04 amI love these, but since I bought misty-soft I want Taupe-Delicat and Gris-Subtil. Khaki looks amazing on you!
Darn you Chanel! I am always broke!
P.s Tabs is so cute sleeping with his chanel stash!
Marina says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:04 pmWow Karen, you look gorgeous! You rock the Khaki!
I have the Misty-Soft duo and loooove it <3
Cindy (Prime Beauty) says
August 20th, 2010 at 12:30 pmMisty Soft and Gris Subtil are on my list. I think I *may* like Misty Soft better than my single Taupe Grise!
Steph B says
August 20th, 2010 at 1:38 pmLoving the Khaki-Clair. Do you know how this compares to the new khaki single? I’m thinking my present to myself for finishing my big report today is a new shadow. Looking for something outside my normal work taupe zone but still work wearable.
Nicolle says
August 21st, 2010 at 3:38 amI have been eying these for a few weeks now but have not purchased…yet. I am torn between Misty Soft & Taupe Delicat. These are so smooth and super easy to blend! For now, I think I will pass on these because I am saving up for the new Rogue Allure Extrait de gloss that should be out in Sept…they are already online now and also the new LE nail polishes that are coming out – Sept. 10th 🙂
Katrina says
August 21st, 2010 at 10:15 amOooh…I want either misty-soft or berry-rose….which would go better with pale but warm skin do you think?
Marisol says
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:18 pmI couldn’t help myself and kept reading. Those are some amazing colors.
Marisol recently posted … Cruisin
Andreea says
August 23rd, 2010 at 6:00 amI have seen them already in store and it was not easy to pass by. But I was dissapointend by ENIGMA so I do not invest in CHANEL anmore this year!
ENIGMA I bought instantly without having it applied once. It is far too dark and sparkling for me. I might use it sometimes for some extra sparkle, but it is nothing for my daily routine. I like stuff I can wear everyday, but these smkey eyes are really too dark for office wear.
LJ says
April 15th, 2011 at 6:18 pmI have been eying these for a few weeks now but have not purchased. do you like?
Nadja says
August 31st, 2011 at 5:24 pmHi Karen,
do you think berry rose can be compared to Nars grand palais? thank you