Why use neutral eyeshadow?

I received an Isetan mailer recently which had pictures of the new Bobbi Brown Nude eye and lip palette (RM210). I also saw the palette in person last week and the shadows were 4 similar colored nude or neutral eyeshadows. It reminded me of a question I used to ask before - Why would anyone want to use neutral eyeshadow or eyeshadows that look nude? Isn’t the purpose of eyeshadow having colour on the eyes?

Clockwise from bottom left: Bourjois Brun Irrel, Bourjois Beige Rose, MAC Coco pigment, MAC Naked Pigment,
Shu Uemura ME Silver 945, Stila Kitten, Wheat, Oasis, Sun

I’ve since worked out the answer for myself. There are some days or some occasions when having other colours on your eyes won’t do. Examples are strict work places or serious events or even just when you want to be taken seriously like if you have to attend meetings or meet new customers or clients or business partners. If you are in a serious sort of job, having beautifully made up eyes with coloured eyeshadow just won’t do because people just don’t take you seriously otherwise (unfortunate but true). (Read more after the jump) There’s More! Continue reading →

Review: Makeup: Kanebo T’estimo eyeshadow

Kanebo’s T’estimo makeup line is to be replaced with a new line called Coffret D’or. So, if you are a fan of T’estimo, you won’t have long more before they are phased out totally. It might take a while here in Malaysia though - no one seems to know yet about the phasing out, and that the current T’estimo collection is the last for the line.

Be that as it may, I thought I’d review the single eyeshadows from T’estimo.

These are the eyeshadow singles I have presently. They come in a transparent square case, rather like that of Shu Uemura. However, you can easily depot it into a palette just as I have done.

The texture of the eyeshadows are slightly sheer but pigmented, and shimmery. The shimmer puts off some people, but I like it because it adds definition and it isn’t so super shimmery as to be glittery. Some textures are slightly more metallic than others but I never got round to figuring out the system.

What I like about T’estimo eyeshadows is the fact that although I use my fingers on them, they never form a layer on the surface like other brands do. So, they never look awful and crusty after a long time, and that’s nice.

I cannot remember the price of a single shadow - it might be between RM30-40 each but I think its worth every sen! I hope Coffret D’or lives up to what I have enjoyed of T’estimo so far!

Pros: Shimmer, sheer, lots of colour choice, doesn’t get crusty, inexpensive

Cons: Being phased out, sheer

Rating:

Review: Makeup: Kanebo T’estimo Frame Impact eyeshadow palette

I am a huge fan of Kanebo T’estimo makeup line. Its a counter brand here in Malaysia, which means that the prices are quite high. But in Japan, its a drugstore brand. Go figure! Anyway, I love the eyeshadows as the texture is very soft and smooth and they are shimmery.

This review is on T’estimo’s Spring collection eyeshadow palette - Frame Impact. There are 4 colours in this collection but I only got 04 as I did not want to be overdoing things, and I was looking for something neutral. Isn’t it pretty?

This eyeshadow palette comes with a shimmery white/cream highlighter, a shimmery gold colour and a shimmery dark brown shade. The liner is cream in a dark brown colour. It comes with 2 double ended applicators that are of very good quality so I have no qualms about using them. However, I tend to use my fingers for most eyeshadow applications.

This palette is a huge improvement for T’estimo, in my opinion. Their eyeshadows in this palette are super pigmented, which is great. Their previous palettes tended to be on the sheer side. I used this palette for a neutral look for work and realised that if you used more of the darker shade on your eyes it could equally morph into a decent smokey look for the night. Absolutely gorgeous!

The other palettes are a purple toned, blue toned and green toned palette. In the past I would have grabbed colour. However, I’m lately more into neutrals so I skipped the colourful ones. They are just as good, in my view. The palette itself is also very pretty with a mirrored cover and pretty strips of flowers around the sides.

Beware though, that it is shimmery. If you don’t like shimmer, I’m afraid I’ll have to recommend that you don’t get this. However, I don’t find their shimmer over the top. Its shimmery but not frosty which is very nice. It opens up the eye area for me.

Here’s the other reason I like T’estimo palettes. It comes with instructions!

 At the back of the plastic box it comes in is a little diagram and instructions in Japanese on how you should apply the colours for maximum result. If you can’t read Japanese (like me) then just follow the picture instructions. Its all pretty self-explanatory.

If you follow the instructions you’ll find yourself looking almost like all the Japanese models you see in pictures. Pretty shimmery peepers with gradational colours. Keep the darker colour closer to the lashline and lighter colour on top towards the brow bone. I find my eyes open up more with this method than with the conventional western method of keeping darker colours in the eye crease.

This palette retails for RM120 at the Kanebo counter. I’d say its absolutely worth it!

Pros: Soft shimmery colour, pigmented, comes with directions

Cons: Pricey