From not owning anything from Clarins, I have ended up owning 2 products from Clarins – the colour quench lip balm and the Colour Quartet eyeshadow quad. Ever since I saw Karen with her blue pink and silver eye using the Clarins So Sublime quartet, I have been smitten with it. It didn’t help that that shade of navy blue was calling out my name repeatedly.
I came across a Clarins quad online called Audacious #70. I can’t find it listed anywhere though the colours are identical to the So Sublime #80 quad. I realised that So Sublime was also known by other names in other countries e.g. So Glam, so I decided to take a chance on it.
Packaging wise my Clarins quad came in a typical red Clarins box and a red velveteen pouch that closes with a magnet. The case is translucent plastic on the bottom and silver on the top that attracts fingerprints like crazy. CSI would have no problems dusting this baby for prints thats for sure! 😛
The colours look almost exactly like Karen’s So Sublime quad so I’m led to believe that it is a renaming of a similar palette.
Now that I had this brightly coloured eyeshadow palette in my hands, how on earth was I going to wear it?!
I’ll show you some swatches first since it appears to be de rigueur these days. The colours are bright and beautiful and that bubblegum pink is eeks! bright! I do like the navy blue and silver though. I could wear just those 2 colours and be happy.
The texture of the eyeshadow is smooth and pigmented. The light pink and silver are softer than the other 2 colours to me. Used with fingers, it is stronger coloured than if you use a brush – which is normal. It doesn’t fly everywhere and the shimmer in the colour is lovely and understated not chunky glitter. I was a little worried about the silver colour at first but it appears my fears were unfounded because the texture is lovely and smooth yet has nice shimmer.
However, I had to attempt to wear the bright pink on my eyes and yet avoid the rabid rabbit look which is so not sexy, so I decided to follow Karen’s tips.
Happily, I think it worked quite well for me. I can’t get that good a shot of my eye so this is a rough approximation of how it looks on.
- Black pencil eyeliner on upper lashline
- Navy Blue on lower lash line and smudged on outer corners and along upper lash line
- Silver on inner corners
- Light pink on middle of the lid
- Bright pink on crease touched up with silver and blended like crazy
- No mascara
I must freely admit to NOT being all that good at eye makeup application but I was happy with how it looked in real life, which is more important for me.
I wore this look to work. Yes, I can get away with it – yay! 😉 I might tone down the pink next time and play up the navy for a smokier night look. I did add some black liner to create more definition. For an alternative look, I will just do a navy blue and silver which I’m sure will be hot!
Does this make me want more Clarins colour quartets? Surprisingly no. Despite checking out the Clarins counter a few times, I am strangely unmoved by the other colour combinations offered by Clarins in their regular line – it might be that they are too warm for me or just too pastel. I seem to be veering more towards cooler shades. I am however, liking my Audacious palette even if I am unsure if it is So Sublime or not – either way, its working well for me and yay, I am wearing pink on my eyes! 🙂
Clarins Colour Quartets retails for RM145 at all Clarins counters. I purchased mine online for a little less.
Pros: Smooth texture, pigmented, lovely colours
Cons: Pricey for some, Naming system confuses me
Paris B’s [rating:3.5/5]
the colors turn out awesome on your eyes. and at least it is much more pigmented than the victoria secret eye palette =/ but for the price of RM145, i am not sure if i will purchase this myself
Hi prettybeautiful
Thank you! I thought RM145 was a good price considering how much more other palettes are going for 🙂
Girl! when you said Clarin’s makeup is great! I DO BELIEVE YOU! the colors came out super pretty on both swatches and eyes! I also love the way you line your eyes 🙂
Hi Nikki
Aww… thank you! 🙂 I’m learning how to line and I’m happy its been turning out so far. Strangely I’m so not tempted by other colours though 😛
i LOVE IT!
Hi Lydia
Thank you! 🙂
who said that you aren’t good at application???!!! that was good on you! seriously, it was good! this is by far my favourite quad from clarins and these EOTDs are the best I have seen on you!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi jojoba
Thanks! I was quite surprised at how well they turned out LOL
by the way, i think the blue turns gray on you. very gray. or is it really different from ine? not sure…
and i love the new pix with review icons. your blog is doing very well! love the new look!
Hi again Jojoba
I think the blue sort of turns to a deeper blacker shade on me. I’m really puzzled why this is so. The texture is a little harder than the light pink and silver too.
Ooh you did a wonderful job of blending in the pinks wearably! Don’t diss your eyeshadow application skills dear. They’re awesome!
Hey Kahani
Thanks – its the first time I’ve been able to wear PINK! 😀
Very pretty! I like! 😀
Hey Connie
Coming from you its a compliment indeed! Thanks
the purplish hue was all you needed to make me grin.. 🙂
Hiya beetrice
LOL you and your purple!
I think your eyes look terrific. You have just prompted me to do the same look today…XD (using dupes of course lol)
Hi Xisa
Thank you and I hope your duped shades turn out too!
i love the palette effects on u .. look so great, i love the pink on u yet doesnt look like u got swollen eyes…i still remember once i wore pink n plum eyeshadows, my bf’s friend tot I got eyes infections and swelling.. *shrugs*
Hi Synaesthesia
Thank you! I usually look like I was crying or got hit by a bus when I wear pink. Its the first time I haven’t looked that way and I attribute it to the placement of the colour. I’ll have to pen my thoughts on this some day!
These colours are really beautiful. They look great on you.
I didn’t own any pink eyeshadows until I bought the MAC HK Too Dolly palette.
Hi Amanda
Thank you! Are you liking your Too Dolly Palette? I reckon I’ll have a dupe for it if I borrow your pic 🙂
I love my Too Dolly Palette so so much *lol* Go ahead and borrow the pic 🙂
Thanks Amanda!
i like your eyes!!!nice colours matching and blending
Hi Akiki
Thank you!
I think you look just lovely. And I really like how the look turned out. Very nice! =)
So what was is you were saying about not being good at application again? =P
Pink, blue and silver. I shall attempt this combination sometime. tee hee…
Hey Syen
Thank you! I was very surprised at how it turned out too 🙂 Do give this colour combi a shot – it surprised me.
The colors looks so sparkilee. I wish Clarins came out with prettier packaging though. Eee…kekekekeke.
Hi Pomme
I think Clarins has a different (older) target market so less girly girl la…
Great job, I can’t believe you said “I must freely admit to NOT being all that good at eye makeup application”! That application is one I will try to copy 🙂 I hesitate to use a bright pink, because I worry that I’ll look like I haven’t slept, but you’ve proven me wrong, it looks great. Thanks!
Hi Tamralmo
Haha… I’m not usually very good but thank you! I have always been afraid of pink on the eyes too. The trick is to keep it light and on the crease – it does not create that much of a puffy eye look.