Review: L’Oreal Open Eyes Eyeshadow Palette – Purple Rocks!

You won’t see many purple eyeshadow being featured here on my blog because I have a love-hate relationship with purple. On the one hand, some shades make me look bruised and on the other hand, some shades amp up the smokey eye factor. Its a thin line I have to balance.

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But since I’m happy to experiment, I’m happy to report that I managed to get the new L’Oreal Open Eyes eyeshadow palette in Purple to work for  me! Yay!

This palette is a new offering from L’Oreal Cosmetics and looks very similar to their L’Oreal Stars Secret eyeshadow palette. The texture feels similar too – hard to the touch and slightly sheer. The difference is that the new L’Oreal Open Eyes palette has taken on an Asian cosmetics slant by having gradational colours in one palette. Does this remind you of Maybelline Diamond Glow? It did for me!

I’d say first off that the texture is sheer so if you like strong colours, you may be a little underwhelmed. However, you can layer the colours to greater intensity and I find that when I PAT them on instead of swiping them on my lids, I get better colour pay off. There is better color payoff than Maybelline Diamond Glow, in case you were wondering and is less shimmery.

My favourite colour is the dark purple-black shade in the lower right corner. I swear its a dupe for MAC Beauty Marked – a color I’m not sure if it exists anymore. This colour is quite strong and forms the base for a mean smokey eye look. I’ve been wearing this palette for a week straight and I’m liking it more and more.

The shades are all on the slightly shimmery side. Nothing as shimmery as what you might find in Japanese brands or in Maybelline Diamond Glow, but enough to add some dimension to the eye. I use all 4 shades – dark purple near to the lashline and blended upwards and outwards, purple to shade the lid, light purple to brighten and white to highlight the brow bone and inner corners.

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I’m going to say off the bat that I don’t like the white shadow. Its hard and there is very little colour pay off. If you layer it on, you can get a slightly highlighted look but otherwise its a little meh. I can go better with other white shadow in my collection.

The light purple/pink too has little colour pay off. It has nice subtle shimmer so it tones down the rest of the shades for the day but on its own, its meh.

The purple is red toned which usually does not work for me but when paired with the dark purple-black shade its amazing! As I said, that purple-black shade is an excellent base for a smokey eye.

As a palette, it passes muster. As I said above, if you dislike sheer shadows you might want to give this one a miss. But if you want something you can quickly swipe on everyday without making too much of a mess of things, its worth a second glance and definitely worth trying on. I use my fingers so I get better intensity compared to when I use the applicator.

The L’Oreal Open Eyes palette comes in 4 shades – Purple, Cocoa (brown), Cobalt (Blue) and Stellar (grey) and retails for RM45.90. I don’t know if this one’s an Asia exclusive – so if you spot it anywhere else in the world do give a holler!

Pros: Sheer, Slightly shimmery texture, Easy to apply, Lasts all day, Affordable

Cons: Some might find it too sheer

Have you tried this palette and if you have, do you have thoughts on it? I’m liking the gradational look and am thinking of trying Stellar next. I have a soft spot for grey colours and grey based eyeshadow palettes.

Stay beautiful

Paris B