As my March haul and other buys suggest, I don't have much restrictions on budget for eyeshadows. It's not that I am rich; I am NOT, I have a budget (and I will write more about that, as well as the fun financial-related stuff on my next post. Haha! Did I just say FUN?) but when it comes to eyeshadow, I find myself more laid-back about my moolah.
Last month, I was gifted two eyeshadow quads by my family, on my requests. I feel exhilarated to finally be able to show you some swatches and pen my thoughts about these two products...
(Left) Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad Cocoa Mirage, SGD105
(Right) Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palatte Dolce Vita, £38.00
Both are very wearable neutrals. Both shades are rather similar too. The key differences are textures- matte (TF) versus glitter/shimmer (CT); prices, quality of powder and the slightly warmer tones of CT palette.
Swatches will tell the full story...
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| Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage |
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| Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita |
My Thoughts on Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage
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| Get this look with Tom Ford eyeshadow quad! Read my Makeup Tutorial. |
The first touch of this palette screams of luxury in capital L. From the shiny paper box, soft velvet pouch, palette exterior finishing, exquisite brushes - everything feels super luxurious! The feel of the exceptionally smooth powder drives every makeup junkie to instant orgasm. LOL. No kidding.
PROS:
- Powder is so finely milled, I dare say there is no other brand who can beat its quality, as of time of writing.
- Colours suit almost everyone, but may not be as obvious on dark skin.
- Everyday matte neutral colors that brighten up the eyes without being over made-up.
- SUPER easy to apply - perpertually GLIDES on quickly like a plane in the sky
- Pigmented and blendable (what a perfect combi!)
- The luxurious packaging and good amount of product makes this investment worth its buck.
- Hefty price tag of SGD105 (which can buy you 26 plates of chicken rice in Singapore)
- No shimmer in any of the shades, which means it produces an understated kind of look that won't make your eyes stand out (if you're hoping to)
- Lasting power is so-so, not something worth mentioning about.
With this price, I can't bring myself to give it a 5-kisses as I am concerned about the pockets of the everyday woman. I do LOVE this product very much because of the high quality and the colours can never go wrong on anyone. In fact, I will repurchase in other colours in future!
My Thoughts on Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita
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| I applied CT eyeshadow with a VERY light hand. I used all 4 colours. |
PROS:
- Colours are very pigmented and dark - great for smoky eye look
- Unique inclusion of gold glitter (not the fine type) - good for evenings/parties
- All shades have shimmers in them - your eyes are sure to sparkle!
- Price is lower than Tom Ford's (approximately SGD80 after currency conversion)
- Sophisticated high quality packaging like TF.
CONS:
- No brushes! No pouch.
- A little bit of fallouts from the gold glitter
- Colours do not complement well. (IMO, I think they should change the fourth shade to something darker, sans the grayish hue)
- Not exactly cheap if compared to mid-range eyeshadows which deliver similar results.
- Not available in Singapore retail market yet. Need to ship from CT website. Shipping costs has to be factored in.
Wanted to rate it better but perhaps I've set too high expectations of this product and even needed to trouble my hubby to hunt this down in London for me - all these factors played a part of this overall rating. If you happen to be in the UK and have not tried CT products before, and if you do not own similar colours, I guess SGD80 is still justifiable for the purchase, just for novelty sake.
IF THESE TWO PALETTES WERE IN A PAGEANT, WHO GETS THE CROWN?
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| Photo credits: about-face.org |
Since I am the sole judge here, I will bestow the title to.....
