Chanel's intensely shimmering long-wear eye shadow offers an
innovative gel texture that is both soft and cushiony, allowing it to be
worn as an eye shadow or eyeliner. It includes a specially designed
flat, angled shadow/liner brush, which was developed specifically for the unique formula.
It seems that Chanel teases us with a new
Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow ($36) shade or two with every major collection - and so it is that Initiation, a limited edition, came to live at my house. The other new shade, Fatal, is lavender - not my color. Gold sure is - in any shade!
Unfortunately, the first thing I saw when I opened the jar was that the color doesn't extend all the way to the jar's sides. Can you see in my photo the machine-cut "plug" of color sitting in the jar? That's not the quality I expect from Chanel. Fortunately, the color is.
I took swatch photos of this metallic shade in full, mid-day sun. I swatched it with its little brush - another silly add-on, like all those sponge applicators. Despite my love for Illusion d'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow, I've never been impressed with those little applicators.
Fortunately, Initiation's brown-bronze-gold blend - or antique gold - is an exquisite shade. I apologize again for the cat scratch wound. I tried to blur it out a bit, but it's a fresh reminder that my cat man has sharp claws, even though I trim them regularly.
Enough about the things that aren't perfect. This shade is a stunner. Chanel calls it platinum bronze. That's as good a description as any, but it doesn't convey the depth, the uniqueness, or the twinkle that Initiation leaves on the lids. I think this shade is a gorgeous shade for fall and the holidays. It would even work for summer.
This may become my go-to evening eye color, although I haven't seen Chanel's Ombres Matelassé eye palette in person yet. Everyone loves brown. This is brown with pizazz. Don't think you can't wear it just because or if you are over 40. Just keep it under the crease - or use it as an eyeliner. I learned a long time ago to keep the shimmering shades away from the lid above the crease. That doesn't mean I can't wear them; it just means I need to be careful with application.
The Nuit Infinie de Chanel Collection for Holiday 2013 will be making
its way into the store counters this month. It is available at Nordstrom at
this link. It does not seem to be available yet on Chanel.com, but should be soon.
Photo at top courtesy of Nordstrom; other photos by Best Things in Beauty
gorgeous shade! x
ReplyDeleteLike you, I wasn't that impressed by the plummy shade although it will look lovely on many women. This one; however, is a real looker! I think of the two, it is the one that works best with the eye palette and the blusher. So, why didn't I pick it up when I bought my JC? Because it had already sold out! The counter had only received a limited number of the two Illusion D'Ombres, and because of the beauty event, they sold out in a flash. Be that as it may, I went ahead and ordered Initiation so it will be shipped to me. I'll have that lovely in my hot little hands in a few days :-) While I was at it, I also did a pre-sale of Charming, the eye palette, as I was told the counter would only be getting a few of those in their first shipment. I wonder what has caused the delay in getting Charming out to the stores; especially since it is the focal point of the collection. Hmmm . . .
ReplyDeleteI do wish the cosmetic companies would ship all the pieces at once and in a sufficient quantity so that more people could share in the excitement of a new release. The counters will eventually get more pieces, but it's just so much fun to be able to buy a complete look all at the same time.
i noticed everyone got this kind of shrunken and kind of dried out Initiation. Cafemakeup, temptalia, makeupmagpie, karen... pretty much everyone including me. I sent it right back. Not acceptable from brand like Chanel
ReplyDeleteHi. I received both of the new Illusion d Ombres and mine also was pulled away from the sides. The lavender shade is not like that. Beautiful color though.
ReplyDeleteCG,
ReplyDeleteI just got mine and it's full yours looks like you got a bad one I'd return it and get a new one since the one you got doesn't look full.
Melissa
Your Initiation is not the first one I've seen like this, Cafe Makeup's looked shrunken inside the pot too. What the heck is up with that??
ReplyDeleteBoth this gold eye shadow and the Accent blush are seriously stunning. They are officially on my wish list and I will definitely check them out next time I go shopping. Thanks for calling my attention to them!
ReplyDeleteI bought this first, then went back for the purple. Both are gorgeous and this Chanel Holiday collection is very cohesive and beautiful. I didn't buy the blush but may change that after your review.
ReplyDeleteTanja
Wow, that shade is stunning! I love the illusion d'ombres formula. I think yours has "shrunk", just from seeing lots of pots of this and owning several, I don't think it a cut 'plug'. I noted that one of mine shrunk over time, perhaps not sealed properly. I would be a bit annoyed if I received one like that new as it would lead me to believe it may be partially dried out.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteEveryone seems to have gotten the same smaller size. It looks like what happens when they dry out. I wonder if Chanel will correct this?
I think I need this color. You've done it again, CG.
Oh this shade is a stunner! The shrunken color is just not acceptable. When I purchased Vision I had the sale associate go through 5 pots until I got one that was not dried out. Even she was upset that the shades were falling out of the pot. I will get this color and will not settle until I have one in pristine condition...after all we are paying a premium for the Chanel name and quality. Love your blog and wish you the very best.
ReplyDelete-ifmakeupcouldtalk
I have had problems with shrinkage in previous Illusion d'Ombre purchases - significantly with my first one (Fantasme) bought in the US (although I usually buy in the UK. Over a period of three months it strank further and further till it dropped out the jar. I was told it was my fault and due to not screwing the lid tight enough. It happened to a lesser extent with a European one in Epatant, which looks like yours but is still useable. By that time sales assistants were admitting there is a problem with this formula. My Emerveille (bought at same time as Epatant) is still ok. Apparently, as well as screwing lid very tightly, it helps to store upside down. Susan
ReplyDeleteI love this Id'O, especially with the sparkle mascara. Isn't it interesting how people wear products differently? I'm 47 -- I wore this from lashes to brows (with a touch of Fatal in the crease for some depth), and I think it was the perfect look.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great reviews, CG!
Very pretty shade; INITIATION looks perfect.
ReplyDelete:-)
That's a great shade!
ReplyDeleteThese eyeshadows are on my wish-list because I hear great things about them!
I might have to cave and get this one! I would wear this shade regularly!
~Monica
Like Susan said, these can shrink. I have also heard that they must be closed tightly, which gives me to wonder of they are not doing that at the factory! Apparently, they can be pressed back into shape, but we all expect better from CHANEL! Be that as it may, that is a gorgeous shade and I am now even more resolved to get one once they are up here!
ReplyDeleteCG, did you find Fatal to be more on the red side of purple?
Totally valid point about being able to wear shimmer eyeshadow on the lid! Once in awhile, I need to be reminded of this so I take a chance on something new...even if it IS eyeshadow! Gorgeous color, but disappointed in the small plug of color (Dried out? Or machine cut?)
ReplyDeleteI love this! I anyway love the Illusion d'ombre range esp, Apparence and Ebloui..The fine shimmer in them makes the eyes sparkle. This will be a perfect addition to my collection.
ReplyDeleteWow, this looks like another win to me!! Absolutely stunning. Do you think your product may be dried up? That's what happened to my old Illusion d'Ombres.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I use the little brush as lip brush in my handbag. V. handy and perfect size (just not the shape, but I can manage).