Part of the eyeshadow repertoire in the Clarins Autumn/Winter 2011 Colour Definition Collection, Clarins Ombre Minérale 4 Couleurs in 06 Graphites (S$72) stands out with its smokey hues.
Comprising an iridescent soft pink, a shimmery silver, a satiny pewter and a matte black, this quad allows you to create a smokey eye of varying intensities and textures.
As with most of Clarins’s eye makeup, this palette isn’t overtly pigmented, which means that you needn’t be fearful of colour overkill. The colour payoff is reasonable, though – the iridescence of the pink shows up immediately, lending a soft glow to the brow bone area, while the pewter has buildable colour and layers well. The silver is, for the most part, shimmery and adds a touch of sparkle to the eyes.
When swatched, the most disappointing shade was the black – it felt dry and went on unevenly. Thankfully, it doesn’t blend too badly on the eye.
My favourite shade has to be the pewter because of its pretty hue and satiny texture. The pink is a close second, thanks to its soft iridescent flash.
The two will make for a soft and feminine smokey eye but I prefer something deeper in tone, so I like to layer the shades over a dark shadow base.
In this eotd, I used:
- Beauté de Kosé Eye Fantasist in BE354 Pearl Beige as an all-over base
- The pewter on the lid over Zephyr
- The silver on the socket indent
- The pink from socket to brow
- The black over a black eyeliner, blending into the pewter
- The black over the same liner on the lower lash line ¾ way in; the silver over a silver liner on the inner lower lash line
The colours lasted more than 7 hours and remained almost as intense as when I left my home. I’m sure the bases helped but their long-lasting nature as promised by the brand probably contributed to this too.
As with almost all Clarins powdered makeup, this quad is encased in a sturdy gold compact.
Image source: Clarins Singapore
