Review & Swatch: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette in 02 Nudes

Back in May, I gave you a little sneak peek of some really delish items coming out from Clarins for the Fall (see post here).

Today its time to take look at the gorgeous Eye Quartet Mineral Palette which I received at the press event.

PRODUCT: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palettes in 02 Nudes

PRICE: CAD$42.00 for 5.8 g/0.2 oz

AVAILABILITY: Part of regular line, launching in August 2011.

WHERE TO PURCHASE: At most Clarins counters at The Bay, Sears, Shoppers Drug Mart and other retailers across Canada.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT FROM CLARINS:

"Eye Shadows that plat on colour for a variety of loos.

Highly concentrated in a mineral pigments, these eye shadows really light up the eyes. Create a multitude of effects with:

• A harmony of satin and iridescent shades.
• Two-high performance foam applicators to be used for a natural result, or damp, for an intense, sophisticated look."

REVIEW:

The Quartet is housed in a the signature Clarins red packing, inside a velvet pouch.

The outer packing has direction on how to utilize the palette.

Here is the suggested look on the back:

The palette is looks heavy but is actually quite light. Inside there are two foam applicators and a mirror.

Going by the numbered chart the colours are as follows:

• 1 - A shimmering champagne
• 2 - A shimmering taupe brown
• 3 - A slightly more matte dark brown
• 4 - A shimmering peachy-pink 

Here are the dry swatches - from left to right  1, 4, 3, 2

Here are the same colours swatched wet:

The texture of the shadows are smooth and creamy. They have a sophisticated sheen to when used dry - perfect for a day look or when you want a subdued eye make up with bolder lips or cheeks. 

There are no fall outs or creasing that I noticed. They blend out very well , too. With a primer they lasted 7 hours on me , but only because I took it off after that time elapsed. I think they would last a bit longer than that though if I hadn't removed my make up. 

Now the nudes on my eye lids are very neutral (well, I mean really, they are supposed to be "nude" LOL) - I personally think when used dry this particular colour palette would work best with paler and cooler skin tones. They brighten up my eye , but in a very subtle way. I found that used dry, the lighter colours had a less pigmented finish.

What really makes them stand out though is when they are applied wet. They have a gorgeous depth and finish as you can see from the swatch - they really just pop and shimmer.

The quality of the product is what I expect from Clarins - beautiful finish, subtle, sophisticated shimmer that you can amp up if the mood strikes you. I tend to love brighter colours and I think the gorgeous 04 Indigo and 05 Violet would be right up my alley.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 - The quality of the shadows are gorgeous - they apply beautifully. Applied wet is how these babies really flourish though. With the 6 colour choices I think Clarins has covered good ground to suit and appeal to a nice range of skin tones and tastes. If you love sophisticated finishes and high-quality eye-shadows these are def. worth a try!

DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with any particular company or brand. Unless otherwise stated, everything I review on this blog is purchased by yours truly for my personal use and review purposes. All thoughts expressed are my unbiased, honest opinion regardless of how the product was obtained.