I really should not like these eyeshadows.
Paul & Joe may be a French fashion line, but the makeup brand is created by a luxury J Beauty (Japanese Beauty) brand, Albion. This brand also produces their own self-named skincare line and the Anna Sui beauty products.
I bought two shimmering eyeshadows. There are more colors and you can find them at the website Albion Gardens. (Just a link for your convenience, no affiliation at all.)
- Vanilla Harmony - Ivory with subtle red, gold, and silver pearlescence.
- Marron Marron Glacé - Medium warm brown with red, gold, and silver pearlescence.
For an Asian beauty brand, the size of these eyeshadows shocked me. These shadows are housed in a 30mm screw-top container with a generous amount of 8 grams. This makes them well worth the luxury and price of $23.
These aren't the usual powder eyeshadows at all. They are more of a putty, slightly slick like a face primer. (This type of formulation seems to be the trend in Asian brands lately.)
Application can be done with the usual finger or a synthetic brush. If you find finger application not easy then, a silicone applicator can be used. I prefer a synthetic brush, although, due to the texture of the product, it may pill on the brush hairs. Pressing the brush onto the lid will resolve the little clumps if they do occur.
These shimmer shadows can be used 3 ways.
- As is on the eyes. Gives a subtle luminous glow.
- To prime the lid for powder shadows. This is especially good for those with dry lids.
- To apply on top of other eyeshadows to give that multi-dimensional glow.
The results are actually quite beautiful, especially on mature skin. It is more like an alluring luminosity. Think of Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, you know that ending. That diffused glow, so classic!
As mentioned in the beginning, I shouldn't like these for two main reasons. One, very little pigment and not really buildable. They also have a tendency to crease, especially in this heatwave. Yet with these faults, I use them practically everyday!
Here are some reasons why these shadows are worth a look.
- So easy to use. No learning curve.
- Perfect for no-makeup or minimal days. Adds the right amount of color.
- Perfect for people who hate to wear eyeshadow but just feel naked without it.
- For people who shy away from eyeshadow.
- Perfect for Wise Owls - mature skin. Less is more and these just add the perfect amount of color and luminous glow to the eyes.
I am sure I could make these crease-proof with Blue Marble Selr, either by spraying it to set or mixing it. Either way, I still like it for the ease of use and its formula and texture. It just feels good on my eyes, nothing bothersome. And, they suit my inner beauty and my wise owl self.
Sometimes, what isn't perfect is perfect!
Ingredients
Mica, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethyl Olivate, Triethylhexanoin, Dextrin Isostearate, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Lauryl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Paraffin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tilia Europaea Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Talc, Tin Oxide, Water (Aqua), Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool. May contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Ultramarines (CI 77007).
