Chanel Ombre D’eau series in Bayou #30 is a rich cranberry-violet, which looks great smudged on the lid. I usually add a black eyeliner and an ivory on my brow bone. It’s an easy look that gives a thoughtful impression.
I work this with quick, definitive movements and very few in number. You have to work quickly before it dries. However, like a good pastry dough, if you ‘over-do’ it by smudging and working too much, it ruins the effect. Less fuss is better.
Chanel’s recent Paris Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture show presented some very fresh silver and coral looks. The pictures show a beautiful mix of warm lips and cool eyes.
According to this source, the products used at the show are:
Complexion
Eyes
Cheeks
Lips
Nails
What can I add to the pigment jar debate of ’10? As background, MAC took it’s large, squat 2.6 ounce jars and replaced them with tall, lean and somewhat smaller jars. The price for the jars remains the same at $19.50.
The Internet has been discussing MAC’s decision to repackage its pigment line for a few weeks. Opinions vary widely. And MAC has never issued any explanation for the change. It’s a noticeable omission. What was wrong with the older, bigger glass jars? No pro-consumer messaging here. No “new or improved” packaging. It’s slimmer, plastic and smaller but not better in any discernible way.
Old weight on the left, new weight on right
Let’s take a few things as a given. First, the old larger size was huge. Few use them up. Second, with the newer packaging you still get a huge amount of product. More than enough for the average user.
MAC’s decision probably Looked Good on Paper. Maybe if the jars are smaller, people will buy more pigments, maybe backups or something. Okay, fine.
Makeup bloggers have performed every conceivable analysis. Temptalia has done some nicely-done numerical weight comparisons here and here. After a thorough comparison of the actual weights provided by MAC, she concludes that “[a]t the end of the day, I think you’re still getting much more than you think (and you’re not getting as little as you think).” For a contrasting view, Anastasia at Lipsticks and Lightsabers concludes that this is nothing more than a masked 40% price increase and, as such, “it’s downright shitty.” The Pink Sith take a rational free market approach, noting that there is little basis for outrage, “Maybe it’s because I’m a good honest Capitalist and understand that companies are there to make money.”
I get that. MAC is a corporation. It’s rational to do their corporate thing, and change their products and increase pricing. Expenses, deadweight loss, charts and percentages. Externalities. Synergy. Fine.
But here’s the other thing. Buying makeup is not about rationality. It’s not about numbers. It’s a lot more about Hope in a Jar than the London School of Economics.
I remember the first time I saw a MAC Pigment. It was Pink Opal and it was magical. It sparkled in the light, and it was pink and white and had endless possibilities. I asked the MAC sales associate how to use it.
She answered in words I remember today, almost ten years later, “You can do anything you want with them.”
Wow. Powerful words.
I bought it immediately, and then I had a magical jar with which I could do anything. And that jar would never run out.
At many levels, I know that’s not rational. Or literally true. But when has makeup ever been about reality?
Here’s the thing that nags me.
In January 2010, MAC shrunk my jar of hope.
And that’s the thing that I hope MAC understands. Beyond all the rational spreadsheets, all the calculations and all the free market, makeup buyers have a little less hope in their jars than they did a month ago.
MAC benefits economically because consumers believe in their magic. MAC’s place in the free market is all about consumers buying an illusion that they’ve created. Shrinking the jars without any explanation feels like MAC is allowed to play in the free market and I have to settle for less.
In the grand scheme, minor stuff I realize. But it speaks to larger issues and that’s why I don’t like the change.
Chanel Ombre D’eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow Rivage #50 (meaning “Shore”) is a shimmery tangerine-orange, which is a refreshing spring-to-summer color on many. Because of the soft nature of the eyeshadow, the orange looks “appropriate” not edgy. Rivage has a stronger orange cast than #717 Coast, but it’s not orange-orange.
However, if you are looking for something with more edge, MAC has a pigment or two in the orange range, including Acid Orange and Genuine Orange. Chanel’s Coast does not attempt to compete with these stronger colors, this is softer stuff.
Chanel Ombre D’eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Sand No. 60 is a beautiful shimmery taupe. Of all of my Chanel O’mbre D’eau eyeshadows, this one is more than half gone. It was the first one that I purchased, and I’ve used it the most.
It’s a beautiful neutral that’s very easy to wear whether you are warm or cool toned. It’s a current color, available on Chanel.com or at your local counter. I highly recommend it. These colors are very subtle and pretty.
