Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow No.09 Rosewood.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No.09 Rosewood is my last to show you from the line (at least for now ;P). it's a shade from their initial core range. it comes in the same hefty packaging and cheapo synthetic velvet pouch and with signature check pattern here and there and everywhere as always. and of course this rather useless miniature sponge tip applicator - but it has "Burberrry" embossed to it ;) the eyeshadows contain 2.5g and cost 30$/25€.
well, there is not much to say about this particular colour, that's why i haven't showcased it in the last 6 months. Rosewood is a plain taupe. a true one, though, and quite an epitome. no undertones to discuss here - this is taupe. a balanced mix of brown with grey, some silver shimmer thrown in but mostly it's a satin pearl.
still, i highly rate it even though it doesn't seem anything special - but that's thanks to Burberry's lovely formula of their powders. the texture is unequalled, so soft and smooth and silky and almost creamy to the touch. it applies and blends beautifully and effortlessly, it's sheer but buildable from an almost invisible natural shadow that melts into your lids to a shimmery and dimensional distinct taupe and the tone will adapt to flatter many skintones.
this colour is so basic, i feel like i don't need to mention that everybody should have at least one of it in their collection.

bottom line:

if you love taupes - you need this.

if you don't have a good, true taupe yet - you need this.

and if you want to try a really nice eyeshadow, try this. or No.21 Midnight Brown. or No.22 Pale Barley. or one of everything else i praised on here ;)

tihilw

sorry, only with flash here. might do another version w/o flash.

comparison

to be true, i didn't bother to swatch all my other taupes against Rosewood since i knew they'd be different (e.g. Chanel Safari, Mac Satin Taupe and any other MAC i own, Chantecaille Sel, NARS Cairo and all the other NARS i own, Hourglass Suede, Edward Bess Storm, etc. pp. you name it). if you want, i can do a big fat comparison post of all my taupes.

so here is just the closest match: NARS Ashes To Ashes. it's almost just as nice as Rosewood. a bit drier but also very silky and nice to have. although Burberry Rosewood is a bit darker, you won't need both.

NARS Ashes To Ashes - Burberry No.09 Rosewood

NARS Ashes To Ashes - Burberry No.09 Rosewood

together with my other Burberry Sheer Eyeshadows:

Burberry No.22 Pale Barley - Burberry No.09 Rosewood - Burberry No.21 Midnight Brown

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow No.22 Pale Barley.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in No.22 Pale Barley was an addition to their beauty line for Spring 2012, now that i'm talking about this the Summer products are already out but anyways - it came to stay and you can still purchase Pale Barley regularly.
when i saw preview pictures of it, i thought it would be a bit lame, lacking a special twist and just similar to some of their permanent light neutrals. it was Sabrina's (The Beauty Look Book) early review and swatches that convinced me of the opposite and put this little shadow on top of my wish list instantly. since it wasn't released to Burberry Europe back then and i don't have a counter near me, i asked my friend Maureen to order it on my behalf.
in the mean time i often heard Pale Barley being compared to MAC Patina (which is one of my favourite shadows by MAC) as a much superior alternative, so i was even more eager to receive it.
it contains 2,5g and costs 29$ (don't know at which price these retail in germany).

so this shadow comes in the regular shiny hefty compact inside a cheapish synthetic pouch with signature Nova Check pattern inside and out and everywhere, and a negligible applicator. i don't like with these compacts that you can't open them more than those approx. 95°. but it's okay - i'm all about what's in the pan. and that is something marvellous, let me tell ya.
i am so in love with my only Burberry eyeshadow until then, No.21 Midnight Brown, which i considered to be the most beautiful shade of the range, and i'm overly happy that No. 22 Pale Barley has that same luxurious, soft and smooth and weightless texture. more than that, Pale Barley is not a plain shimmery medium neutral for the lid, it has an amazing luminosity and such a beautiful subtle golden-champagne opalescence that puts the cherry on top of the cream for me and maybe Pale Barley on the top of my Burberry-ranking. definitely a must-have.

i love it as an all-over lid wash, it's not too light or frosty so it would make my eyes appear smaller but it's that tad bit darker than my actual skin tone and melts with it beautifully. it creates a candle-lit glow on my lids and makes me look seamlessly polished. it's also a perfect partner with dark, dramatic shadows (LOVE it with Le Métier de Beauté Bordeaux!!!).
it has good pay-off and blends effortlessly. with a primer underneath, i didn't experiment creasing/fading issues all day long.

tihilw

so eventually, how does it compare to other eyeshadows, especially MAC Patina? to me, they are similar in terms of the same colour intensity - both medium neutrals. but not more than that. i don't think Pale Barley is as special as Patina. it's an amazing colour, i adore its golden pearlescent glow, but Patina is so dear to me because it's golden but cool toned at the same time, plus most importantly it has that pink pearl which i have only seen with some deeper browns but i love so much. surely MAC should take Burberry's luxurious texture as an example, though.
in my collection i have not found a perfect dupe for Pale Barley, i think it's inbetween Patina and NARS Cyprus.

comparison

L'Oreal Sahara Treasure - Chantecaille Sel - Burberry Pale Barley - MAC Patina - NARS Cyprus

L'Oreal Sahara Treasure - Chantecaille Sel - Burberry Pale Barley - MAC Patina - NARS Cyprus

together with my other Burberry Sheer Eyeshadows:

Burberry No.22 Pale Barley - Burberry No.09 Rosewood - Burberry No.21 Midnight Brown

artistic FOTD for New Year's Eve.

 

today i tried a more artistic makeup look, inspired by two of my favourite Rae's - Rae Chen from the Notice: a beauty blog (for the eye make up) and australian makeup artist Rae Morris (for the lips).
i wanted to do both elements from this FOTD since forever and a day, a liner-look and a glitter/duo-toned lip and i think it's wearable enough for an extravagant party. i think this makeup is at the same time edgy and puristic.


for the face:

foundation: i used Burberry Sheer Foundation in Trench No.4 (1), applied with the BeautyBlender (A) - this is not really a "brush-foundation"

contour: NARS Multiple Bronzer in Cap Vert (2) applied with MAC 109 brush (B)

blush: Guerlain Météorites Perles d'Or (3) from last year's holiday collection, applied with RMK Cheek Brush (D)

highlighter: Chanel Ombres Tissées in Beiges (4) applied with Hakuhodo G5537BkSL (C) onto the top of the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, cupid's bow and everywhere you feel like


for the eyes:

brows: MAC Copperplate Eyeshadow (1) applied with Louise Young Brow Brush LY30 (A)

eye makeup: choose the design you like! it's really hard though, to get an even result on both eyes -.-

• i applied MAC Shroom Eyeshadow (2) all over the lid and the brow bone area with Tom Ford Eyeshadow Brush (B) to get an even canvas.
• for the liner, choose one that's really really smudgeproof on you! this is essential if you want to go out with this eye makeup. i started out with the K-Palette 1-Day-Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner (3) which is both extremely longlasting and extremely precise and easy to handle, but after i was done with one eye, the liner was used up so i had to finish the other side with a gel liner - i chose Catrice Gel Liner in Black Jack with Jack Black (4) and applied it with Hakuhodo K007 Eyeliner Brush (C). you could use a very pale, matte grey eyeshadow to trace a shape before you go in with deep, wuite unforgiving black liner, but i did it free-handed.
• then i applied Lancôme's Hypnôse Doll Eyes Mascara (5) and false eyelashes (6), this time the conventional way for a intended fake and OTT look.
• to play up the contrast between bare skin and stark liner even more, i drew a pale beige liner (7) onto the lower inner rim to brighten it - no mascara on the lower lashes, please!

for the lips:

• i used a longlasting lip colour in a dusty magenta shade (Manhattan Lips2Last 47R (1) as a base, applied it with Essence Eyeliner Brush (A)
• to deepen and brighten the colour i went over it with Chanel Rouge Allure Velvets (2) in L'Exuberante (a bright magenta) onto the heart of the lip and La Fascinante (a blood red) on the outer parts, also with the Essence Brush.
• then i dabbed a mix of MAC Naval Blue Pigment (3) and an intense pink pigment by Basic (4) onto the center of the upper lip.
• i dabbed some of Bare Minerals True Gold Eyeshadow (5) onto the center of the lower lip.
• finished with clear gloss by Bobbi Brown.

would you go out with a look like this ;) ?

i wish all of you a good start in the new year!

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in No.21 Midnight Brown.

today i want to show you the Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow in No. 21 Midnight Brown. this shade is a relatively new addition to their permanent range, released for fall 2011. after its launch in the US i waited quite a while but haven't spotted it popping up in the european online shop, so i ordered it through Maureen.
now that it's available, the free express shipping promotion at the online store is over and i wouldn't want to pay 15€ extra for that... but Burberry Beauty is starting to expand in germany and now is represented at many counters all over the country.
the eyeshadow range by this brand seems quite unspectacular, it's a selection of soft and grounded basic shades which get their sophisticated spirit thanks to extraordinary textures and the luxurious packaging.
the Sheer Eye Shadow comes in a velvet pouch with Burberry-typical nova check pattern. the extra heavy, reflective graphite compact also has this pattern engraved as well as the eyeshadow itself. it has a magnetic closure, a little mirror and spongey applicator inside. to my displeasure it opens not more than ~100° (just like the blush compacts), which basically is my only complaint with Burberry's packaging in general. it contains 2.5g and costs 25€/30$.
Midnight Brown already is one of the more exciting shades in the range, it's a neutral, medium dark plummy brown with intense silver shimmer and glimmer, it appears almost like a dark taupe when blended out. it contains small crystal shimmer flakes that makes it look even more iridescent on the lids but doesn't feel gritty at all. on the contrary - it has a very smooth texture and applies very evenly and intense. it blends like a dream, the shimmer remains complex even when pressed and blended on a primed lid and creates a beautiful depth to this eyeshadow, making it perfect to wear on its own. i love it as a quick smokey eye for day- and nighttime, it lasts very well on my oily lids.
this is an incredibly basic shade but looks so captivating and universally flattering once applied, everything i wished MAC's legendary Satin Taupe to be but could never fulfil...
i think Burberry Midnight Brown is an absolute staple that should not be missing in any collection of a neutral- or taupe- or high-end-lover - and i guess most of us is at least either one of this ;).

please have a read at The Beauty Look Book here and here and Café Makeup here for additional reviews with fantastic photographs and comparisons for this product!

in this close up of the used product you can see the glimmer flakes, but they look very fine and smooth once applied.

Burberry Midnight Brown swatched in sunlight & with flash (last pic)

tihilw

this is a one-shadow-only look with Midnight Brown, i love how dimensional it appears!

comparison

Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadow Duo in A Major, fis Minor - Burberry Midnight Brown - MAC Satin Taupe

Rouge Bunny Rouge Eyeshadow Duo in A Major, fis Minor - Burberry Midnight Brown - MAC Satin Taupe

i was quite surprised myself, but i don't have as many similar shades to this basic brown as i have assumed. the most similar are Rouge Bunny Rouge A Major, fis Minor duo and MAC Satin Taupe. the RBR shade is lighter and has a finer, pearly shimmer. it's more a true taupe with cooler undertones. Satin Taupe by MAC just looks quite flat in comparison to Midnight Brown and is also a bit lighter. it also applies as a warmer colour than MB.





together with my other Burberry eyeshadows:

Burberry No.22 Pale Barley - Burberry No.09 Rosewood - Burberry No.21 Midnight Brown