Bright Eyed Beauty Blog: Review and Swatches: Ombres Perlees De Chanel Palette

Hello!

Today I'm reviewing the Chanel Ombres Perlees De Chanel palette. This was a palette that came out in Australia in early 2011- it was part of Chanel's SS11 collection. I remember that collection because it was so beautiful! There was so much hype about this palette online that when I got given this as a present recently, I was so excited!

Here it is, all wrapped up.

Here's the palette opened. Those colours look beautiful!

Unfortunately, the excitement didn't last long. So many bloggers gave this incredibly positive reviews that I can't believe we reviewed the same product! I was so disappointed with this product.

That's why this is a very picture-heavy post- I want you all to see it for yourselves.

Swatches:

Ombres Perlees De Chanel Palette swatches (bright flash).
L-R it took 4, 3, 3, 3, and 1 swipe(s) to get the swatch.

Ombres Perlees De Chanel Palette (more natural lighting).
L-R it took 4, 3, 3, 3, and 1 swipe(s) to get the swatch.

Packaging: The packaging is lovely. It's sturdy, the mirror is a good size and it comes with a little pouch to protect the compact from wear and tear in your handbag.
Colours: Though these have some visible glitter to them, the effect is a pearlescent sheen and these are very pretty pastel colours. I've described them as they are in the palette, L-R.

Pearlescent white with gold shimmer;
Pearlescent champagne pink, leaning towards a light pinky bronze in more natural light;
Pearlescent mauve with grey undertones, surprisingly a bit powdery;
Pearlescent medium forest green;
Pearlescent charcoal green

Pigmentation: Disappointing. These are very sheer and poorly pigmented. They are the first eyeshadows I have ever used where using a primer made such a difference to the vibrancy and opacity of the shadow. With primer, I needed 3 times less product to achieve the same look.
Texture: The texture is amazing. This is one area where I can agree with other reviewers. It feels like a cream shadow even though it is a powder.
Application: These apply unevenly (streaky) and blending them with a brush isn't as easy as it should be. You can see even in the initial application pictures, there are parts that are a little streaky. That's not due to laziness on my part.
Longevity: TERRIBLE. Absolutely terrible. I have pictures of the eye look after 7 hours, but even after 3 hours these had started to crease. Even with UDPP in Original (which is my favourite and with pretty much every other eyeshadow I have ever used it with kept the look as fresh as when I'd first applied it even after 12+hours) this creased badly. They also faded significantly. Have a look at the pictures below for proof.
Cost: This was a present for me, but it retailed at USD$65 and somewhere around AUD$100. Absolute rip off for such poor quality.

Final verdict: C

These are poorly pigmented, streaky eyeshadows which crease after 3 hours of wear. All you are paying (AUD$100) for is the brand name. Avoid.

Here are the before and afters.

If this look is familiar, it's because it's the same one I had on in my Benefit BADgal Lash mascara review. I think it's a very pretty, soft look which uses all five shades from the palette.

For those wanting a deconstruction, I used the champagne pink on the inner 1/3 of the eye, the purple on the outer 2/3 of the eye, the medium forest green in the crease and extended out, the charcoal green as an eyeliner (top and bottom lash lines) and the white gold shadow below the eyebrow as a highlight.)

It's a shame it doesn't last.

Chanel Ombres Perlees De Chanel eye look

Initial eye look. My right eye (your left) does not have primer
and it took three times the amount of product to achieve the same intensity as on
my left eye (your right) which was primed with UDPP in Original.

Initial eye look, both eyes closed.

Initial application with primer

Initial application with primer. Please ignore the black flecks.
That's mascara ^^

This is what it looked like 7 hours later, on the eye with primer.
It creased significantly, which is not something I had expected.

Ombres Perlees De Chanel Palette eye look no primer

Initial application without primer. It took many, many swipes
to get the colours this intense.

Initial application without primer. I think you can already see
some very faint creasing. Note also the uneven application
on the outer edges of the eye. I did all I could, but that's how
it wanted to look.