Review: Love + Eye Shadow

Posted by Tamara in review | 9 comments

In my collection overview, I said that I would start a series of reviews that covered all of the Sugarpill eye shadows I have.   This is the first in the series (I, II) and they will continue on a weekly basis until I get through all of them.   I hope you enjoy the reviews and if you have any questions, just let me know in the comments.

Category: Eye Shadow

Company: Sugarpill Cosmetics

Product Name: Pressed Eye Shadow

Colour: Love +

Product Description: Richly pigmented, velvety smooth, luxury pressed eyeshadows for all-night party wear. From the Addicted to Pretty collection: Bright red! Not for the faint-hearted. (from sugarpillshop.com)

Price: $12.00 USD (single) or $34.00 USD (burning heart palette)

Amount: 4g

Packaging: A plastic compact with an opaque black base and a transparent colourless lid.

Experience: Red eye shadow is something I’ve been fascinated with for a long time.   It all started with an image; a gothic aesthetic that was so striking that I can still remember it despite not having saved it.   A hunt for such a colour started in vain as few brands seemed to carry a red eye shadow, and those that did missed the mark.   They were either too berry toned, too orange, too pink or a horrible chalky mess.   Needless to say when I first saw Love + I was skeptical, but the more I saw it used the more I was convinced that maybe, just maybe I’d found the elusive red.

Indeed, it appeared that I had.   Love + is a true red that is relatively neutral, though I find that it can lean cooler or warmer depending on the base you use underneath. At first glance it appears matte, but it’s actually more of a satin texture. Despite having a strong matte base, there is a subtle sheen that is becomes more apparent the more you blend. For those that like red toned blush, this would make a great cheek colour as well.

I wanted to show a few different swatches because what I’ve seen elsewhere tends to show only one aspect, which is unnecessarily misleading. Unnecessary because the eye shadow is fantastic on it’s own, but swiping through the product with your finger yields major colour, while swiping a brush gives a lot less. This isn’t a bad thing, but I think the distinction ought to be made.

I definitely recommend using a brush for more precise application because less is more with this shadow. It’s infinitely easier to build up to the desired intensity, which is quite easy when you pat down the colour rather than swipe.

The pigmentation of this shadow is intense and because of that it can be easy to over do it. The formula is soft enough to pick up on most shader brushes – but with enough density to prevent a ton of fall out (provided you don’t overload the brush). The payoff is good with a smooth application that builds nicely. I’ve had no issues with fading and because I always use a primer, Love + has never creased either. As someone with oily lids I always use a primer and if I want more impact, I’ll add a white base over the primer. That said, this shadow works well over translucent and neutral shaded bases too.

With such heavy pigmentation, removing Love + requires a bit of foresight. It’s been my experience that an oil based makeup remover is the best option. It breaks down the colour easily and prevents residue that looks like staining. Lighter makeup removers cause a lot of smearing and need a lot more rubbing to clean up and still leave some colour behind.

Overall, I think Love + is an excellent product and I would definitely recommend for anyone that’s looking for a red eye shadow.

Pros: blends well, excellent colour payoff, multi-purpose product, strong pigmentation

Cons: potential to stain skin

Rating: 4.5/5

Availability: Online – sugarpill.net/sugarpillshop.com