Shiseido Eye Color Bar For Holiday 2013: Swatches

The much-anticipated Shiseido Eye Color Bar For Holiday 2013 is a limited edition eye shadow palette that includes nine colors: seven are full coverage eye shadows, while two (Champagne and Soda) are a sheer shimmer for use as a top coat over any of the other seven and give it an extra holiday glitz. The palette comes in a sturdy cardboard compact (is this a Shiseido first? I don't recall them using this type of packaging before) that looks very pretty; there's a clear plastic insert with combination suggestions (aka as potential cat toy).

While Shiseido has been revamping their powder eye shadow line I can't see much of a difference in the formula between items in the Eye Color Bar and the regular Shiseido trios. No complaints here: these are among the most beautifully textured eye shadows on the market-- soft and almost creamy (they do crumble a little with use), with good color payoff and a complex ultra-fine shimmer. I'm not sure I'm that big of a fan of layering the extra shimmery Champagne and Soda (see the extra swatches), but I need to play with them more to discover the perfect balance.

Here's what we have here:
Curacao- a dreamy medium blue
Cafe- medium brown
Soda- high shimmer pinky beige
Parfait Amour- orchid purple
Liquorice- black (off black, really)
Cassis- berry. Surprisingly versatile.
Champagne- high shimmer ivory
Noisette- gorgeous taupe
Menthe- minty green


The bar-themed palette is fun and just beautiful. I wish that Shiseido had included a matte base color instead of either one of the glittery colors, but I guess that would have been a little boring, and we all have enough simple nude eye shadows. The palette is fairly small and will fit most makeup bags and evening clutches, making it travel-friendly.


Bottom Line: If anyone needs me, I'll be in front of the mirror playing with color.


Shiseido Eye Color Bar For Holiday 2013 ($50) is available at the counters and from shiseido.com.