AS the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul.
So it's important to make sure they always look their best. Along with mascara and eyeliner, eye shadow is a must for any lovely lady, whether preparing for a day in the office, glamming up for one of the many Christmas parties round the corner.
Applied on the eyelids and under the eyebrows, eye shadow helps our eyes stand out and look more attractive.
It also adds depth and dimension to our eyes, and if used correctly, can really compliment eye colour. While you might want a more subtle approach for daily wear, when it comes to a party or girls' night out, you can go bold and bright!
But as with all make-up products, selecting the one right is a real minefield as a whole host of different companies offer their wares at prices high and low.
It pays to stay focused and have a proper look at what's on the market.
The HNG Tried and Tested team has done just that.
Artistry
£31.35, available at www.amway.co.uk, or call 01908 629 400
?4 stars
This is described as a luxury brand, and at this price tag, I would hope so!
I tried out the Coco Brown Eye Trio, containing the colours of classic taupe, white shimmer and copper brown. The hues were all quite natural, so it was more suited to everyday wear. I loved the metallic dark grey pot it came in, and appreciated the internal mirror, even though it was quite small.
Trying all three colours on my eyelids, starting with the darkest copper brown at the bottom, I liked its subtlety.
The micro-fine powder smoothed easily onto my lids, meaning it was great to apply in a hurry. Once on, the colours were great and blended in nicely.
It looked quite classy on and is a winner for daily use. It's the cost that casts a shadow on it!
HB
Sheer Cover Sophisticate ?Face Palette
RRP £22.99, available at www.sheercover.co.uk and other online retailers.
2 stars
This set looks the part as not only does it contain four shades of eyeshadows, but it also boasts two lip glosses, blusher, good sized mirror and brush - all at a size that can fit into your handbag.
However, looks are not everything and I felt let down by the quality. The eyeshadows, which were in brown shades and black, did not look good on, and neither did the lip gloss. Rather than a make-up set you would rely on day to day or to put on when you go out, I would say it's perhaps more suited to being something to pop in your bag, to top up your other make up as the day goes on.
HB
Vani-T Minerals
RRP £18.90, available from Vani-T (0208 280 1026), salons in the UK and online at www.sotanned.co.uk ?5 stars
This eyeshadow really does possess the wow factor! I tried a deep purple colour, which had a slight sparkle throughout. When applied, I really did feel it completed my outfit and I felt hot to trot to my party.
The colour was far from tacky and it was very easy to apply and, when black eye liner was added, really did make for a dramatic party look.
Not suitable for day-time wear, but if you want to add some serious glamour, especially for your Christmas party look, this is a winner.
Well worth every penny, as I would imagine it will last for a long time!
JM
Eco Eye Trio
£18.40, available at www.greenpeople.co.uk ???
3 stars
THE Eco Eye Trio is a little bit special. Containing beeswax and jojoba, as well as almond oil, it has a richness which means it doesn't dry out your eyelids and also gives it some staying power.
Its subtle shimmer wasn't too over the top for work and, at the end of the day, I was pleased a silky layer of make-up had lasted.
The product is nice, but for almost £19 the packaging is a disappointing (no mirror and a bit plasticy) - I'd buy the £12 refil instead.
SC
Blingtones
£5.99, www.myfacecosmetics.com
5 stars
Available in five bright colours, these is new to the market and is perfect for the girl about town who wants to bling it up.
It boasts it will transform the eyes into little jewels, and to some extent this is true!
Its five colours, tequila sunrise, pink champagne, raspberry beret, sugar plum and limelight, are definitely more geared towards party eyes as they are bright and bold.
However I wanted to see if you could get away with this product for daily use, so I tried the tequila sunrise, which is an orange-gold. It was simple to apply and left a wet-looking shine, so it was easy to choose just how "blinged up" you wanted to go. I got pleasing comments while wearing it, so it gets my vote. HB
New CID i-shadow in Aspen
RRP £21.50, available at ?www.newcidcosmetics.com
4 stars
?I love this compact of eye shadows. There are four different shades of grey, from the light to the dark end of the scale.
Due to the selection of colours, it was easy to create a suitable day-wear look or really vamp it up for night time, making it perfect for the party season.
The mirror in the compact is very handy for touching up make-up on the go.
The eye shadow also stayed on all night and didn't crease into my lids, which some cheaper brands do.
A lovely set, which would make a great gift, too.
JM
Susan Posnick Coloreyedefine
RRP £25.50, Stockists: www.skinbrands.co.uk
4 stars
I don't normally wear bright colours on my eyes, preferring to stick to nude or brown and earth shades, so I was unsure about trying out this shadow and liner duo in Opal (lilac) - but was pleasantly surprised.
The colour was up-to-date (not at all '80s!). The colour itself was shimmery, and perfect for underneath the eye, as well as on the lid.
The eyeliner was oddly shaped, and I found it difficult to put on, but when I mastered the art I was pleased with the results. It was nice to wear a different colour too, especially with a black party dress!
This product isn't cheap - but neither is the look it creates. Worth it, and it would last.
JM
Frontcover Cosmetics
£15 for palette and shades, or palette available at £5 and shades at £4 each, from Boots Chemist
3 stars
Very often, the downside to eye shadow palettes is there is a colour or two you don't like. With this, though, you can create your own palette, from a choice of 25 shades, in bright, smoky and neutral tones, and you can swap shades whenever you like.
The four-pan compact comes with a double-ended brush applicator and a really good sized mirror.
Using both ends of the brush, the powder glided on easily, but they didn't blend too well and staying power wasn't the best. But it's not a bad buy.
HB
