I have very little loyalty when it comes to cosmetics. As amazing as some products can be, I’ve always got an eye on the next best thing. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows are definitely one of the rare products that I have gone back to. Without further ado, I bring you the new limited edition shade in #25 Rusted Gold!
When I swatched the entire Acqua Collection, I was impressed with the general performance of the bunch. All the shades were smooth and pigmented, but 25 was the shade that really called out to me.
Rusted Gold looks like gold-sprinkled black in the pot, but once swatched it’s an amazing blackened khaki with a golden sheen and shimmer. Actually there is more dimension to this shade than that, but it’s the best description I can come up with!
Now, before you ask: ANOTHER gold-and-black eyeshadow? Don’t you have one of those in Eyes to Kill #14? I knew I very often reach for similar shades, so just to make sure I wasn’t grabbing something too similar, I already swatched #14 next to everything and found it sufficiently different. Even in better lighting my judgement holds up pretty well. #25 is significantly darker, and rather than an antique gold, it is a blackened khaki.
Here is the swatch of 25 and 14. I swatched these dry, and you can see they are really not lacking in pigment:
Here is another one with flash so you can see the sparkling bits better:
With no primer, #25 wore 8-8.5 hours on me before it started to crease in the inner corners. With a primer, like other Eyes to Kills I own, it wears all day. It is smooth, pigmented, and the fallout is minimal to none. The sparkling particle is big (I hesitate to call it glitter, because glitter to me is rough and prone to fallout), but even on my pretty sensitive eyelids I can’t feel a thing!
What is it that keeps me going back to these eyeshadows? Besides the fact that some shades are relatively unique, the formula and wear are fantastic, it is also because you can find shades (mostly medium to medium-dark ones) that work well alone. If I have little time but want to look glamorous, I would not hesitate to use one of these all over my lids. With some inner corner highlight, eyeliner, and mascara, I can call it a day and it would look like I spent a lot more time on eye makeup. The complexity and depth of the shades achieve a lot for you!
Have you seen the Acqua Collection? Did any of the 6 catch your eye? Is Rusted Gold something you would reach for?
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
