Quick Daytime Smokey Eye with Hourglass Exhibition Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo

OK, confession time: I prefer duos, trios, quads, and quints to big palettes. Sure, big palettes are exciting with their endless possibilities, but especially when I am running out of time (and let’s face it: how many of us have unlimited time to play with makeup every morning?), I get so overwhelmed with choices that I want to throw everything in the air and go out bare-faced. That or I pick two three colors that don’t look particularly hot together, and end up feeling miserable all day. That is why a well-designed duo is a life-saver in my book! I know I will end up collecting at least half of the Hourglass Visionare Eye Shadow Duos, so meet my second one: Exhibition!

Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duos come in intricate packaging with a mirror that turns all the way around. The compact has a magnetic closure, and the logo is embossed on the eyeshadows. I still wish it were heftier than it is, but other than that there is nothing I would complain about. Each eyeshadow weighs 3 grams, which is more than generous!

Hourglass has yet again modified the enclosed applicator. It has the same shape and soft bristles as the one I got in my Dune duo, but the color has been changed to match the packaging. I think it’s a great touch! The applicator also remains very usable. I can apply, blend, and even go over my lower lash line with it. Quite nifty if you need a quick eye look done!

The lighter shade of Exhibition is a grayish oyster mauve with a soft frosty sheen and very understated multi-chrome shimmer. The darker shade of Exhibition is a rich blackened eggplant with multi-chrome shimmer and a softer sheen. Both shades are phenomenally soft, pigmented, and creamy. There is no fallout at all, and even without a primer Hourglass eyeshadows last for several hours on my lids. With a primer they go all day!

Here is the swatch:

What I love about Exhibition is the fact that the colors are masterfully put-together. Because there is one light shade and one dark shade, you can create enough contrast and definition with the duo alone. The eggplant shade is really quite dramatic with its intensity, so you can go all out with it if you want, but even when used softly it adds a lot of depth to the eyes.

For my FOTD, I did a very quick light smokey eye. I consider this a go-everywhere type of look. You can wear it to work, but it doesn’t look too understated for a night out either.

I began by swiping the lighter shade all over my lids before adding the darker one to my outer v and close to the lash line. “Blending” is a big word to use here, as the shades practically blend themselves out, but I still blended the darker shade into the crease a bit to give it just enough drama. Tip for monolidders: to not close your eyes instead, make sure whatever shade you use in your “crease” is not blended past your pupil. In other words, when you look straight ahead, the darker shade shouldn’t pass the edge of your pupil. That way, you will get definition, but your eyes will stay beautifully bright and open!

I tried this look out with two lipsticks. I began with Guerlain Lou-Ling Shine Automatique.

And then I switched to Dior Incognito Addict Extreme. That way you can see this eye look can definitely be played up or down depending on where you want to wear it!

The Hourglass Visionaire Eye Shadow Duos I own so far. Take my word for it: there will be more! I use Dune all the time!

Bottom line: Hourglass Exhibition Visionaire Eye Shadow Duo packs two complimentary shades together. They work well together, have amazing quality, and this is another duo that I will reach for all the time, regardless of the occasion!

Have you tried anything from Hourglass? Do you prefer big palettes or duos/trios/quads/quints? What do you grab when you want a quick eye makeup fix?

Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx