Remember how I was telling you the good word about the L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Collection that will be coming atcha this February? It’s already hit the British airwaves and finally we’ll be getting it in the US shortly.
Far be it from the Muse to rejoice in drugstore cosmetics, you know what a snob I am, but I must say I was ever so delighted that the new L’Oreal HIP Studio Secrets Professional Crystal Shadow Duos were available at my local Harmon’s. I ended up snagging all five of the shades because I can’t resist anything that has shimmer and these are just too pretties for words.
Have a little jump to hear my thoughts.
These are a hot mess. OMG fall out all over the face, the cheeks, and even on my chest.
Here’s the deal.
First off let me point you to an interesting development. HIP has now been deemed “HIP Studio Secrets Professional” where as before it sported some mojo about color rich pigments they have now changed the name. I dunno, noticing useless stuff like this makes the Muse curious.
L’Oreal HIP Studio Secrets Professional Crystal Shadow Duos are available in five shades. They may be a little difficult tracking down at first but they are out there. I’ve heard a whisper or two about how they aren’t very different from the metallic range of shadows that HIP has out but personally I think they are pretty different.
The formula is a crazy flaky mess of pigment. Basically it looks like they took some MAC Pigment, one of the flakier ones like Kitschmas, and loosely pressed it. It’s a big old mess but you know what I loves it anyway.
With a little time and patience you can create really pretty looks with these. It seems the base shadow which is used on your lid is the flakier and less pigmented in my experience and the contrasting shade used on the outer V is the one that’s more pigmented and less likely to cause fall out woes.
Some colors are a bit worst than others in terms of formula. For example the Romantic duo seems the flakiest and less pigmented of the five colors, where as Mystical has the least fall out. It seems formula and pigmentation varies from shade to shade.
As I mentioned I got five shades which are as follows:
Charming (Gray and Bluish Purple)
Mystical (Warm Golden Beige and Watery Green)
Romantic (Silvery Gray and Pink)
Precious (White Gold and Penny)
Darling (Beige and Brown)
My favorite shade is Precious as it’s the easier to blend. It creates a really pretty warm look on my eyes.
Overall, they are simply one big mess to work with in terms of blending and fall out but I love them anyway. I think some of the shades are real gems (such as Precious) and worthy of a pick up. If you can’t stand shimmery shades of shadow or just don’t have the patience to deal with major fall out you might want to pass. I think they are kinda the equivalent of trying out a MAC pigment but cheaper and pressed.
Loves ‘em. Color me impressed with a drugstore find. Could prove a pain to work with but still worth checking out.
Anyone see these yet?
Do share your thoughts!
Disclosure: The following item was purchased by me for review purposes (and because I like flinging my money at makeup products of any kind) on Musings of a Muse. For further information please see my FTC Guidelines or my Disclosure/Disclaimer posts.
Related posts:
- L’Oreal HIP Studio Secrets Professional Color Crystal Eyeliner Review and Swatches
- Beauty Babblings: L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Collection
- L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Anti-Dull Skin Primer Review
- Beauty on a Budget: L’Oreal HIP Matte Shadow Duo
- Beauty Abroad: L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Collection
- Maybelline Eye Studio Eye Shadow Duo Review and Swatches
- L’Oreal HIP Jelly Balm Review and Swatches
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Dunno if I’m going crazy, but I love your eyebrows in these pics! They are looking extra full and gorgeous.
Yeah, I like a major eyebrow.
SO why do they make duos? I wish they’d not do that. I know Annabelle (it might be a Canadian only brand) had little eyeshadow exactly like Mac’s palette ones, and they were surprisingly pigmented for $5-6 CAD.
Anyways, have a great holiday!
nadine thanks for noticing!!!!!! I’m trying something new with my brows haha. I have a bit of a fullness towards the top middle, it’s strange getting sued too! I totally agreed I’d love to see solos!
I love Annabelle 
they make great stuff wish the US had the brand!
Have a fabulous holiday nadine! Hugs!
I haven’t tried them, but had the worst fallout experience with Revlon eye shadows. I can’t remember the name of them, but they were so horrible, I threw them out after one try. Fall out not only when applying, but through out the day! Even with Urban Decay Primer Potion!! Blech!
I’m sticking with MAC for eye shadows. Pricier, but I know what I’m getting.
oh no kirsten that sounds bad
MAC is def the greatest 
Love!
Hi Muse!
Thanks for the review. I just saw this today at the drugstore.
I was thinking of getting the brown, neutral color ones, but I decided not to.
Great review, I don’t like fallout so I don’t think I will purchase these, although they look really pretty on you. I love all the looks you created it. I like how you put on your blush, I always look clownish, I have to learn to apply blush better.
hey jemz! thanks hun
you’re lovely! I suck at blush application and tend to look clowny too lol I know the feeling. I got a Bobbi Brown Brush Set from a friend recently and it’s changed my blush LIFE! No more clown cheeks!
Romantic looks so cute on you! The only problem I would have with these is…cheek flakes. Those bits of loose junk that gets stuck on my upper cheeks and melds itself into my foundation before I even notice it’s there… it seems like these would have a ton of cheek flakes.
aw thanks webcake
def hate the fall out 
I totally understand!
I too, am not a fan of drugstore makeup. I’ve found I can spend more money testing hit or miss products, than I could ponying up the cash for one higher end product I know I’ll like. However, I will admit to being enchanted with the model on the display for these shadows. She was wearing Charming, and I was hella charmed. They were, after all, buy one get 50% off. So. I picked up Charming and her companion Pro pencil friend. As soon as I opened the package, I knew I was in for fallout city. Such a shame, because the colors are so nice. Good news, tho, the new pencils that came out with them (not the Chrome ones), are really fabulous. Better than UD’s 24/7’s me thinks. Sorry for the ramble. I just got up from taking an Ambien CR. Those babies rock!
angie couldn’t agree more. I can spend 100’s on miss products when I can just go and grab something for 20 bucks that works!!!!!!!!!!! I was too, the purple duo she was wearing was gorgeous but I attempted the look and it was a FAIL for me LOL I didn’t see the pencils!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Must go check them out
Sadly some of the shades were really absurd fall out le sigh I still like them but the fall out does break the deal a bit!
Speaking of drugstore brands, what’s all the hype about Revlon PhotoReady Foundation? Is it for real? Have you tried or heard anything firsthand about it? I’d love to pay less than $40 or $50 for awesome foundation!
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation is available at some DS already Kristina but I haven’t tried it. I’ve read reviews on MUA and it only has a 3.8 or so in the rating field. I’m not a lover of drugstore foundation in all honesty but I’ll def give a whirl sooner or later out of morbid curiosity
That Precious is exactly what I fell for their old duos. The one I have is Flare. Looks like the same pigments.
laura I noticed that but never indulged in flare now I want it as it looks even better than precious!
This is so cool. I like the shimmers very much!!
me to erny
err I HATE fallout! and personally, I don’t find the colors inviting. I mean, you know, they don’t call out to me. Anyway, they do look good on you!
no go eh mary? I like dem
can’t help myself! thank you btw 
I actually really, really wanted Romantic, but those swatches don’t look that promising! I’m sure I can find dupes somewhere in my *ahem* embarassingly large amount of loose pigments XD
The whole name change thing is confusing me. I thought HIP stood for “High Intense Pigments” or something along those lines. Whats up with the change, homes???
LOL I hear you Lisa ahem the large stash I have prob has dupes too..but the diseased side of me broke down to buy these anyway!
kinda puzzled me too but Loreal is doing a “pro” release for Spring so I guess they are kinda migrating this over?!
You are so pretty! I might have to pick up Precious and Charming via BOGO at CVS or Walgreens.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
awww shucks thanks andrea *hugs* that’s lovely of you to say!!!!!! Happiest Holidays dear to you and yours! hope you snag some during a BOGO
luv precious & charmng!!
HI
Hope to find these here, as the brown shade in Darling reminds of a favorite I’m trying to save. Hoping it’s a near dupe (the original is in a Chanel quad, sniff expensive)
And I love that it comes with a highlight shade, really cool 
Btw I liked Romantic a lot on you, it cutely matches your headband
Hi Cherry!
Happiest Holidays dear!
aw thanks! glad you liked the romantic FOTD 
darling is quite a nice one 
perhaps give it a whirl? and hopefully it will be as nice as the chanel you are lemming!
I got some of these last week and love ‘em. Now I need to track down the Maybelline Eye Studio quads which are supposedly the same as the Asian ones.
YES pinkcrow I seen them online and WANTSZZZZ been looking but nothing yet! Do let me know if you find them!
Yep, snagged Romantic and Darling this weekend at the CVS and fallout galore today wearing Darling, the colors are GAWGEOUS but the fallout is major even with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Not sure if these will stay in the stash or will be sent off to other worthy MU worshippers.
yup, yup same prob fatbottmdgirl! Hate the fall out. MAC PP’s seem to help a little
I’m still lovin’ on them but it remains to be seen!
Oh wow, those eyeshadow duos look amazing! I want them all! Unfortunately, I haven’t seen them in my local stores yet…boo hoo.
keep checking rosa
I’m sure you’ll find them soon hun! good luck!
Oh it’s a shame the formula is bad, those color combinations look mostly really nice!
vanity I’m trying to not let it bug me
as they are so gorg!
Hey Muse, Do you think the dark brown side of the Charming duo could be a dupe for Mac’s Tempting?
mmm tara kinda sorta alittle bit? Not a complete dupe no. want side by side swatches!
woops I meant Darling not Charming
I found these in CVS today but they were on a special display and limited with no pencils. I got all but Mysitical (maybe later). I bought 2 using a coupon for $5 off any $15 purchase (ended up being $11) and 2 more using a $3 off any $15 purchase ($13). Loreal also has a coupon on their website for $3 off any purchase of two of their products. They didn’t have pencils so I went to Walgreens and tracked down the same display (bought the violet dazzle and bronze shimmer).
I have fallout with both the MAC and HIP products so I resorted to apply the product (after Smashbox primer) and cleaning up before applying my foundation. This allows me to get the unwanted product and not have to get it out of my foundation. Hope this works for others. Merry Christmass, all.
hi rhon awesome scoring dear nice saving $$!
I’m a creature of habit so I tend to do concealer/foundation prior to shadow….but I find a sponge applicator keeps fall out to a minimum
thanks for the tips!
Happy Holidays!
I decided to try Precious based on your recs, and used with sponge-tip applicator, I’ve experienced no fallout. No more than BB metallic e/s, the chunkier formulas that is. Lovely color.
fantastic pickedgreens
so glad you likey. Sponge applicator makes a world of difference doesn’t it!?
These remind me of the MAC duo mineralized eyeshadows in one of their last collections. I can’t recall the name though.
I like them though, yay glitter!
btw: you look hella cute in these pictures lady!
hi suzanne yes kinda
I know which you mean! yay glitter is right hahaha!
awwww shucks thanks so much *hugs*
i got the romantic duo today and am extremely disappointed. i’m 15 and i don’t really have a lot of makeup and am not at all experienced in makeup and have just been trying to find something lately thats natural and pretty and these looked nice. the fallout is horrible and i cant figure out how to work with these!
how did you make it look so good with the romantic duo???
hi nicole how are you love?
Don’t worry you have plenty of time to get experienced with makeup
fallout is VERY bad I agree. Do you have some sort of base you can use? A mac paint pot or shade stick? Something thick? This helps alot with application and fall out. Also my secret trick for application are sponge applicators 
Never try applying shadows like these or pigments with a brush, too crazy difficult 
old fashion sponge applicators are the best way to apply!
I hope this helps you doll!
Ok, as much as I wanted to love these, I just could not. I was in CVS checking out the sales and the clerk asked me how I liked them. I told her to much fall out. She then proceeded to tell me about CVS’ makeup return policy (as long as you have the receipt they will take it back). Now, being a L’oreal (especially HIP) fan I felt like a traitor but I came home and dug through my mound of receipts. Found them and promptly took them back! This allowed me to get some other shadows, liners and mascaras from Almay I had my eye on. I also found out Walgreen’s will take makeup back too. No more presents for friends when I can take things back and buy something else!
aw sorry to hear it rhon! That’s great they accepted the return Rhon!!! drugstores have really evolved
I really liked these, it’s major fall out but I still thought they were great 
but I’m glad you got something you like in their place! No sense sticking with makeup you hate!