December 11, 2012

L’Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quad Review & Swatches

Aha! Just as I suspected! The L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Palettes I recently hauled didn’t make the cut. Le sigh! These were introduced in the UK recently and have started popping up in drugstores here in the US. They are available in six shades selections for around $5.79-$6 per palette.

Each palette contains three shades of eyeshadow and one liner shade with a diagram of instructions on the back of the palette for application.

Let’s take a look!

One of first things I disliked about the palettes are the vintage-y style gold packaging. They are plastic and will easily break should you drop them. They also happen to be a magnet for fingerprints. After a single use mine are absolutely filthy….! And all scratched up! Wince!

The palettes are a testimony to mainstream drugstore brands trying really hard to catch up to higher and mid range products. I like that they include a diagram and instructions for application and I love that the colors are all coordinated and easy to use thanks to those instructions. I think it speaks volumes for how far drugstore makeup has come when you get little details like this with a mere eyeshadow quad purchase. It’s thoughtful, it’s helpful, and it makes the quad even more tempting of a purchase.

So Over It!

Rose Romance

Sadly, L’Oreal did miss the mark with the formula. I didn’t particularly like it but that isn’t to say you won’t. These are a tad too frosty for me and the formula mimics that of a looser pressed pigment so as you swipe a brush over them they kick up a fair bit of chunky eyeshadow. Although it comes across sparkly in my photos the finish is mostly frost. This in fact leads to fall out, messy all over the face fall out woe. Not good.

On top of that pigmentation is fairly sheer. You can work the shades up to medium pigment or so but you need to use a sponge tipped applicator to do so and really need to pile it up to get the best results.

I think a combination of the chunky texture of the shadow and the frostiness was what really made me dislike them over all. I can’t say the looks I did using them came out all bad though, they look alright I think? But unfortunately I’m not really willing to deal with fall out, frost, and other woe to get the look.

Overall, L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Quads aren’t for me sadly. You might want to check them out for yourself and see how it works out for you. Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend them as they seem a little too messy to work with when you have any number of other great budget eyeshadow options available to you.

Meh!

Sorry L’Oreal these didn’t cut it for me.

Anyone try?

Do share!

P.S. I’m trying some new lighting! What do you think? I live in an older Victorian manor house so it’s sometimes challenging to get good lighting for products. I’m trying to reduce flash to capture colors more accurately…I’m not so great at it I fear but would love your feedback!

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Kiss & Make-up

    I actually like how it looks on you (but that’s probably just because you have skillz :-)). I don’t like the swatches.

  • OrangeLipstickBlog

    I don’t like to critique anything but since you asked for feedback, I feel it’s safe to say it! I like the new lighting! I think your chin looks a wee bit dark, though. Any way to get some more lighting from your lips down? Otherwise I think it’s looking good!

    • the Muse

      i appreciate the feedback chica! I’ll def try to get more light. I’ve tried a variety of cameras, etc..but it’s really hard to get good natural light in my house…! I also used new lighting on the palettes, what did you think?

      • OrangeLipstickBlog

        Yes, definitely digging the lighting on the palettes. They look bright and (from what I can tell) pretty true to the actual colors that I saw when looking at these in the store.

        Lighting has to be the most difficult and awkward thing ever. I seriously had no idea until I started trying to take my own pictures. Gave me a greater sense of respect for everyone else’s mad skillz!

        • the Muse

          you’re awesome for saying that ;-D I’m glad to hear it. truly…:( I SUCK at photographer! Always wish I had more skills but everything looks so bright and crazy when I take a pic!

      • Cathy

        sometimes photographers place a cloth or tissue over a strong flash in order to diffuse the light. That way you can get the light without all the reflection/glare. Of you try it with a lamp to get even more light :]

  • Ashley

    Meh 🙁 Well at least that’s one less product I feel I need to buy :p I think it looks nice one you though, but when you have so many nice products working with somthing not fantastic is pointless lol By the way what are you wearing on your lips? It’s so pretty 🙂

    • the Muse

      thanks ashley for asking it’s clinique’s intense chubby balm in curviest caramel, kinda in love it. agreed, what’s the point of dealing with mediocre when you can have something that works well without the hassle!?

  • Alicia

    I love how they look on you. May I ask what kind of blush and lip color you’re using in the first set of pics? Love the colors!

    • the Muse

      oh cheers alicia thanks for asking! orgasm and curviest caramel clinique’s new intense chubby stick shade ;D with a touch of clear gloss on top!

  • charlotte

    My only suggestion is to get a lot closer on the application shots. From this distance I only get a suggestion of how the product looks on the eye.

    • the Muse

      will def try charlotte no promises, it seems as I get close they loose some of their intensity :-/ due to the poor lighting le sigh!

      • DatKit

        I second the close up shots! I can never tell when you use multiple colors or just sweep color all over the lid.

  • amy

    I’ve been a fan of L’Oreal for *ages* (25+ years), and most of their products are very good to great, but for some reason, the eyeshadow quads are almost always a big letdown (even the “good” ones are mediocre, at best). However, they always manage to hit the ball out of the park with the mono/duo shadows…

  • Fatima

    I actually purchased the Color Riche Palettes from a seller on ebay. The European ones are way better in my opinion.

  • Tiffany Martin

    That’s too bad, the pictures DO look really good, you say it’s a trick, they’re actually frosty >: so sad.

  • karrie

    Great review. I was wondering how these would turn out. As for the lighting, I think it looks good. Very clear pictures.

  • Kimi

    You really make these eyeshadows look good, Muse. I have never had any luck with Loreal’s eyeshadows. I’m definitely taking your word on them and saving my money lol.

  • Christina

    Harmon’s has expanded the selection to include another dozen or so of the quads, broken into three groups: smokey, brights, and something like “you need this” for neutral, daytime colors. Although they aren’t great, they are OK (and inexpensive) so I indulged in a few more. Keep hoping they will be more like the HIP shadow duos than the old quads — although nothing L’Oreal does is as good as the Infallible shadows!

    • the Muse

      interesting haven’t seen them yet christina I think I’m good with these two, I didn’t love the formula sadly ;(

  • Christina

    I agree with you, Muse, but I get suckered in when I see smokey greys and purples. But the expanded display also contained the Colour Riche Shine Stay Lip Colours and Visible Lift Colour Blush, neither of which interested me but you might want.

    • the Muse

      I picked both of those up Chrstina…! really looking forward to the lift blush!

  • Ruby

    I got two of these and I love them! I read a few reviews saying the quality really depends on which quad it is, some are better than others. I have a purple one and a nude one. I agree that the pigmentation isn’t the greatest, but there’s some very unique colors to make up for it.

  • Tiffany B.

    I just bought the Rose for Romance quad & wanted to see what was being said about it. I came across your review (I’ve been reading your reviews for years now!) & thought I’d give my two cents. I found the rosy colors a little hard & chalky, but the medium taupe color was beautiful & so easy to work with! It was pigmented & blended effortlessly…totally worth dealing with the other colors just to have that beautiful taupe. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      aw sorry! But hey, at least you love the color 😀