Review: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow - #4 Pulp Fiction

Random adds on my own blog sometimes come handy. Did any of you saw this very brief add? Giorgio Armani Beauty had a 15% off and free shipping for $50 purchase between 10/19-22. I jumped to the opportunity since I had my eyes on Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow #4 Pulp Fiction for a while. And I longed to lay my hands on Eyes to Kill Mascara.  Anyway, I grabbed both!.

Pulp Fiction ($32 for 0.14 oz) is a silvery gun metal mixed with red shimmery pigment. A brilliant idea, I think. It wouldn't be just another gun metal shimmer that we often see from every brand. But the red shimmery pigment brings warmth to the color that would be regular otherwise. The result is a beautiful silvery gun metal with just a slight tint of mauve. When I tested Pulp Fiction at the counter, I didn't see anything special about it. Perhaps the yellow lighting at Nordstrom killed the stunning mauve undertone. But even so, it is a very easy-to-use eyeshadow that can be either worn alone or paired with grey/taupe family colors.

Like other Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadows (here and here), Pulp Fiction wears well without a primer, stays put all day, and no fall outs. I prefer to combine it with a soft cool brown in the crease. For a more sophisticated look, I love to layer Pulp Fiction on top of  an egg plant on the over corner and plum in the crease. Then back eyeliner and mascara. Rosy or even orange red lips will tight the look all together!

Pulp Fiction is my favorite Eyes to Kill eyeshadow among the bunch I've tried.  A must-have!

Have you tried Pulp Fiction? How do you wear it?

Review: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow - #1 Blast of Blue and # 3 Purpura

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows were introduced earlier this year. As soon as the first samples hit beauty counters they instantly became a new Armani signature star product besides their famous foundations. I reviewed some of the Eyes to Kill eyeshadows here and I thought that would settle my interest in sparkly eye makeup. But (there's always a "but") my electrified affection for their foundations and mascaras has brought me back to the brand. And once again, Eyes to Kill eyeshadow popped up. I got a sample from Armani counter and decided to share my thoughts.

Armani Blast of Blue ($30 for 0.14 oz) has an unique color mixing - a golden/khaki and deep blue. It doesn't look as much blue for it contains more golden shimmer than blue. When applied on my lids Blast of Blue doesn't look a lot different from Purpura. This observation triggered an immediate comparison of the two. Both have golden shimmer although the proportion of gold is larger in Blast of Blue. The nightime lighting does blur the distinction between Purpura and Blast of Blue on my lids. My warm medium skin tone must have muted the warm golden shimmer making blue and purple look a like. But under good lighting, I can tell them apart.

Like other Eyes to Kill Intense single eyeshadows I own, Blast of Blue is highly pigmented and smooth. No primer needed for a day-long wear.

Swatched under this angle both Purpura and Blast of Blue reveal stunning sparkles. Great for parties!

While I love blues I already have a handful blue eyeshadows of all texture and shades. Blast of Blue would be kind of redundant in my makeup stash. But since it's such a well-done shade, I'm not sure how long I could resist. 

Highly recommended! If you're new to Armani Eyes to Kill Intense eyeshadows and want something distinctive from other blues you have (for the price I think it's worth it), Blast of Blue may satisfy your curiosity. 

Current favorite look: Sunshine

A look I wore a lot over the past month since the arrival of the Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadows. It's extremely simple, easy to wear, no primer needed and stays fresh all day. I'm in love!

1. Armani Eyes to Kill # 6 Khaki Pulse, 2. Bobbi Brown Gel eyeliner Cobalt Ink, 3. Smashbox Blush Radiant, 4. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Nectar, 5. Dior Aurora, 6. Bobbi Brown Rich Lipcolor SPF12 Sweet Nectar

How I rock this look?
- Use finger to apply Purpura all over my lids and the outter third of the lower lash line, leaving brow bones untouched
- Line my upper lash line with Cobalt Ink
- Apply Raidiant lightly on the apples of the cheeks to balance a lots of warm colors on the cheek
- Apply Nectar Shimmer Brick on the cheekbones
- Swirl Dior Aurora under the cheekbones upward
- Finish the look with Sweet Nectar

Here are the look swatched together under shade and direct sunlight.

Review: Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadow – Review of #3 Purpura, #6 Khaki Pulse, #9 Rock Sand

My secretly praying for an Armani Friend and Family Sale worked magically. It came out only 2 weeks after I started wishing for it! I had # 3 Purpura in my mind but couldn’t resist #6 Khaki Pulse and # 9 Rock Sand. It turns out a good variation of cool (#3), neutral (#6) and warm (#9) shades.

First thing I noticed, primer does no different with these eyeshadows, at least on me. Unless your eyelids are oilier than mine, I doubt you would need a primer. My skin is normal to dry and under dry weather in Southern California, I have no problem with Eyes to Kill smudging or smearing or falling out all day. They deliver interestingly mixed colors. Though buildable they appear opaque. The texture is buttery smooth, gliding on my lids like a charm. I found fingers the best applicator for these eyeshadows as they reduce fall-outs and even out the color intensity as well as shimmer. 

 It's very challenging to capture the multi-color shimmer of #3 Purpura. Here is another swatch.

The three shades I own are sophisticated enough to be worn along. Although they will pair beautifully with other eyeshadows, I think they look more unique alone. Layering other eyeshadows would diminish their beauty. I use lighter hand to apply Rock Sand for soft shimmery finish. Purpura and Khaki Pulse require heavier application, they look muddy on my lid otherwise. Then I complete the look with eyeliner and mascara.

Recommendation: Not all of the shades in this line offer unique colors but the quality they deliver is well worth the price. Frequent travelers would really appreciate them. A MUST-HAVE!