Chanel’s eyeshadow quads (aka instant credit card debt) are one of my weaknesses. For months, whenever I’d hit a Chanel counter I’d go straight for the quads, fiddling joyfully with them and looking for my next favorite palette.
But a while ago, while at Nordstrom peeping the summer collection, I decided to swatch all of the Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow singles. I loved them all! Hello, more credit card debt.
I’m glad I didn’t overlook the singles because the colors seem richer and more vibrant than those in the quad.
Unfortunately, as far as eyeshadows go, the singles ain’t cheap ($27.50, eep!), but if high-end makeup is your thing then these shadows belong in your collection. They’re available in matte, shimmer and satin finishes and come in a whopping 25 different shades.
On the Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus websites there are only 24 of them listed; Midnight, the elusive 25th shade, is only available online from Chanel.
Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow Shades – All 25
- Abricot (listed as “Apricot” on the Nieman Marcus website)
- Amethyst
- Bambou (“Bamboo” on Neiman Marcus)
- Beige
- Candide
- Cinnamon
- Ebony
- Fizz
- Gold
- Island
- Ivory
- Jungle
- Khaki
- Lagoon
- Lavande (“Lavender” on NM)
- Lotus
- Mahogany
- Midnight (available on Chanel website)
- Nomade (limited edition)
- Quartz
- Safari
- Sand
- Silvery
- Starlight
- Tigre (limited edition)
I grabbed two of the shades, Safari (a shimmery gray-taupe) and the limited edition Nomade (a cool light pink with gold glitter sparkles), and this week they made their way into my workday makeup rotation.
While you can mix and match the Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadows, I prefer using the two shades I have all by their lonesome. Individually, they’ve been great for creating simple washes of color over the entire eyelid.
When I use them I apply a layer of eyeshadow primer first, like Too Faced Shadow Insurance. Then, I grab one of three brushes — the MAC 252, MAC 217 or the Sephora All Over Shadow brush from the Smokey Eye brush kit. Any one of the three can do the job.
I swipe the brush across the pan to load it up with color, but before applying I tap it against the side of the sink to unload any excess shadow.
Gently patting my eyelid with the brush has given me better results than when I swept the brush back and forth. I do it until I’ve got an even layer of color on each eye.
Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow
Price: $27.50
Use: Eyeshadows for a simple wash of color
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+/A-
The Ombre Essentielle shadows are certainly pricey, but they’re also a nice way to add a little luxury into your daily makeup life.
You can purchase Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadows at the Chanel counter, or online.
Happy Friday, everyone! I’m very happy today because it’s my dad’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Pops! I love you!
I’m about to tackle a mountain of laundry and do some house cleaning. Fun, right? Well, kinda. It’s strange, but I secretly like to clean. When my house is nice and neat, I feel like all is well with the world. With my iPod blasting, I am going to open a can of whoop arse on dust. Corrine Bailey Rae’s Put Your Records On should help.
What are you up to today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Haha, the boy and I were discussing our need to hire someone to come in every two weeks to clean our apartment. So then I spent an hour or so hanging up three weeks worth of laundry and deep cleaning the kitchen.
Have fun cleaning 😉
Christines last blog post..Looks – Golds and Greens with Shimmering Lips
Damn you look so gorgeous and toned in that pic!
That is such a sweet picture!
I’d love to see a picture of all your beauty supplies.haha I’d bet it would need to be panoramic!
A great song to clean to, “New Shoes” by Paolo Nutini or anything by him, really. Well the upbeat stuff. I just discovered scented carpet powder… I know I’m a dork but it makes me excited to vacuum which is much needed.haha
Ha! I love having a clean house, I just don’t like being the one to make it clean!
Ohhhh, those eyeshadows make me swoon! Have you seen Silvery? It keeps catching my eye in the store and I keep telling myself that I don’t need it! Mmmmmmm, sooooo shiny!
I love the picture with your dad Karen, you both look so happy!! Makes me miss my dad 🙂
ilovecheeses last blog post..Fab or OTT?
Hi Christine,
Laundry is the bane of my existence! It just never goes away! Bah!
Hope you are having a good Friday night!
Hi Shiny,
Thanks hon! That was when I was lifting weights consistently. Sigh… I better do some push ups!
Have a wonderful weekend! Doing anything fun?
Hi Bridget,
I love that song! I have cleaned to that many a time. I have never used scented carpet powder but have seen many commercials for it. Which one do you use?
What I really want is one of those industrial strength Dyson vacuums… my mom in law has one and it’s a monster!
Hi Glosslizard,
I know! For my birthday instead of asking for Nordie’s cards I may request a few sessions with Merry Maids! (How awesome would it be if they had gift cards!).
I have seen Silvery and I *lurves* it. I want to layer it on top of Graphblack Technakohl. Heavenly! That is on my list of things to “visit” along with Kahki and Amethyst. I am very tempted by Jungle but need to lay off the greens for a bit.
Anyway, what’s going on for this tonight/ this weekend? I just got back from my favorite Thai food place in Marin, and am now going to watch a movie with El Hub and Tabs. 🙂
Hi Ilovecheese,
Thanks! My dad is the funniest guy in the world (second to my brother). He has a great sense of humor and always makes me laugh! 🙂
Are you having a good weekend so far?
Anytime I hear that guys accent I perk up and watch the vacuum commercials, they are so intense looking! I’d love one.
I’ve only tried one carpet powder so far, the cheapest one at Walmart. Well second cheapest, I was nervous.haha It’s by Glade. I used rainshower or something along those lines. I bought another one, peaches and petals to try. We shall see!
I’d love to try that Lavender eye shadow. It looks delicious.
Looks lovely… Great for some chanel-induced bribery of the mind so I would study… lol
You look great in that pic with your dad! Very glam 😉
Karen Bs last blog post..Icon meme
Karen <3!
Say your dad that a spanish makeup junkie said Happy birthday! to him. (Isn’t the power of the internet cool? 😀 )
Yesterday I was invited to a “private” (six persons group) makeup lesson by a chanel Makeup Artist! In a week I’ll be taking like a million pictures of it. Yay! Can’t wait!
Happy weekend!! 😀
Erus last blog post..Shopping,Coffee and random thoughts~
Karen,
Laundry is like making the bed. As soon as it’s done, it gets UN-done. Such a vicious cycle. But seriously, I wish I secretly loved to clean. For the past 6 weeks, we’ve had all of our CLEAN laundry spilled on the bedroom floor.
Christines last blog post..Temptalia Asks You – Do you carry a makeup bag in your purse?
Merry Maids gift cards! That would be awesome! You are so full of great ideas!
I think Silvery and Lavande are the ones on my lust list (I say “I think” because I can’t remember any more at the moment). I keep eyeballing them and thinking “Someday…. someday!” Jungle is the only single that I have right now! I got it because I didn’t want to splurge on the whole Garden Party quad! You have that, so you can tell yourself that the green in the quad will do just fine… maybe you’ll even believe yourself! 😉
Oh, Thai food and a movie? Sounds like a slice o’ heaven! Our whole weekend is dedicated to pulling off a birthday party for Impus major in the form of a giant BBQ in a park! Great weather for it!
Oh, and I forgot to say before, that is such a sweet, warm and wonderful picture of you and your dad! You both look sooooo happy! 🙂
Hi Karen,
I love safari!! Its my favourite one of all the singles! The great thing about them i think is that they actually make the quads seem cheap because it is soo expensive to buy them seperately!!
You look absolutely stunning on your wedding picture! Note to self for fictional wedding: flowers in hair and tone up arms!!
Hi Holly,
Safaris is *awesome*. It’s so buttery and shimmery and just the perfect lid shade. Maybe in the future I’ll pair it up with somethin’…what do you suggest?
Thank you! I have pictures of my hair from that day; the stylist did this beautiful sidesweep with all these intricate twists and then added white orchids. If you want I can send it to you for you to keep in your “wedding ideas” folder (never hurts to be prepared).
Oh, and the best thing for arms? Push ups, I swear!
Hi Glosslizard,
Ha! You know getting a Merry Maids gift card would be awesome! (I swear my dream job would be where I could just sit in a room and think of weird sh*t. I’d be one rich girl!)
GARDEN PARTY! I knew there was a reason why I was feeling the Jungle! Lavande looks really pretty. I can’t wait to visit with that one too!
Hope all the festivities go well! Have fun and take lots of pictures! Save me a plate full of bbq chicken and potato salad (YUM).
Thank you! I was actually bawling just shortly after that shot was taken.That was our father/daughter dance during my wedding and I got a really emotional! Good thing the mascara was waterproof!
Hi Christine,
Isn’t making the bed lame? I wish it would magically make itself sometimes.
I hate to admit that I love to clean… I am really my mother’s daughter.
Happy Saturday!
Hi Eru!!!
Awww, I will! Thank you!
How fun! How did the lesson go? Did you learn lots of great tricks? I hope so. Did you walk away with any new makeup? You better say yes
Hi Karen B!
Thank you! Chanel Bribery is a very strong study motivator tool! What class are you studying for?
Hi Bridget,
I know, right? I think if I had one I’d use it just to vacuum for fun, ha!
Oh, Rainshower sounds like it smells good. I think I’ll have to get some because the neighbor’s cat is always over and always rolling about the carpet!
Hope you’re having a good weekend! Doing anything fun?
Goodness Karen, you look GORGEOUS!!! I wanna have your upper arms *sadly jiggles her dangling upper-arm turkeys*
Pias last blog post..FOTD – Satin Taupe
Aw, you look so pretty in your wedding photo!
Those Chanel singles look so pretty! But so expensive, ahh!
Isn’t it a little ridiculous that for a $30 eyeshadow, they give you one of those cheap applicators with it?
Just all of my classes as my exams are coming closer.
Chanel bribery… Love it!
Hi Pia,
Thanks sweetie! Awww, I got turkey arms too! I gotta start doing my push ups again. 🙂
Hi Maria,
Thank you! Yes, the Chanel singles are mad crazy expensive but I think if you like the brand they are worthy of a look. And you are so right that they make you dish out 30 bones and give you some crappy applicator (granted, at least they’ve got the chanel logo on ’em). I end up throwing mine out!
Hi Karen B.,
Oh yes! It works, too! I’ve done it many a time for that “extra push” to get things done. 😉 Good luck on your exams! I hope that the studying is going well. 🙂