Entries for Monday September 19

Aromaleigh v1’s xoxo

• Manufacturer: Aromaleigh v1
• Availability: released as part of Aromaleigh v1's Valentine 2009 collection
• Color Range: coppery violet purple sheen
• Staying Power: 4 out of 4 stars
• Cost/Amount: USD$8 for 1.2 grams; $1.30 for a sample baggie
• Would you purchase again: yes
• Similar shades:

Originally I steered clear of this color because, in my own mind, I had enough purples. I received it in one of the grab bags I ordered during Aromaleigh v1’s final days. The base color is definitely wine-purple with blue undertones. There is a very sparse, faint copper shimmer that warms the color up just a bit and saves it from being “just another purple.”

Color payoff is good, and application is smooth. I just wish that the copper shimmer had been more pronounced in this shade. (Perhaps it was, in batches made while Aromaleigh was open for regular business.) This color was released about a year and a half before Aromaleigh announced its closure, but for a while this entire collection was unavailable, as it was a limited seasonal edition.

Concrete Minerals’ Kinky

• Manufacturer: Concrete Minerals
• Availability: part of the regular eyeshadow line; also available in the Color Stacks kit
• Color Range: deep midnight-blue shimmer
• Staying Power: 4 out of 4 stars
• Cost/Amount: USD$7 for 1.5 grams
• Would you purchase again: yes
• Similar shades: Aromaleigh v1's Drama Blue

When I saw the picture of this on Concrete Minerals' site, I thought: nahhhh. I don't need this. It's another blackened blue, it's similar enough to Souljourner and to other shades I have, I'll be able to easily opt out. And then I received a sample jar of Kinky in one of my orders.

I was so wrong.

It isn't blackened. It is a very deep midnight blue with a faint shimmer. It's slightly similar to other colors I have - the much-coveted Bare Escentuals' Rio springs to mind, but I think Kinky is actually deeper than Rio - but it's stunning. It can easily be used for really dark looks, lining, or smokey eyes, but a light hand and a good fiber-optic or soft focus brush lets me use this for shading. It applies well and evenly, and stays in place well (though if, like me, you have oily lids...use a primer. You'll just be happier with the long-term results.)

BareMinerals’ Santorini

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: initially released in the Exotic Destinations: Santorini kit; also available in the In Fashion IV kit
• Color Range: silvered medium-light neutral brown shimmer
• Staying Power: 3 out of 4 stars
• Cost/Amount: $13 for .02 ounces / .57 grams
• Would you purchase again: yes
• Similar shades: