Not much of a surge, but the shimmer is indeed super. (Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer)

Member Name: springychicky

Product:	Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer
Date:	30/08/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice shimmer, creamy colour.

Disadvantages: Not dramatic enough.

I have this Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow in a very light, mossy green colour called Sparkling Sage. Clinique claim that this eye shadow is "Creamy, intense colour in one stroke. Surprisingly lightweight." and go on to rather dramatically state that it's the end of the "quiet eye", whatever the heck that's supposed to mean. I decipher this marketing speak as meaning that it's a relatively opaque colour, with a lot of shimmer, probably more suited to an evening or dressy look. So, is this what I got?

Opening the handy little case that the shadow comes in, there certainly is a good amount of shimmer in the colour, as the name suggests. It's the nice, very fine sort of shimmer too, not chunky bits of glitter that look like they belong on 5 year olds playing dress ups or drag queens. Off to a good start.

Applying the shadow it is indeed creamy, again as Clinique claim. It spreads on in one stroke fairly opaquely, and glides on very smoothly. However, I'm not sure that this colour qualifies as something capable of "ending the quiet eye". It is a very light, pretty colour, and has a very slight golden, almost warm undertone to it, which makes it look expensive and sophisticated, rather than like costume make up. I do like the colour, but I certainly don't think this is a dramatic or particularly WOW sort of eye shadow. In fact I usually where this during the day as a light highlight on my lids and would choose something darker for evening wear. Therefore this product loses points for not living up to its rather dramatic claims, especially since it claims you can achieve this in one stroke.

That being said, the stuff itself is of the usual high standard that you would expect from Clinique. The shimmer is definitely there, without being tacky, it glides on creamy, and can also be smudged a little to create a nice soft effect. As this is a rather icy colour, I wouldn't recommend layering it up too much because you end up looking like an alien, but a light glimmer, especially as a highlight used with a darker shade, is great.

As for staying power I don't think that the Colour Surge shadow particularly distinguishes itself from cheaper brands. It lasts a decent amount of time, and doesn't disappear, but you do still get a little gathering in the creases of the eye.

All in all I found this to be an adequate shadow, with a very nice shimmer (unlike most cheaper brands that just look very tacky). It isn't however, as dramatic as Clinique claims, at least not in the colour that I have. Indeed it's not a colour that would lend itself well to being thickly applied. Perhaps if they'd just marketed it differently it wouldn't have led to disappointment. When you buy something called "colour surge eye shadow super shimmer" though, you want something that's going to be pretty special and out there!

Summary: Nice as a subtle highlight and for a bit of shine/shimmer, but definitely not a "colour surge".