Just a bit too difficult to apply (Lily Lolo Mineral Cosmetics: Eye Colour)

Member Name: slinkyindieninja

Product:	Lily Lolo Mineral Cosmetics: Eye Colour
Date:	12/09/09 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great colour, good packaging design, okay price

Disadvantages: Hard to get it looking its best and brightest

When I had used up my samples of concealer, foundation, and finishing powder from Lily Lolo, I decided to buy the full size products of most, and I thought I might as well try an eyeshadow too. There are 28 colours of eyeshadow in the Lily Lolo range, and you can also use the blush shades and the highlighter Star Dust as eyeshadows. Purple is my favourite colour, and the 'Deep Purple' shade looked gorgeous in the website photos, so I bought one.

I only paid for normal postage but my products came by recorded delivery, I assume I got upgraded because I made such a large order. They were inside a padded envelope with a leaflet about Lily Lolo and the order sheet.

The packaging for the eyeshadows is similar to that of the other products, a translucent (frosted) pot with a white lid that has the Lily Lolo logo on it. When you open the lid there is a further plastic layer with three holes in it for the eyeshadow, which is a loose powder, to come through. When you first get it there is a sticky plastic bit over the holes, and I have chosen to leave this on, only taking it off when I get eyeshadow out to minimise mess. Even if you don't, having the three holes instead of an open pot means that if you do knock it over when the lid is off the mess will be limited. It also makes it easier to apply, in my opinion, as I can shake just what I will need into the lid. The eyeshadow does not come with its own applicator, you will need to have a separate brush, and one with bristles not foam.

I have mixed feelings about the eyeshadow itself. The colour looks just like it does on the website in the pot, a gorgeous, sparkly, rich purple, however it is difficult to get it looking like that on your eyelids. I have discovered that Lily Lolo's foundation makes a great base for eyeshadow that won't crease. If I brush the eyeshadow on dry the same way you would a 'normal' non-mineral eyeshadow, I just get faintly lilac eyelids. To get anywhere close to the full purple effect, I have to use a wet brush, load it up with what seems like a lot of product and then kind of dab it on at first, until I get enough on the lid to blend it around. I have experimented using it over 'normal' dark eyeshadow and that can be quite effective, it also mixes with liquid eyeshadow quite well, and works pressed over black eyeliner. However, the sparkle pretty much disappears once it is on my skin, and it is quite dark and mundane.

Considering that the foundation and other base products give such good coverage with small amounts, I was disappointed that the eyeshadow wouldn't yield the striking effect I wanted, the colour you see in the pot is always disappointingly diluted on my lids.

I wish Lily Lolo provided samples of their eyeshadows like they do for most of the other products, because I am reluctant to try the other colours now in case they are as hard to work with as the Deep Purple. I will quite probably give other brands a go first.

Summary: One I may not try again