When CHANEL introduced their revolutionary Illusion d’Ombres eyeshadow pots in the fall of 2011, I immediately bought all 6 shades – one of my better investments, as far as I’m concerned, as I’ve used them in so many ways and often, not to mention how they’ve become staples for some of my contract work. The only problem? Once you start playing with this formula, you’ll beg CHANEL to create one in every conceivable hue!

 

I knew that CHANEL was planning on releasing new shades, but I assumed they would be for the fall 2012 collection – imagine my surprise when I was shown an early promotional photo for these two beauties! From the pictures, it looked like #88 ‘Abstraction’ was a dainty pink hue, with #89 ‘Vision’ a cool-toned pale gold – not so; ‘Abstraction’ turns out to be a rather warm pink, while ‘Vision’ looks like liquid gold – and just as luxurious. *On a sidenote, the two colours side by side together look like eggs sunny-side-up … but that could be just me! When I swatched them, the image that came to mind was that of a glorious sunset in all its fiery beauty (see below)!

a tranquil island sunset … sigh … (source)

CHANEL’s iconic black & gold packaging

elegant lacquered caps with their interlocked “c’s”

Illusion d’ombre #89 ‘Vision’ & #88 ‘Abstraction’ are created much the same as the rest of the shades in this range: ultra-creamy, intensely shimmering, and long-lasting, able to be worn either wet or dry. Their unique texture lends itself to be applied best using just your finger, as your skin’s heat helps the colour lay down evenly while keeping the look fresh & modern, and not overly glitzy. Both are housed in glass pots with a lacquered lid that bears CHANEL’s interlocked “c’s” embossed on top, and hold a hefty 4g/0.14 oz of product. The small synthetic-fiber angled & capped brush that is included with each shade is actually quite versatile, especially for lining purposes, but I prefer to use either my finger or one of my full sized brushes for application.

#88 Abstraction is a warm-toned pink hue with obvious coral/peach undertones and pulverized golden shimmer for added depth. Seen with flash, the colour lightens up somewhat and emphasizes a cooler rose tone, while sunlight brings about a more luminous flush of colour. Interestingly, while the colour looks somewhat orange-y in the pot, it actually appears more pink when applied.

#89 Vision is pure molten gold with some sparser bronze glitter flecks added for more impact and substance. Slightly thinner in its spreading consistency, you can apply this over any other shadow for some extra sparkle, but applied more densely on its own is where all the stunning glamour lies with this shade. Once more, the pot colour says one thing, making ‘Vision’ look quite yellow-toned, although once applied it softens to a true gold hue.

versatile synthetic fiber brushes that come with each Illusion d’Ombre

#88 Abstraction & #89 Vision – profile view

#88 Abstraction, natural light

#88 Abstraction & cap, natural light

#88 Abstraction, with flash

#89 Vision, natural light

#89 Vision & cap, natural light

#89 Vision, with flash

The following swatches are all on unprimed skin: left – ‘Abstraction’, right – ‘Vision’
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in sunlight

indoors

with flash

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A quick look done using:

• ‘Vision’ on the inner third of the eye and along the inner third of the lower lashline
• ‘Abstraction’ on outer 2/3 of the eye, up to the crease & along the outer 2/3 of the lower lashline
• ‘Grenat’ Long-Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner on the waterline
• ‘Vegas Gold’ (previously reviewed here) at the inner corner

 

Final thoughts: Just as with the rest of the Illusion d’Ombre range, ‘Vision’ and ‘Abstraction’ are a dream to work with. The formula – somewhere between a mousse, cream, gel and powder – can be easily applied using just your finger for a super-quick eye-opening look, or more in depth using brushes (wet or dry) for more impact and drama. Another convenience is how you can layer these shades over powdered hues for a completely new look and custom colour, as well as adding to the overall staying power. While the Illusion d’Ombre shades are somewhat price-y, ringing in at CAD $37.00, a little goes a long way and there is plenty of product in each pot to ensure that you won’t run out any time soon. Available now, I was told that ‘Abstraction’ will become part of the permanent lineup, although the verdict is still out on ‘Vision’s’ status … in other words, act don’t think if you love these! buy remeron online buynoprescriptionrxonline.com/remeron.html no prescription