In the hunt for the black eyeshadow that will allow me to create The Killer Smoky eye, I purchased the new kaleidoscope from Le Metier de Beaute, this one is called “Nouvelle Vague” (new wave) and comes in a silver case ! Finally ! I have so many of them and I never got a silver version of the compact !
Recently I wasn’t that impressed with Le Metier kaleidoscopes but it gets better with this one.
I recommend you to check out Pink Sith‘s review and pictures and also the Beauty Look Book has amazing swatches and comparisons !
So as I said, I am looking for the eyeshadow that will help me to create the most threatening yet wearable smoky eye. The first time I used it, I ended up with a black mess all over my face and pretty much all over the place. This black shadow is pigmented but you are very close to not-being-able-to-work-with-it pigmented.
Today before I applied the black shade, I literally wiped the brush with a paper tissue and believe me, there was still enough color on the brush. This time, no fallout. It reminds me of the MakeupGeek’s Corrupt, it’s actually so similar. If the black is the only shade you are really wanting from this kaleidoscope then get Corrupt, much cheaper and the quality is not that far away. In both black pans you can see tiny specks but so tiny that they will disappear once applied.
The following swatches have been done with two similar brushes, you can see the smearing on the left side, that’s “flying fallout”, the only way to avoid it is to remove the excess powder on the brush before applying it.
Nouvelle Vague VS Corrupt
The mauve eyeshadow is excellent as a crease shadow, a nice matte shade that is not powdery at all. I don’t really wear the pink shadow but I like the other peachy-gold one, mixed with the black it delivers a nice sultry finish.
Here we go… this is my attempt to create a killer smoky eye which in fact is not that threatening … it’s even wearable in daylight, I will post here some pics for you, sorry to be so useless with a camera 🙁 So hopeless …
I applied Burberry Trench as a base, then the mauve shade on the crease, the peachy on the lid and the inner corner, then the black on the outer V, with some peach in the bottom lash line. I blended the application with the Hakuhodo 214 (the black version of the 214 otherwise this black shadow will not be that easy to clean on a white brush).
I am wearing an Ellis Faas L108 on the lips and RBR Gracilis on the cheeks. Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate as a contour.
I damped a cotton bud with some Bioderma water, removed the excess water so that the cotton was only slightly damp, then cleaned the line below the application to give a more straight appearance to the application.
I actually recommend you to apply your foundation after your eyeshadow, it’s easier to clean up afterwards 🙂
UPDATE :
I am just adding a few more swatches because at least the mauve shade should be compared to other similar colors …
This mauve shade is really very similar to Makeupgeek “Unexpected” which is also nicely pigmented, it really is the exact dupe to me, same color, same pigmentation and same texture.
Then I tried to see if I could find a dupe to the first layers mixing the Makeupgeek shadows I had but I couldn’t, although the first one could be considered as being a bit similar…
I quite enjoy Makeupgeek shadows, I love Moondust (if you are a taupe lover you need this and it’s a similar shade to LMdB Crystal ball !!!) and Corrupt is also amazing, great shadows and for 6$ that’s really a good deal.
40 comments
I love this look! I too have been “off” LMB but this kaleidoscope is very intriguing!
Beautiful work 🙂
Thank you Stacy, it was so much nicer in real life… I am totally useless with a camera even after my little training… I really need to do something about it 😛
I couldn’t pass on it… but I am still looking for my favorite black shadow…
What about the black from the Serge Lutens palette?
Is the LmdB blacker/ more pigmented than that?
I will check that tonight ! I think it is but let me double check just to make sure 🙂
Buggsiebee, the black from Serge Lutens is easier to work with but it’s not as black as the LMdB. Just be very careful with the LMdB, it can be very difficult to work with it you don’t literally clean the brush before applying the product, the first time I used it, it was very messy.
I love the colour on you! Thanks for the review and I am going to get one myself :))
Thank you Lilian 🙂
I almost purchased this today at my local Saks, but decided against it. I am concerned about fallout throughout the day while wearing it. Did you notice any?
Hi Christine, no fallout at all IF you clean the brush with a tissue before applying it… still enough pigment on the brush to use 🙂
I love the look you have created, just the right around of drama. I have to say black shadow does frighten me a bit when left to my own devices 🙂
I LOVE dark smokey eyes, it’s totally me : dark eyes, nudish lipstick and neutral blush … that’s the sad thing about ageing.. not being able to wear that kind of strong looks anymore 🙁
You look smashing, Sonja–sultry and natural–a very flattering look for you. Application is just seamless and flawless. I have been very interested in this palette as the pink and mauve seemed like exactly the kinds I have been looking for. But I don’t wear black shadows and the idea of being saddles with such a prodigious amount of a black shadow, especially one reputed as the blackest of all the blacks is non too appealing. And I’m lazy and rather not deal with fallout and the black shade looked like it would be prone to it. In fact, I find RBR shadows have quite a bit of fallout, especially mat shades and that is part of the reasons I don’t quite understand all the hypes around them. But going back to LMdB shadows, I have yet to experience them and have been always curious about your opinion on them. Could you do an overview/review of all the LMdM palettes or shadows you have sometime? Sometimes one can still acquire old limited edition ones and so any information would be helpful.
On another note, thank you so much for your post on the brush overview. You are as good as your words! I may bother you yet again with few questions but not too many I promise.
Thank you Yancy ! I have updated the review with some swatches so that you can have a better idea of the mauve shade.
I did experience fallout in the past with RBR or any other very pigmented shadow, but using better brushes AND removing excess powder on the brush helped a lot and now I don’t have any problem at all.
Are you interested in a particular kaleidoscope ? I have plenty of them… I should do that for LMdB, Chantecaille, Hourglass, Becca but I don’t have so much time at the moment 🙁 so sad !!!
But it is actually in my pipeline of future posts…
I can’t wait to see the rest of the reviews! Take yo ur time…
Oh, just one more. Could you think of a dupe for the mauve shade in terms of finish as well as color?
Hi Yancy,
apart from the dupe which Sonia added, I’ve heard that Burberry’s Rosewood is very siimilar.
Rats…..it was Antique rose not Rosewood. Sorry!
Sonia, you look very sultry — I love the come hither look you gave the camera!
I’ve tried black shadow and I can’t get used to myself looking like I do when I have it on. I’ve gotten a little braver since switching from contacts to glasses but I’m most comfortable with less on the eyes and bright lips and cheeks. But I think I spend the most on brushes and eyeshadows. Go figure.
I had to lookup “hither” in the dictionnary… I was scared for a bit 😀
we are not always very “logical” or rational when we purchase beauty items, but one day you may be very happy that you splurged on them 🙂
that happened to me!
Hey Vampy Sonia;)
…..back to the office friendly makeup today I guess?
Although I had decided not to get this one, your look has got me wanting to play with these colors. Hmmmmm…….I need to give this Kaleidoscope a rethink!
Hi Buggsiebee 🙂
Today is Hourglass day 🙂 Black Hourglass shadow day but just as a liner.
I don’t think the Rosewood is that similar, I need to check that tonight ! Maybe Burberry Porcelain is similar to the 1st layer… I will also check that !
I played with a tester yesterday. At first, the black is very sooty, but after eliminating any excess product, as you said, I find that it almost seems creamy. Now I can believe that there would be no fallout. Even thought its very dark and almost matte in appearance, it blends with a subtle sheen. I might buy this.
It’s sooo nice when you can see them in person ! lucky you 🙂
Ho, ho ho……got me a LMdB NV Kaleidoscope today:)))
I had to try it out as soon as I got back from work. Over my previous eye makeup of course! My oh my, this black is BLACK!!!! I used it like you said…..and had NO fall out but I have some very black eyes:DDD
I’ll need to experiment a bit, but it’s certainly interesting and not OTT pink.
Thanks for the recommendation:)
Mine is on it’s way! 🙂 of course
Send me a picture!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you crazzeeeeeee? Just think raccoon with wrinkles…. and a lot less hair :))
no … I definitely could not picture it (you know my english…) so I googled “raccoon with wrinkles” and got that picture : http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-98796410/stock-photo-wrinkled-dog-wearing-raccoon-fur-coat.html
I could not believe it so I googled “raccoon with wrinkle and less hair” and I got this http://www.hey-dollface.com/2010/11/dollface-reviews-fade-out-anti-shadow-brightening-eye-cream.html/konica-minolta-digital-camera
This is sooooo insanely adorable 😛
If you wear a light wash of black blended with the 1st layer it’s really sexy 🙂 I am loving that ! I am glad I just received the master cleanser for the brushes 😛
I thought we weren’t buying this!!!???
We are such push-overs:))
We are weak… but I will enjoy this one and I am sure you will too 😉
OMG!! That is soooooo funny. You can find some scary stuff on the internet.
OK….let’s go with the second raccon pic…….but imagine it a LOT less cute:!
I think I’ll need some of that high powered brush cleaner too!! My poor white brushes look like I just used them to clean the chinmey!
Too funny! That Master’s Brush cleaner is very good! I think Nikoletta mentioned it ages ago and I am so glad I picked some up!
I had totally sworn off LMB. I had seen the reviews of this one and didn’t even blink! And then Miss Sultry here had to bring it up again and I couldn’t help myself 🙂 All in the timing I guess ;p
Buggsiebee I think it is only fair that you send a picture…. Sonia did
Yeah, but Sonia is a Saint & superwoman & I am not!
Can’t wait to see your pic though Stacy ;D
I agree with you on the previous reviews . It was a total turn off untill I saw Sonia’s look & Beauty Look Book’s swatches.
Yes sure… 😛
I want to see pictures too 🙁
I also wanted to tell you how I got on with this kaleidoscope this morning. I hadn’t tried the pink shade as a shadow yet, so now I did 🙂
I applied this 1st pink shadow on the lid and on the bottom lash line. The mauve shade in the crease and the black shadow as a liner, not a thick application but with this brush if it helps to get a better idea, bottom and top lash line application, not a thick line but not a thin line either… it doesn’t look harsh because with the pink shadow mixed it’s more grey than black.
I checked the finished look and it was missing definition and/or contrast. I applied more mauve shadow in the crease (and heavy application) and I took it way higher than the crease and also in the outer V. Then I applied a tiny bit of black gel liner very very thin in the top lash line (just 3/4 out).
Then the look was more balanced and the pink shadow was poping out a lot more and gave me a fresh and awake “appearance” 🙂
I have a terrible headache today but you can’t really tell 😛
I am wearing the pink RMK mix for cheeks (and that’s probably also the reason why I look so fresh) and the Rouge d’Armani 508 with Cle de Peau foundation as a base.
It’s a nice “working girl” kind of look but I am sooo waiting for the TF Enchanted ! 😀
That look sounds lovely! I will try it too when mine gets here!
Can’t wait ;p
Two Motrin / aspirin / excederin and feel better!!!!!!!
Last night, I was watching BBC news and I was inspired by Riz Lateef’s look, she was not wearing this lookbut a very similar one, darker, a mauve and black smoky look and it reminded me of Nouvelle Vague. This morning I replicated her look with the mauve and the black shade in this kaleidoscope and it worked nicely, the result is a very serious dark smokey look. The mauve on the lid and up to the crease and the black on the outer corner and as a liner, once the black is blended with the mauve, reapply some mauve on top of the black, it will soften the dark application.
While I was applying this black shade my boyfriend said to me “you have a lot of black going on… ” but after blending and applying the mauve on top, it appeared much softer and wearable for the office but it still has quite a dramatic side. I am still enjoying this kaleidoscope, I am just sad that this black shade needs so much effort since it’s so pigmented, first with the application and then with the blending. I definitely prefer it mixed with the other shades of the Nouvelle Vague, on it’s own it’s just a very black shade but nothing that unique.
I hope this gives you ideas… 🙂
Oh I paired it with RBR Habanera, perfect combination !
Thanks for all the tips on application Sonia. I love Riz Lateef’s look!
I somehow got a bit of the black on my nose while doing my makeup yesterday & I actually had to use cleanser to remove it:) There was no chance of just wiping it away like I would with a regularly pigmented shade. This black means business!!!
You are welcome ! 🙂
I still have to try the “all shades” look, with all the tiers applied as per LMdB recommendations… but not for a day at the office… Halloween is not that far away though 😉
That’s the problem with this kind of pigmented shadows, either you apply the foundation at the end or you are extremely careful… you should not use this black shadow if you are in a rush. It didn’t take me a long time to use it this morning but it was certainly a much longer blending process than usual !
I used my Nouvelle and I love it! Sonia the smart tissue wiping tip for the black saved my any fallout whatsoever! I am in love with all of the shades, the quality of the shadows renewed my respect for LMB. Even though I was late to pick this up I am so so so glad I did! Thanks again for the post!!
So happy you love it !! yeah !!!