Chanel Topkapi Applied

Sometimes on a weekend I won't apply my makeup until the evening. It always feels like a treat after a day spent cleaning! This makeup was the result of one of these evening applications and I went a little bolder than I might do ordinarily. I first applied the Kevyn Aucoin lip colour and thought the Chanel Topkapi eyeshadows I showed you yesterday might be complimentary.

I applied the taupe shade first all over the lid and then layered the gold over the taupe in the centre of the lid. I'm nervous of gold with my colouring but using the Le Metier Kaleidoscopes has taught me that layering can make a scary colour work for you. I finished off by running a little of the deep chocolate brown colour along the outer 2/3rds of the lash line.

Face
LMdB Peau Vierge
BECCA concealer in Praline
MAC Clear Brow Set
Max Factor Soft Copper blusher
e.l.f. HD Powder

Eyes
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Chanel Topkapi Quadra
MUFE Smoky Lash

Lips
Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Lipstick in Aquarouge

Here's a slightly different look with the same palette. I applied the taupe on the lid again but this time used the bronze-y shade in the crease and the dark brown along the lash line. I'm wearing Edward Bess After Sunset compact rouge on my cheeks and Forever Yours lipstick (swatch post here) over MAC Subculture liner.

Topkapi Regard Signé de Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow

The Chanel Topkapi Quadra was released as part of the Byzance Collection in July this year. I much admired it at the time but had not anticipate getting hold of it. I wasn't sure it would be available in the UK but having done some research for this post, I now realise my error. I came by this particular treasure via a a swap with Cindy of Prime Beauty.

This is actually my very first Chanel palette. I've swatched our European releases before and given them a miss due to the poor pigmentation and texture. The pigmentation and quality of the Topkapi eyeshadows is a world away from my previous swatching experience.

Once I overcame the fear of touching the pans and spoiling the quilted design, I discovered how creamy and rich all of the shades were. The colours are richly pigmented though the gold is a little more sheer than the others. This is no bad thing as I find gold and particularly these sorts of yellow gold make me a little nervous!

As I mentioned, the gold is a slightly sheer with a shimmery finish. The taupe and chocolatey-bronze are opaque and metallic in finish. The dark brown is a satin, I hesitate from describing it as a matte as there is a hint of something in there. None of the colours are especially unique however, I think the quality does set them apart. I have fallen in love with the taupe (no surprise there) but I do wish there was a little more variety in finish. I'm wary of wearing a shimmery lid shade AND a shimmery crease colour at my age but of course it is possible to mix them with other eyeshadows in my collection in the same way that I do with my YSL Pure Chromatics palette.

Hopefully you will forgive me for sharing something an older release. It was too pretty to keep all to myself though. I have some application pictures to share with you in the coming days.