Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadow #2 Lust Red

The new Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadows have been burning a hole in my psyche since they were released in the US an age ago (it's probably about a month, but in internet-torture of things-you-can't-have-yet that's a decade, at least). They are a hybrid of cream eyeshadow and loose pigment pressed together lightly to give a velvety, creamy, shimmery finish that sets on the eye and doesn't budge. The shimmer finish is quite similar to a MAC Mineralize eyeshadow, but with a base that provides better coverage and adherence. 

There were about four of these released before Christmas, but none of those colours really grabbed me. When I saw the colours for the new release, I knew I had to have #2, Lust Red. A mottled black/ruby red, it looks completely impractical and yet called to me even more than #4 Pulp Fiction (a taupe melange, which is a more typical shade for me). I basically bullied Mr London into going to Selfridges to pick this up for me yesterday, after stalking the Selfridges counter and website for these to be released.

Comparison below clockwise from top left: Armani Lust Red, MAC Mineralise in Ether, High Voltage Cosmetics Loose pigment in Freyr (from the Norse Mythology collection).

Swatched: Lust Red, High Voltage Cosmetics Freyr, MAC Ether. This picture shows how the MAC is dustier and has less substance and coverage to the base shade than either the Armani or the High Voltage Cosmetics (these are really excellent indie pigments by the way, and well worth a look). MAC Mineralise shadows really need a good eyeshadow base to stick to. 

Apologies for the massive pictures of my eyes that follow. I found it very difficult to pick up the red shimmer/sparkle in photos, and even in real life the ruby shimmer is subtle although more apparent than it appears in these photos. This probably makes it more wearable than an obvious or strong red shade, but don't expect to get the red sparkle to show up strongly without some work; I found patting the eyeshadow on with a finger resulted in a stronger red shimmer, although it's messier than applying with a brush. Something like a MAC Greasepaint stick would also give the red shimmer more to stick to, and I might have a go with the one I have from Style Black over the weekend. 

My preferred application is to pat on with the MAC 239 flat eyeshadow brush. I'm wearing Rouge Bunny Rouge Atlas Swallowtail cream eyeshadow as a base, although the Eyes to Kill doesn't really need one I find it softens the edges of the black a little. 

natural light

with flash

Is there anything similar to this eyeshadow? I've read that MAC Beauty Marked is a similar shade and finish (although it appears the MAC presents even more of a challenge to get the red shimmer in it to show up when applied). Although High Voltage Freyr has a lighter, more taupe/purple base shade, the reddish duochrome in this is stronger, so if you are looking for a smoky eye with a reddish flash, this is a good (although not identical) alternative to Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Lust Red. High Voltage cosmetics can be found at www.hvcosmetics.zxq.net.

I'm glad I have this, and I will most likely buy more (hello, Pulp Fiction) if this formula does live up to the long-lasting claims made for it. I will report back on that after I've worn it a few times.