Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34 Scarabeo Edition from Fall 2013 Kaleidoscope Collection Comparison & Swatches

New make-up collection of Giorgio Armani Beauty has six new Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows, five of which I would like to introduce to you today. Kaleidoscope Collection also features six lipstick (swatched here) and two Face&Eyes Palettes (reviewed here).

From six new Eyes To Kill releases, I purchased the first five. The sixth shade #35 is called Silver Chafer. It is a light silver shade. I left it behind since silver tones are usually hard for me to pull off and I would like to convince myself that I don't need to get everything, especially when I am almost sure that it wouldn't be used. After swatching those eye shadows though, I can't guarantee that I won't crave for it. Maybe I go there tonight and check it once more ;-)

Face & Eye Palettes as well as new ETK Eye Shadows all have "Scarabeo Edition" denoted on their packages. Scarabeo (scarab in English) as far as I am concerned is the holy beetle of Egypt, which also explains the beetle names of ETK eye shadows. According to Wikipedia Scarab Beetles are a family consisting of 30 000 species, providing enough inspiration for Linda Cantello, the international make-up artist of GA who designed this collection.  

All the colors have iridescent duo-chromic almost holographic quality which makes photography and shade definition a challenge but I am willing to try my best for these beauties. I took photos under sun and in shadow to give you a better idea.

I am lacking a degree in Entomology but here is my humble attempt in describing the shades:

#30 Rose Popillia: A light pink duo chrome appearing mauve at some angles. On my lids it also leaned warm and gold. This one looks exactly like the right wing of this Japanese Popilla Beetle.

#31 June Beetle: It is a gorgeous baby blue leaning turquoise depending on light. This one is less complex than Rose Popillia and appears much bluer than a green june beetle, nevertheless a gorgeous color.

#32 Gold Hercule: Although the name suggests gold, it is more of a golden green, very much like the wings of hercule beetle. Again it has duo chrome property and appears more gray or more gold depending on the light and angle. It reminded me slightly of Chanel's Peridot nail polish.

#33 Scarab Violetta: This one is a light iridescent lavender. It has a gorgeous shine under the sun but in shadow it appears as a cool lilac. The inspration might have been taken from a beetle, such as this one.

Phew! It was not easy. *cleans sweat from forehead*. I felt like I was writing a post on new Ozotic nail polish range but it is exciting that these are eye products instead! On to the comparisons we go...

I compared #30 to the closest shades in Armani ETK range. This one might be close to #8 too, which I (not yet) own but I suspect #8 would be much more pink than #30 which is more natural, almost like skin color shade. As you see below, #9 is more peachy and more of a frost compared to #30. The shades in Scarebeo range are iridescent but they are not frosts which can be seen clearly in the following swatches. #28 leans also more peach and is darker. #27 is more violette and darker.

 #33 is cooler and lighter once compared to #3 and #4. ETK #3 is purple with golden sparkle, it is darker and warmer. #4 is more of a gray purple, whereas #33 can be described as a true lavender. Check the below swatches to see how #33 appears green towards the bottom because of the curve of my arm and light hiting at another angel. Isn't it exciting?

Next comes the comparison of two bluish shades from Scarabeo Edition, #31 and #34. Do you remember the Bronze Collection for 2012 Summer? There were 4 blue/green/gray shades in that collection, so I was more hopeful that I could find dupes.

Once those are swatched side by side, as you see there are no dupes but certainly close shades:

Last comparison is between the lighter golden shades of Armani ETK range and #32 from Scrabeo Edition. After the swatches I have seen that I should have added the famous #23 (Madra Perle) from Bronze Collection to the blue shades comparison above, so I threw #31 in here too to compare those two.

The golds I know of ETK range which are not strongly yellow are #18 and #19, from Holiday 2011 collection. These are close shades in terms of lightness but lack the green duo chrome property of #32. #23 and #31 are also close, #31 showing more blue. Isn't that interesting that #32 shows more yellow in shadow and more green under sun?

All in all no real dupes. I think #23 Madra Perle, which was one of the most popular/unusual shades of Bronze Collection is the closest shade in terms of iridescent color-changing property to the ones from Scarabeo Kaleidoscope Collection.

Today I am wearing an eye look which I created using all five shades at once. I am very excited about these, the colors are so unusual. Some may find those interesting shades hard to wear. I believe that #30 is going to be the most popular one. I am going to post today's look soon. This post became way too picture heavy so I am sharing the comparisons and the swatches for the time being. As for the quality, the shades can be intensified by wet application and they wear like stone over a primer all day long. They don't fade and budge. Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows are one of my most favorite eye shadow formulas of all times, if not the "top" one.

Final thoughts: Very usual shades and texture. Duo-chrome, holographic, whatever you would call it. The quality is au pair with Armani ETK range, blending easily, lasting all day long. Nothing but love!

How do you find these usual shades? Do you think you would find yourself wearing these often? Which shade is your favorite?