On the last days of my holiday, posting on the blog started becoming more of a challenge considering the urge of living up everything which I won't be finding until next summer. I have been here for three weeks now so I was taking it rather easy but tomorrow I will be driving to a "second level" holiday to get some cultural touch to beach, sun and sea part. That means the 100th post has to wait till I get back on Monday. It also means I am siting here preparing one more post instead of packing. How typically me, would do anything not to pack. I will try to keep it short though, here comes the 99th one.
 |
| Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest |
Clarins Forest Quad is another item which caught my attention while I was checking out the fall collections. Clarins typically releases a powder/blush which is almost everytime a "must-to-get" item for me and usually becomes my go-to blush for some months. Sometimes I also can't resist and purchase their eye products together with it. Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 in Forest is definitely a stunner with gorgeous natural earth tones in such a pretty harmony. I was hesitant though because khaki usually blend undesirably with my eye color but after I have seen some swatches, I found the taupe shade impossible to resist.
 |
| Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest |
Clarins Quad in Forest is composed of the following shades:
- Top Left: Mid-toned khaki green with golden shimmer
- Top Right: Light ivory glitter shade
- Bottom Left: Deep cool brown with golden shimmer
- Bottom Right: Mid-toned mauve taupe with silver sheen
 |
| Close-up: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest |
As the below swatches show, palette has three shades with satin finish and one with glitter. Each satin shade differs in intensity in terms of sheen. Taupe (bottom right) one has the most sheen but it doesn't appear frosty, it is rather complex. Deep brown (bottom left) has the least sheen, appears almost matte, other than a few scattered sparkles, therefore makes a perfect definition shade for the crease and outer edge.
 |
| Swatch under sun: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest |
Below is my take on Clarins Quad in Forest with less of khaki and more of taupe.
- I primed my eyelids with Nars Pro-prime
- Applied the show stopper taupe shade (bottom right) all over the eye lid and along the bottom lash line.
I could stop there. That is how gorgeous that taupe is, but I went on for demonstration purposes ;-)
- I defined my crease and outer corner of lids with deep brown (bottom left).
- Lightly applied the khaki shade (upper left) towards the outer corner just as a slight green accent.
- Picked up some of the glitter shade (upper right) with my finger and padded to the inner corner, blending towards the middle.
- Used an eye liner very close to upper and lower lashes as well as on water line for more definition (I believe it was UD Demolition for a softer look).
- Finished the look with YSL Baby Doll Mascara on top and bottom lashes.
 |
| In-action: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest |
The words "taupe" plus "glitter shade" rang a bell and I would like to put this one side by side with Tom Ford She Wolf (previously reviewed here).
 |
| Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest vs. Tom Ford Ombre Eye Color Trio She Wolf |
As the swatches show, the mauve leaning taupe of Clarins Forest is warmer while She Wolf offers a more gray toned mid-shade. On the other hand She Wolf's brown shade is warmer once compared to Forest. Glitter shades also differ in color as well as the formula, Forest's glitter shade appearing more frost and opaque while Tom Ford glitter shade has a more transparent basis and chunkier glitter (which I admittedly like more).
 |
| Swatch comparison: Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette #11 Forest vs. Tom Ford Ombre Eye Color Trio She Wolf |
Final thoughts: I love how pigmented and complex the shades of Clarins' Quad in Forest are. I am head over heals with taupe and I love deep brown and khaki shades. I only found the glitter shade a little hard to pick up and apply, even with fingers. All in all, Clarins' Quad in Forest is a gorgeous palette with balanced finishes, textures and a coldness/warmness equilibrium. Definitely worth checking out. For those in Europe, you can get Clarins products with discount from Escentual (not an affiliate link, just a friendly recommendation)
Do you like Khaki on your eyes? Does it work for you?