Product:  Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow.  Still searching for the perfect colors for a dramatic smoky-eye makeup look?  Lancôme has some great colors such as, Drape, It List, Riviera and The New Black.

Overall Rating = 3.5 Stars – Very Good

Cost: $21.00 each (.42 oz.) ($50 per ounce)  Price Category: Expensive

Cost: $21.00 each (.20 oz.) ($105 per ounce)  Price Category: Expensive

Sold By: LancômeUSA; Dillard’s; Macy’s; Nordstrom; Major Department Stores.

Container:  Plastic container with swing-out lid, outer carton.

Description: Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow is a highly-pigmented powdered eye shadow with a nice silky finish.  You can also get palettes with several colors, but I’m only focusing on the single shadows today.  The shadows do not come with any type of applicator.  You do not need a separate eye makeup remover to take this off; it will come off with any standard facial cleanser.

Sensitivity:  Unlike most Lancôme products that are loaded with perfume, Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow is a fragrance-free product and is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow does not make my nose run, eyes water, turn red or burn.  I have never experienced any sensitivities from using this eye shadow and I have never had any complaints from clients or testers.

Company Claims:  “Make a statement with these shadow singles designed by Lancôme Global makeup artists. Available in a variety of chic shades and finishes—from shimmer to sheen and metallic to matte—to complement every wardrobe. Lancôme’s Micro-aired technology promises effortless application and smooth-gliding color that’s beautifully blendable. The long-lasting, pigment-packed color stays true for daylong wear.”

“Benefits:

• Color glides on smoothly and blends easily for a professional finish every time.
• Color stays true and looks beautiful all day.

Technology:

• Micro-aired powder
• Ergonomically designed slide compact with see-through cover”

Discussion:  While not my favorite eye shadow, Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow is a close second to MAC and also has a lot of options available.

Colors:  Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow comes in 73 colors.  I decided to feature four that closely correspond to the MAC colors I previously reviewed that I typically use for smoky-eye looks.   These four colors are:

• Drape (White) (Shimmer)
• It List (Black) (Matte)
• Riviera (Medium Grey) (Shimmer)
• The New Black (Black) (Metallic)

Finishes:  Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow comes in four finishes ranging from a flat dull finish to a sparkly shine:

• Matte
• Satin
• Shimmer
• Metallic

Morning Review:  I suggest using a base medium or a primer under powdered eye shadows.  When you use a primer the colors will be a little more intense just like when you wet them and will last longer without fading or flaking.  If you do not use primer, the colors will not be as vibrant or deep and the finish will be softer.

I would say that the texture of the Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow is a little silkier and smoother than MAC.  It has a lighter feel to it when applying it to the eyelid.  You can layer these shadows for greater intensity.  I would not say that this is a positive or a negative trait; it is simply a little different.

If you want your smoky eye look to be suitable for daytime or on the subtle side, begin with the lightest shades and work your way to the darkest shades.  If you are going for a full-on glamorous dramatic look, then begin with the darkest shades and blend the lighter shades in.

Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow glides on easily and does not tug or pull.  For this classic smoky look, I applied Drape on the inner corner and just under the tear duct. I put Riviera on the upper eyelid up to the crease line.  I then added The New Black onto the brow bone and under the lower lashes.  I then finished with It List at the outer corner.  You will see that this look has a slightly more shimmery effect than the MAC look.  That is because Lancôme does not make a matte white shadow.  The makeup was completed with eyeliner, mascara and false lashes.

Evening Review:  After many hours the Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadows have not faded, creased, or flaked and still look good without the need for any touch ups.

Overall Review:  Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow offers professional results and is easy to use.

Pros: 

• Performance – Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow performs very well.  It has great staying power and is easy to blend.
• Finish – If you like a more natural or sheer look, you may prefer these over MAC.

Cons:

• Price – Each time I buy these shadows, the price goes up and the amount of product goes down, so they are getting more and more expensive.
• Amount of Product – A few years ago this same shadow was called Color Focus and had .80 ounces. Then it went to .42 ounces and I recently only got .20 ounce in one color.  (See photos below for examples)  These are far too expensive for me to use on clients.  You will note that Lancôme no longer lists how much product is contained in these eye shadows on their website.  I even sent an email to customer service to find out if all of the eye shadow colors are now only going to have .20 ounces in them and was told they would have to research my question and get back to me!
• Packaging – Also, rather than having a bunch of little containers, I prefer to put eye shadows in my own professional palette and I cannot do that with these.

Appropriate for the Following Users:  Lancôme Color Design Sensational Effects Smooth Hold Eye Shadow is suitable for the following users:

• All users

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 4 Stars;

Value Rating = 2 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3.5 Stars = Very Good.

(Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Ingredients: TALC, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, TRIISOSTEARIN, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, NYLON-12, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, DIMETHICONE, SILICA, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, ALUMINA, SYNTHETIC WAX, POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE, CETYL DIMETHICONE, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN.

May Contain (Depending upon color and/or finish): CI 19140/YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 75470/CARMINE, CI 77000/ALUMINUM POWDER, CI 77007/ULTRAMARINES, CI 77163/BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, CI 77288/CHROMIUM OXIDE GREENS, CI 77289/CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN, CI 77510/FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE, CI 77510/FERRIC FERROCYANIDE, CI 77742/MANGANESE VIOLET, CI 77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77947/ZINC OXIDE, MICA.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.