The Emerald Eye

It’s the New Year. Resolutions abound. But whilst the rest of the world is busy vowing to eat less, drink less, and generally curb excess, I demand more opulence, more decadence and more glamour, at least in the profound realm of eye makeup. So this week it’s all about that most sumptuous and elusive of ideals – emerald green eyes.

Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Eye Gel in Roadie - £11.50
 
Urban Decay’s decadently vibrant eye gel is spectacularly glittery. Unlike the insipid glitter gels of our 90’s childhood which equated to little more than liquefied prit-stick waved at something shiny, this product is dense with vivid emerald glitter. A generous helping of gold glitter is embedded in Roadie’s headlining green, which only multiplies the intensity of the final effect.

When it comes to applying the stuff, fingers are as effective as pork sausages, so a good-quality brush and an awful lot of patience are a necessity; be prepared to walk around eyes-shut for at least ten minutes while the gel dries. Once set, it is wonderfully durable – dance floor sweat is no match for Roadie’s staying power, as long as you resist the temptation to touch it.

Final answer: 9/10 The only letdown is the drying time; sitting with your eyes shut and eyelids stretched out is hardly conducive to raving. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful product which embodies the old-fashioned kind of decadent glamour captured by Liza Minelli in Cabaret.

Mac’s Eye Shadow in Humid - £10
 

Humid is a smooth-textured, highly-pigmented shadow with versatile potential. Sumptuously rich in the pot, but a little less so on the lids, this product may take a few layers if you’re brave enough to venture a full-on application. It’s a stunning colour, but one which can make some complexions look garishly unwell. When used as a liner, the result is dense and opulent, and more flattering than an all-over application for reddish skin tones.

However, the point of an emerald eye shadow is vibrancy, so for the price I’d expect greater durability. When the top layer wears off the result is merely a matte mossy tone.

Verdict: 7/10 A truly sumptuous and decadent shade with an easy-to-apply texture, but for £10 I’d expect a little more staying power.

Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Celadon 60 - £15

Unfortunately, Chanel’s waterproof crayon eyeliner has the longevity of Keith Richards but none of the glamour. Unlike the black version of this product, Celadon is reluctant to leave the stick, and is thus not only difficult to apply but lamentably dull. Applying a generous quantity of shadow or loose powder beforehand makes the task little easier, but the result is very subtle indeed.

The last judgement: 4/10 The most long-wearing of all three, but the colour is painfully boring. The black version, however, is thick, rich, easy to use and just as durable.