I have another drugstore review for you today, and this time we’ll be testing L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Mono singles ($5.99 each). L’Oreal describes these singles as the ‘ultimate soft gel-to-powder formulas that give intense true color pay off’. As not everyone owns a set of makeup brushes, L’Oreal made these eye shadows easy to apply using nothing but your fingertips, which could be useful in a pinch.
The best way to evaluate makeup is to use it, so I decided to give my new Colour Riche Eyeshadow Monos a proper wear test. I normally use three colors in my everyday looks, so I chose 302 Mix and Matte, 304 Matte It Up, and 306 Acro-Matte. I like these warm-toned shades because they complement my complexion the best, but there are cool-toned options available to choose from as well if that’s your preference. L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Mono singles come in 20 vibrant shades, and finishes vary from matte to shimmer.
I am partial to mattes, so for this makeup look I used 304 Matte It Up in the crease and along the bottom lash line, 306 Acro-Matte in the outer half of the lid, and 302 Mix and Matte for the inner half of the lid. It took only a few strokes to smooth out the transitional edges, because the formula is quite very easy to blend. The texture was definitely silky and velvety, so L’Oreal delivered on their promise here.
It is actually possible to blend these into nothing if you are used to eye shadows that cling to the skin. Using my fingers or applying over a primer yielded a more intense color payoff, while using brushes created a softer, more diffused look [as shown below], so you will have some options here with the same product.
Products used: L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Mono 302 Mix and Matte (inner half), 304 Matte It Up (crease and bottom lash line), and 306 Acro-Matte (outer half); L’Oreal Brow Stylist Boost & Set Brow Mascara in Blonde; L’Oreal Voluminous X Fiber Mascara; L’Oreal Infallible Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Grey.
On the lids Mix and Matte and Matte It Up show up true to color, but Acro-Matte always leans a little pinkish. I mean, it does have reddish tones if you look at the swatch more closely, but that rusty hue becomes even more apparent when you see all of the shades side by side in a makeup look. I like the way it all came together, but that’s something to consider if you are not a fan of pinks in your makeup.
You will LOVE these if:
- You love warm-toned mattes.
- You like to use fingers to apply eyeshadow.
- You are on a budget.
- You like buying single pans vs palettes.
You will HATE these if:
- You prefer shimmery eyeshadows.
- You prefer palettes.
- You only buy from cruelty-free companies.
- You prefer 100% natural products.
- You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
Ingredients: C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Talc, Phenyl Trimethicone, Perlite, Hydrogenated Styrene / Butadiene Copolymer, Alumina, Caprylyl Glycol, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tris-BHT Mesitylene. May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 77510 / Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, CI 75470 / Carmine, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 42090 / Blue 1 Lake, CI 77510 / Ferric Ferrocyanide, CI 77742 / Manganese Violet.
BOTTOM LINE:
I can’t speak for the whole range because it’s not uncommon for the formula to slightly vary from shade to shade, but these three in particular have performed well throughout the day. On my primed eye the color stayed intact until the evening, but on my no-primer eye I noticed some minor creasing around late afternoon. The creasing I experienced wasn’t too bad or too obvious, but I definitely recommend using a primer if you have oily eyelids or spend a big chunk of time in a humid environment.
Although I liked how the formula felt overall, you still won’t get the same texture and pigmentation as top of the line mattes from Viseart [their incredible mattes are my bar for grading other brands]. But as a budget-friendly option, L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Mono singles are fantastic and offer a good value for the money. I actually think these might be the best drugstore matte eye shadows, or at the very least they are a lot better than other brands I tried.
Have you tried L’Oreal Colour Riche Eyeshadow Mono singles? Do you prefer matte or shimmery colors? Let me know in the comments below!
