Private Shadow in Purple Reign (Vinyl)

2 Reviews

1. 

   giddyBass6

   Reply

   I was a long time user of NARS eyeshadows, particularly their nude/bronze/gold shades, but fell for TF’s Body Double and Warm Leatherette, and then followed up with Blue Velvet, Black Onyx, Silver Screen and Purple Reign. Purple Reign, Blue Velvet, Body Double and Warm Leatherette are “Vinyl” finish shadows, and have dense, rich pigment which applies easily and smoothly. I didn’t quite have the same issues with Purple Reign as the earlier reviewer; the only preparation for my eyes was primer (Chanel Base Lumiere) and foundation (Chanel Le Teinte Ultra Tenue), and it applied smoothly and richly, though perhaps not to the same degree as the lighter colours.

   I love the packaging – high quality case with gold clasp. It is small and fits into a small purse, but you don’t get much of it. For this reason I’ve been using the TF shadows for special occasions, and use my NARS shadows in my day-to-day routine.

2. 

   trustingBagels8

   Reply

   I bought Purple Reign partly because I love violet shadows and partly because I loved the name. (I grew up listening to Prince music.) Tom Ford’s Private Shadow singles come in several different finishes: Ultrasuede (matte), Suede (demi-matte), Sateen (soft shimmer), Vinyl (high shimmer), and Pailette (glitter top coat). They vary greatly in texture, and I’ve also noticed that some are more pigmented than others.

   This particular Vinyl shadow looks vibrant in the pan, but not as shimmery as I expected. To get the color payoff I wanted, I had to use MAC Prep + Prime Eye Base as a primer. It’s a nice blue-based purple that is a little darker than it looks in the pan. I first tried it as a lid color and then realized it would look better in my crease. I ended up combining it with two shadows from the Too Faced I Want Kandee eye palette – I used the glittery icy lavender Sugar Plum on the lid, Ice Cream (somewhat similar to MAC Phloof!) as my highlight, and Tom Ford’s Purple Reign in the crease, lower and upper lashlines, and outer V.

   While I like Purple Reign, it wasn’t my favorite of the Private Shadows I tried. I felt that the pigmentation was better in some of the others such as Agenda Rouge, Loveshade, Body Double, Warm Leatherette, Videotape, and the warm Ultrasuedes Blonde Venus, Starlet, and Dark Victory. In building up Purple Reign I experienced some fallout. I did not have that issue with the Ultrasuedes, but had minor fallout with Videotape, a Suede.

   The Private Shadows are smaller than the pans in Tom Ford’s quads. His standard pan size has been 0.35 oz. and these little buggers are only 0.04 oz. The packaging is great – sturdy plastic that fastens securely with a satisfying click. However, there is no window in the lid; they give you a tiny mirror instead. To see the color you have to open the case or turn it over to read the label to identify it. This is only a problem if you collect several.

   Purple Reign is a nice shadow but not difficult to dupe. The color Jammin’ in the Too Faced Peanut Butter palette is similar. At $36 a pop, Private Shadows are not cheap. This is not a shade I would repurchase, but it blends out easily and lasts well over primer.