(Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights)
Chanel’s Quadra Eye Shadow in Stage Lights is perhaps the softest (in terms of color) and the sheerest lilac eye palette that I’ve had so far.
– Top left: white with substantial pearly shimmer
– Top right: pale lilac with soft shimmer
– Bottom left: medium lilac with soft shimmer
– Bottom right: a very pale pink with substantial pearly shimmer
Stage Lights is part of Chanel’s spring 2006 collection. While I distinctively remember liking the look of this, I had no intention of buying it at the time. My minty-green-and-turquoise phase was just about to start back then, and I picked up the Irréelle Duo in River-Light later that year.
My lilac phase started later that year and this palette was under the radar several months ago. After testing the shades many times recently and seeing the colors under different lighting conditions, I decided to have it.
The colors go on lighter than they appear in the container. Initially this was one of my reasons against buying it, but then I thought the soft and gentle finishes are great for a barely-there veil of lilac for the eyes. Also, I like the fact that the two lilacs and the pink are on the cool side and that they look more flattering on me than warmer ones.
Compared with many other eyeshadows from Japanese cosmetics brands, the texture of Chanel’s baked eyeshadows can be a little dry and the pigmentation level would disappoint many people. (The Irréelle range seems to fare better on these.) While a smoother texture would be more ideal, I don’t do a lot of layering for a daytime look so the sheerness is not a negative attribute. Obviously this palette can be worn wet for added intensity, but I simply reach for my other lilac palettes for that.
from Chanel’s spring 2008 collection)
(image from www.chanel.com)
When I finally got to try 4 Fleurs de Chanel, things I heard were confirmed. They are essentially white eyeshadows with various undertones (blue, lilac, and pink). While I do think the texture is very smooth and that the shimmer is quite intense but still sophisticated, I have no intention to buy it. I am still very happy with my Stage Lights.
Although, among all my lilac eye palettes, it does not rank as highly as my Coffret D’Or or Lunasol, the fact that the tones of the two lilacs are also spot-on for my skin-tone is enough for me to go back to it from time to time.
[A reader kindly reminded me that I didn’t actually describe my skin-tone in the last paragraph of my review. I have a medium-to-light skin-tone, with a pink undertone. The foundation I have been using in the past few years is ZA Two-Way Foundation in 22. It has a slight yellow undertone and I use it to neutralize my pink undertone. With foundation on, I would still describe my facial skin-tone as having a very slight touch of pink undertone.]
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Spring 2008 Makeup Trend Report
(not just about lilac…)
Jill Stuart Brilliance Eyes in Gem Amethyst
(diamond-dust shine)
Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes
(discontinued but not forgotten)
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
You usually give very great reviews of the palettes but I’m not sure about this one still. I’m not trying to say that your review is bad, it can never be bad!!! It’s just that you were commenting on the sheerness of the product and how the cooler lilacs suit your skin tone better and the problem is, I have no idea what’s ur skin tone.I’m a NW20 so I’m not sure if this palette will suit me… any advice?
Hi Cosine,
Thank you for stopping by my blog again!
I apologize for the lack of description of my skin-tone in my review. (I will be adding a brief note after the last paragraph.)
I have not been using MAC foundations for about 8 years so I am afraid at the moment I don’t remember which MAC foundation shade corresponds to my skin-tone the best.
I have been using ZA’s Two-Way Foundation and the shade for me is 22.
My skin-tone is medium-to-light, and ZA’s 22 is one of the lighter shades in the yellow-undertone category. (There are several other shades in the pink-undertone category.) The yellow undertone in this shade helps neutralize the pink undertone on my face. (But, even with the foundation on, I would still describe my facial skin as having a very slight pink undertone.)
What I have found is that cool (blueish) lilacs suit me better than warm (plum-ish) lilacs, which can have too much red and can overly accentuate my pink undertone. (Plus, they tend to turn a little grey-ish after a few hours.)
Overall, this is by no means my favorite lilac eye palette, but I attempted to point out both the good and the bad in terms of my observations and personal preferences.
I was just looking at NW20 on the MAC website. Obviously I don’t expect the swatch to be totally accurate, but it appears that you have a light or medium-to-light complexion. I’d think the palette would suit you if you are fine with sheer finishes. I think the two lilacs should show up on your face even though they are quite sheer. If you had an olive complexion, the colors might not show up (unless perhaps you wore them wet).
I remember that there are some FOTD photos using this palette on Makeup Alley (with “Stage Lights” as the search keywords). It might be worth looking for them if you are interested.
Thank you for pointing out the lack of clarity in my review. I really appreciate that.
Hope to hear from you again! :)
This palette is beautiful but unfortunately wouldn’t work well on my skin tone :(
Hello PJ.. :) Just drop by to say hi.. been busy these few weeks especially during CNY..:P Miss few of your reviews.. time to catch up!
Oh god… ur thoughtfulness is leaving me speechless! Thank u for remembering me and on top of that, you actually went through the trouble of checking my skin tone on the website! YOU ARE SO SWEET!!! Thank u thank u thank u so much! I had a pretty rough patch from work recently that made me decide to resign and reading ur blog keeps my mind off those unhappy stuff and helps me to move on… thank u so much! Muackz!
hey pj hey cosine ;)
I think the palette is actually suitable for any skin type. I always find that chanel eye quads always compliment any skin type even darker shades!
The newest quad is a prime of example of how even lighter shades can be used to create subtle or really beautiful bold looks! For those girls that have a darker shade of the skin this particularly palette is awesome as it’ll create a beautiful pale shimmer with touches of pinks, blues, purples, etc…!
Anyway ;)
babbling over hehe
Hi BeautyTalk,
I see. If you happen to be looking for a darker purple palette from Chanel, then perhaps Vanités might suit you better.
Thank you for leaving your comment again! :)
Hi Iry,
Great to hear from you again! Hope you will enjoy reading some of my recent reviews.
I follow your new posts regularly…I am a proud subscriber of your blog! :)
Thank you for stopping by again! :)
Hi Cosine,
You are very welcome! It is my pleasure.
I am sorry to hear that you were going through a rough patch. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. But I am sure things will get better for you!
I am glad that you find my blog to be worth your time. You constantly take your time to leave a comment and anyone that has a blog would love to have a reader like you! :)
If there is anything you would like me to write about on my blog, please do let me know. I am not a beauty expert at all and I don’t know everything, but I will try my best.
Thank you again for stopping by, and I hope things will look up for you very soon! :)
Hi The Muse,
Thank you for your input! I hope Cosine will read this as well.
The new quad is indeed suitable for all skin-tones. Even though the colors are very light, the pigments are intense enough and they should show up on most people.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts again! :)
I’m very lukewarm about the Feeries palette! I don’t think it suits warm skintones at all (I am NC30 yellow undertones), it is definitely for a subtle delicate look against fair pink skins.. You would have probably been equally disappointed if you got it!!
Yin
Hi YM,
I’d think the palette will suit me, based on my observation that most pastel pink, lilac, and blue shades would suit me well. My main issue with this palette is that all the colors go on a little bit too similarly on me. So I can’t imagine getting this palette for myself.
I was reading your review of 4 Fleurs de Chanel earlier. The texture and the finish of the baked ones (Quadra Eye Shadow) and the Irréelle eyeshadows (singles and duos) are quite different. So perhaps you can still find something that suits you.
Thank you for your comment again! :)
Hi PJ
I would like to ask whether this purple quad turns out purple on your lids??
FOr some reason, my experience with purple quads from chanel – vanities n stage lights – both dont look purple on me…even when i use a base. I only get a reddish shade (for stage lights) and greyish (for vanities).
nutty
Hi Nutty,
Thank you for your question.
The two purple shades (the top-right and bottom-left ones) do turn out as purples on my lids. My only sight issue with this palette is that the colors are very sheer and it takes quite a lot of building up.
Very often, the same color can look different on different people, which might explain why Stage Lights looks more reddish on you…
(By the way, I think there are some FOTDs with this palette on Makeup Alley, if you haven’t come across them.)
Thank you for stopping by again! :)
hi this is my first time on your blog and i came across it when i typed in chanel. i read quite alot of it almost all of it and relise you spend alot of your time writing about what you think about the product, so that you can help others decide if the colours suit them or not. i to am going through a lilac phase i have painted my room lilac and i have a lilac chair,ect. i bought a lilac roll on eye shadow and soon relised it did not suit me do you have any ideas how i could wear it so it suited me the eye shadow and my skin coulour Laura Paige Rolling Shimmer Eye Shadow – Lilac Shine, 6w1 rich ginger 13 estee lauder.
ps. i think your blogg is great thank you
Hi Ramya,
Thank you very much for reading my blog and posting your comment!
I am also still in my lilac phase (your room sounds lovely!), as I am still looking out for nice lilac shades. I think, for you, I would recommend darker purple shades, since I think most lilac shades I use would not show up on your face. I would also recommend warmer purples (like plum purples), which should suit your complexion better.
I think some dark purple shades by MAC might suit you. Do have a look when you have a chance to. :)
Hope it helps, and thank you again for stopping by my blog and for your kind words! :)