Eye Shadow Review of Laura Mercier's Topaz + EOTD

Oh, Laura Mercier, how do I love thee? Your cheek glows are divine, your color selections impeccable, and your eye shadows? Well, one word will suffice: Perfection. 

I've recently entered the world of Laura Mercier, and I honestly can't believe I made it this far in life without becoming a fan. First there was her Bonne Mine Palette, which has given me the perfect bronzy, rosy glow for summer. Then there was Chocolate Eye Luster, followed shortly by African Violet. And now, there's Topaz, the perfect color for a natural, understated, sophisticated eye. 

Topaz is a gorgeous deep brown with topaz shimmer. It's a true neutral, leaning neither warm or cool on me. It's mid-toned, so it can be built somewhat, but remains always sophisticated and rather subtle, simply adding dimension to the eye. It's perfect for crease work if you want something understated, but can be used on the lid with a darker color in the crease (Chocolate would be lovely with this) if you want something darker, more dramatic, or smokier. 

It's a multifaceted color and looks different in each lighting situation and at each angle. 

Inside, taken with flash

Outside in natural light, taken without flash

Taken at a different angle outside, showing off the Topaz shimmer. 

Swatched outdoors in natural light

Swatched indoors with flash

I'm truly head-over-heels in love with this color. It's perfect in so many ways. It's finely-milled and feels light and creamy on application. It blends incredibly easily, making for a goof-proof eye, even at 6:00 am. It gives a polished finish to the eyes without overwhelming them...it's wonderful as a no-makeup makeup. 

Here are some shots of my eyes wearing Laura Mercier Buttercream as a base with Topaz in the crease:

I finished the look with Chanel's Automatic Eye Lining Pen and Benefit's "They're Real!" mascara. It took me only moments to complete the look, start to finish. 

For those of you who are wondering what the differences between Topaz and Chocolate are, here's a quick shot of Chocolate: 

Chocolate, taken inside with flash

As you can see, Chocolate is much darker and has a cooler, plummy base with bronze shimmer. It's also a wonderful neutral, but is deeper and more dramatic. It also takes a bit more attention to blend Chocolate since it's darker. While Topaz is perfect for a nude or natural look, Chocolate is perfect for a more dramatic or smokier eye. Both are amazing colors...you choose which look you want, then choose which color you need. 

If you've been looking for a wonderful and subdued shadow for daytime, Topaz is the one!