Introduction to LORAC Eye Shadow

Lorac has an amazing deal in their Everyday Eye Collection. I picked this up about a month ago along with two other colors not in the collection, Persuasion, and Innocence.



Pictured from left to right: Persuasion, Beige, Mesmerize, Joy, Innocence, Cappuccino, Cocoa, Suede, Kiwi, Lush, Jade

*Swatches done over NYX Concealer in a Jar

Beige, Cocoa, and Suede are Matte while the others are between a satin and pearl finish (the camera flash makes the swatches appear more frosty/ shimmery than they are in person). All of these shadows are buttery, blend effortlessly, and look beautiful on the eye. They last all day over a variety of bases (from a NYX Jumbo Pencil to Urban Decay Primer Potion). My favorite shade is Kiwi- it is a beautiful, slightly green mid-tone silver that is gorgeous all over the lid and on the lower lash line by itself. The pots that hold these 26mm, 1.7 gram filled pans in place have a twist- off lid. A de-potting method for these shadows would be the same as the MAC or Smashbox method.

This eye collection came with a calligraphy style pen liner, called Front of the Line, in the shade black. I personally prefer gel liner, and think a pen like this would be best suited for detailed eye or face makeup (for theatre/ photo shoots) as opposed to an everyday liquid liner. I also think that as an individual product, the product is way overpriced at $22.



Lastly, everything came in this very cute makeup bag!


As of today this collection is still available. I HIGHLY recommend picking it up. I have always been a fan of LORAC makeup, but never wanted to give in to an $18 shadow. Now that I have tried these, I can see myself splurging on a LORAC shadow single from time to time. Sometimes spending a little extra for luxurious application is worth it!

Tarte Eyeshadow Review/ Overview

Customized Magnetic Palettes

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Crown Brushes Review

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How to De-pot the Tarte Treasure Chest

*DISCLAIMER: THIS METHOD INVOLVES BAKING THE PLASTIC TRAYS WHICH SERVE AS THE PALETTES WITHIN THE TREASURE CHEST. BAKING THE TRAYS IS DANGEROUS, DUE TO THE RISKS OF CREATING A FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING EXPOSED TO PLASTIC FUMES THAT ARE RELEASED AS THE PLASTIC TRAYS MELT. SHOULD YOU ATTEMPT TO DE-POT YOUR TREASURE CHEST (OR ANY OTHER COSMETICS HOUSED IN PLASTIC PACKAGING) USING THIS METHOD, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE RISKS. I RECOMMEND HAVING A SMALL KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND JUST IN CASE... YOUR ROOM SHOULD BE WELL VENTILATED, AND FOR ADDED SAFETY YOU MAY WANT TO WEAR A MASK (ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IF YOU HAVE PETS, YOU ARE ALSO EXPOSING THEM TO THE FUMES). I HAVE NEVER CAUSED A FIRE WHEN USING THIS METHOD, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY DAMAGE TO MY RESPIRATORY HEALTH, BUT BELIEVE THESE ARE VALID CONCERNS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO DE-POTTING COSMETICS.*

*You will not be able to de-pot the lip glosses with this method- only the eye shadows, blushes, hilighter, and bronzer)

In Addition to the Treasure Chest, you will need:
(1) Metal sheet pan covered in aluminum foil. You will also need extra foil for additional "batches" of trays that you'll be baking.
(2) Oven mitts (Silicone Mitts are recommended as the melted plastic does not stick to them).
(3) Toaster oven or conventional Oven, pre-heated to 325 degrees fahrenheit (Make sure your oven light is on so you can see they tray as it is baking. You will remain in the kitchen the entire time the tray is baking, while watching, in order to pull it out at the right time).
(4) Metal utensil to handle the shadows when they are ready to be removed from the melted trays. I recommend using a metal nail file.
(5) A flat work surface upon which you will place the tray
(6) Trivets or a raised, heat resistant component to go underneath the sheet pan if it can not be placed directly on your work surface.
(7) Paper towels or additional aluminum foil to lay the shadows/ blushes on after they are de-potted, until they cool down.

Instructions:
(1) Remove all trays that slide out. Place the lip gloss tray to the side, as this will not be de-potted.
(2) Remove the Tarte ribbon from the tray housing the blushes, etc. by pulling on it firmly.
(3) Remove the matte eye shadow tray by ripping it from the packaging by ripping off all paper and fabric parts (this will be very easy).
(4) Remove the shimmer eye shadow trays from the packaging by ripping off all paper and fabric parts (again, this will be very easy).
(5) You should be left with your square palettes containing the blushes, etc., and the matte eye shadows, as well as two smaller rectangular trays that hold the shimmer eye shadows. Ensure that all of the paper and fabric is removed from the plastic.
(6) After the oven is pre-heated, you will place one tray at a time on the covered baking sheet, with the cosmetic product facing upwards, and place it in the oven for 2-3 minutes, give or take.
(7) Watch the plastic melt. It will begin to curl under or upwards, and you will see the cosmetic pans loosen from their holes. Pull the sheet pan out after the plastic has curled up. If the plastic starts to smoke, remove it immediately.
(8) Using your metal utensil (metal nail file recommended), carefully lift the pans from their pots. This should be effortless. Remove all pans that are easily lifted.
(9) For any pans that do not remove easily, do not force their removal. Place the sheet pan back in the oven for 30 seconds- 1 minute to re-heat the tray, then attempt to remove them on the second try.
(10) Once all pans are removed from the tray, throw away the plastic sheet along with the aluminum foil. Do this while wearing oven mitts; the tray will be hot.
(11) Repeat steps 6-10 for the remaining trays. (The rectangle trays containing the shimmer shadows will be at an awkward angle due to the L-shaped plastic trays, but this will not be an issue- they will bake normally just as the flat trays did).

Once the trays are de-potted and cooled, you can clean the backside of the pans with alcohol to remove the glue residue, and then place a magnet over the back so the pan can be placed in a magnetic palette (such as the MAC palettes, with the plastic inserts removed, or a 28- hole plastic palette, with the foam insert removed, fitted with a piece of galvanized steel on the bottom).