Much Ado About The Hourglass Modernist Infinity Eyeshadow Palette

I don’t remember if there was ever an eyeshadow palette (or any piece of makeup) that I had lusted after so much, and that had been the subject of such diverging views. But after staying up late trying to order it and failing (thanks a lot, Barney’s!), and then waiting with abated breath for it to be restocked (for a moment there it looked like this may be limited edition!), I am convinced it was all worth it. Let me introduce you to the Hourglass Modernist Infinity Eyeshadow Palette!

This Infinity palette is 1 of 7 new Modernist eyeshadow palettes from Hourglass, each offering 5 shades in different textures and finishes. The most outstanding characteristic is the gorgeous undulating wave-like pattern that the eyeshadow has been moulded into, and the 5 shades meld into each other in a stroke of pure artistry. This Infinity palette was first launched as a Barney’s-exclusive last summer, but was quickly soldout. Since then, Hourglass has released 6 more palettes, and the entire collection may be found wherever Hourglass is sold (e.g. Sephora, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, etc). Paralyzed by the sudden onslaught of 7 palettes, I eventually settled on the one that first sparked the fever – Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Infinity.

Infinity is a striking palette of warm neutrals comprising mostly of taupes and mauves. The shades are:

Swatches correspond to original placement on palette, from left to right:-

• Very pale, warm-toned ivory with a matte finish. It disappears into my skin when applied, and works almost as an “eraser” to blend out any harsh lines. It is also one of those shades that work wonderfully as a base color and to set eyeshadow primer.
• Light to medium, warm-toned dusty rose with a matte finish. This has excellent pigmentation despite being very close to natural skin color, and stays on well all day without fading or creasing.
• Medium warm-toned mauve with a metallic finish. This shade had the best pigmentation in this palette, although overall pigmentation was excellent with Infinity. I’m not usually very fond of eyeshadows with a strong sheen, but I’m very partial to such mauve shades. It also gives Infinity a nice change in finish, and may also be used patted over the center of the lid for some pop.
• Light to medium “cool taupe” that leans towards brown on me. This is not my favorite shade in this palette as it tended to sheer out, but I found that made it an ideal crease shade.
• Dark charcoal brown with a gray undertone that pulled cool on me. It is a really lovely shade with excellent pigmentation and makes a smokey eye completely effortless.

The very moment I received this palette, I put it to work, yes all 5 shades! And I was surprised to find that the shades just blend into each other so easily. I really did not have to think very hard about color placement, nor did anything clash horribly. I simply used the pale ivory shade all over as a base color, dusty rose in the inner half and dark charcoal brown on the outer half. Medium taupe on the crease finished with a pat of metallic mauve on the middle of the lid.

I was surprised to find myself loving Infinity as I am not usually one to reach for neutrals. However, the soft, smooth textures and excellent color pay-off made this one special. Too often, neutrals simply disappear on me, but I am able to work Infinity into quite a strong look without having to layer to death. The incredibly soft texture does translate into some powderiness, but may be completely avoided by using a light touch. And above all, the beautiful wave-like design had me at hello!

Of course, if you already have several neutral mauve palettes, then this is not a must-have. At USD58 for 5gm, the Hourglass Modernist Infinity Eyeshadow Palette is priced as a high-end luxury makeup. For a more balanced perspective, including several comparison swatches, please hop on over to my friend Sara’s blog.