To see how makeup trends have shifted over the years, look at the eyes. In part, mask -wearing during the pandemic ushered in an era of emphasis on the eyes, but it also reflects a new norm: Makeup is less about trying to achieve perfection and more focused on expressing one’s creativity. This is the exact ethos behind Hermès Beauty’s latest makeup launch. The collection, aptly named Le Regard, features six colorful eyeshadow compacts, a range of mascaras, and sleek brushes. For Gregoris Pyrpylis, makeup artist and creative director for Hermès Beauty, the goal was “to create a new language, a new means of expressing emotions through this makeup collection for the eyes.”
Courtesy of Ama Kwarteng
Courtesy of Ama Kwarteng
There are six refillable Ombres d'Hermès eyeshadow quartets with two round and two square shadows. Designed by Pierre Hardy, this quartet of eyeshadows plays with geometric shapes and echoes the Bauhaus movement. The shades are designed to either be worn alone for a soft wash of color or layered to achieve maximum effect. Each quartet has a trio of finishes—matte, satin, and shimmer.
There are six Trait d'Hermès mascaras in an array of colors inspired by classic Hermès shades, including Vert Titien, a deep green, and Rouge H, a mix of cherry brown and burgundy. The hues are subtle and understated yet still add a significant touch. It’s the makeup version of an extra spritz of perfume. Inside the Pierre Hardy-designed tube, you’ll find millet seed extract, shea butter, and moringa butter. Together, these ingredients weightlessly condition the lashes while adding a soft and flexible feel.
My Experience
I tried out the Ombres Fumées eyeshadow quartet, which features four shades: a rose beige, deep black, shimmering brown, and metallic silver. I decided to play around with all the shades, so after I primed my eye area, I went in with the rose beige shade and applied it as a base. Then, I swiped the shimmery brown color directly onto my lid and applied the black shade along my lash line, like an eyeliner. Finally, I tapped the metallic silver color onto the center of my lid.
The eye shadow is highly pigmented yet buildable, allowing light washes or heavy layers of application. The shadows also seemed to set into the skin rather than just sitting on top of it. Hours later, the color remained in place on my lid, not in my crease.
I first noticed the thin brush on the mascara. The small brush is intricate, like a comb, and it was great at separating and lengthening even the smallest of lashes, resulting in soft, fluttery, doe-like lashes. I absolutely love blue mascara, so I immediately opted to test the shade Bleu Encre on my lashes. You can slightly build up the color by swiping on additional coats of mascara. The color is soft, which is ideal if you’re new to the world of colored mascara. Overall, this brush covered all my mascara needs: lengthening, volumizing, and defining in just a few swipes.