Colored contact lenses... any recommendations?

I’ve been using Freshlook colored contacts every now and then—they’ve always been my go-to—but lately, I’m just not feeling the shades they have available. They actually pulled my absolute favorite, "Sapphire Blue," and moved it into that category meant for subtle shifts in dark eyes... so it’s just not the same anymore. The color intensity is way too weak compared to the old "Sapphire" shade that used to be part of the full color-change line for dark eyes.
Does anyone else use a different brand and actually like them? Just for context, I have dark brown eyes, but I'm looking for a really striking, piercing blue—nothing has to be super light, just bold.
Right now, around here in Chicago, I can only really track down the Freshlook ones.
Thanks so much in advance for any tips!

where'd you hear that they discontinued Sapphire Blue? They just rebranded them, honestly. Those lenses are called True Sapphire now, and the only real change is that they added this little ring in the middle where you can actually see your eye color through it, which kind of makes brown eyes look a bit off

Exactly—so now I have the true Sapphire ones (just picked them up last Friday), but they were in that Radiance or Elegance group, I think—meant for more natural looks—and they have this black ring around the colored part. They used to be "Sapphire Blue" and were part of the Colors line for making dark eyes pop. Trust me, I still keep some of the old ones in my contact lens case—who knows how long it's been—and the difference is night and day when I compare an old one to a new one in my eye. The old ones just had so much more depth. I'm not sure what kind of "Blue" they have in that radical change group for dark eyes, though. Does anyone know if other brands make colored lenses too?

Plus, older lens designs—honestly, any better lenses—need to have that clear ring. It’s because light hits the eye through the pupil, and without that transparent part to let the light pass through properly, you just wouldn't get a clear image.

jadeseal17 said:Plus, older lens designs—honestly, any better lenses—need to have that clear ring. It’s because light hits the eye through the pupil, and without that transparent part to let the light pass through properly, you just wouldn't get a clear image.

😂 😂 😂

I think you're missing my point a little bit

those old Sapphire Blue lenses used to make your eyes look completely blue, plain and simple🙂 but when you pop in these newer Sapphire Blue ones, your eye ends up looking blue with this brownish ring—or, if your actual eyes are green, they end up looking blue with a greenish ring. See what I mean now? That's the specific difference I'm talking about.
plus, they've got that ugly yellow tint that wasn't there on the old versions. I actually just picked up some of the old Sapphire Blue ones recently, and here in the States, you can still find both the old style and the new Sapphire Blue models at basically any local eye doctor or optical shop.

I definitely didn't follow you at first🙂 ,but I get what you mean now. It’s just like how back in the day, that specific shade of eye color was a deep, true blue—this new version just doesn't hit the same. People kept telling me they stopped making the old Sapphire Blue entirely; they aren't even in the catalogs anymore (I've been to several eye doctors and checked through the Freshlook lines, but nothing). It seems like they might still exist somewhere, maybe they're just phasing them out so they don't print them anymore, even if there's still stock lying around. In that group for total dark-eye transformations, there's only a basic "Blue" listed—I have no idea how that actually looks, though maybe it's actually Sapphire. Honestly, I feel a bit ripped off because I was sold something that wasn't what I asked for, even though I double-checked at every shop and everyone just shrugged and said, "Oh, it's basically the same thing."😕
Next time, I'm going to look much closer and demand the original ones.
By the way, do you know any other colored contact lens brands? Maybe someone else has a better variety of shades.

http://www.tolentinoopticas.com/freshlook.jpg

So, this is what my old Sapphire lenses look like

And here’s how the new Sapphire ones look

http://www.thecontactlensesstore.com...lourBlends.jpg

Around here in the States, you mostly just see Freshlook colored lenses everywhere, probably just because they're the budget-friendly option. You might have better luck finding some other brands if you check out some bigger retailers in places like Chicago or NYC. Anyway, how much did you end up shelling out for yours?

I paid about $20 for them when I was in Italy, but here in Chicago, they go for anywhere from $30 to $35. That’s my usual monthly rate—I always buy them in those amounts. So, basically, they're about $10 more expensive here than they were in Italy, even though it's the exact same brand and lenses.

I'm thinking about grabbing those Blue ones from the series meant for making dark eyes pop—not the elegance set with the ring, but the colors line.
I just wonder how they actually look in person when you have darker eyes.

Wait, don't they usually have trial lenses available at the eye doctor where you get your glasses?

Does anyone know a good spot in Washington, D.C. where I can pick up some colored contact lenses? Also, what's the drill—do I need an eye exam first?

There's an optical shop right in the mall corridor. You don't even need an eye exam—just show up with your prescription and you're good to go. Oh, and $67 they have monthly contacts
.

If anyone’s looking to snag a deal on two pairs of brand new Johnson & Johnson Acuvue 2 color lenses—sapphire blue (O-SPH), power: -2.00, dia: 14.00—hit me up. They’re top-tier lenses, honestly, I just picked a color that was way too bold for me.