This formula is supposed to be pigmented, wear for 10 hours, and can be used wet or dry. The color payoff is good but a little under-pigmented whether I used it wet or dry. It has a soft, thin texture (almost like a drier matte formulation), so I think it actually applies more smoothly and evenly when applied dry than wet. I wore it yesterday (along with a few other shades from the range), and it lasted a nine hours without creasing or fading; after a full ten hours, it was a touch faded around the edges (no primer). I did, however, experience some sparkle fall out. The texture was soft enough to be blendable on the eye but not powdery.
I don’t remember the original formula of Sephora’s Mono Eyeshadows (I’m not sure that I ever tried it), so I can’t speak on how the reformulation compares to the original formula. It was previously priced at $12 and also contained 0.07 oz. The packaging is also a bit different–ever so slightly–as there is a small indent in the outer rim of the interior of the compact, which allows for Sephora’s palette “key” to be inserted to lift out the pan of eyeshadow. This allows you to pop it into a 3-pan or 6-pan palette (or, if you like, whatever magnetized palette system you’re using). The key is included in every empty palette.
The price point seems a little high, though it’s in line with the formula it’s replacing. Sephora’s in-house brand has mostly mid-point prices ($22 face powder, $14 jumbo eyeshadow pencils, $14 blush, etc.), so I still think it would be an easier product to say yes to at $10 or so. I do really like how they worked the palette system into this, as it is really easy to lift the pans out of the individual pots as well as the palettes. Make Up For Ever has a similar, but less intuitive, system, where you can pop the magnetized pans out by inserting a needle through the bottom of the individual pot.
P.S. — I have many more to review (as well as photograph/test), and this is one of the lesser shades from what I’ve tested so far.
Though it didn't last a full 10 hours, I was still rather impressed with how well it did wear. If only this shade didn't also suffer from fall out, it would be worth considering.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
8.5/10
Longevity
8/10
Application
4.5/5
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Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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There were actually a lot of fantastic palettes released this year! I already pulled up twenty that to consider for the top ten, and I had only reached August (I go backwards). So here are my picks–and I tried to include a variety of brands that were all excellent, but full disclosure: could have easily included more bareMinerals, Guerlain, and another Tom Ford (Enchanted).
SephoraVIBs will receive 20% off their purchases with code CELEBRATE, valid 11/8 through 11/12. There is an in-store event as well as the discount is valid (again, for VIBs only) in-store if you have the email and/or mailed invitation. I just received the VIB email this afternoon, but I haven’t spotted anything in the mail yet. I haven’t received any word about upcoming sales or promotions that will be extended to BIs at this time.
* 20% off promotion valid for Sephora VIBs on November 8-12, 2012. VIB friend offer is only valid on a single purchase transaction at the exclusive VIB shopping event on November 8, 2012, and is limited to one friend per VIB. To redeem online: Use promo code CELEBRATE when prompted at checkout. To redeem in stores: Present this voucher at the register. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates or gift cards. Valid in Sephora stores, Sephora.com, and in Sephora inside jcp stores (not available with online orders shipping to Canada). May not be combined with any other offers or employee discounts. May not be sold or otherwise transferred. Coupon has no cash value and may not be altered. Sephora reserves the right to end or change this promotion at any time. Not valid for Sephora employees. Learn more about the VIB program at any Sephora store or online at Sephora.com/go/VIB.
** Free Sephora limited-edition tote (11.75″x9.5″x4.75″) offer available starting Thursday, November 8, 2012 in stores or online with merchandise purchase – no promotion code needed online. Valid while supplies last. Must be a VIB to redeem. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates or gift cards. May not be combined with any other offers or employee discounts. Coupon has no cash value and may not be altered. These offers are subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.
Cinderella Midnight Hour Eyeshadow Palette ($30.00 for 0.196 oz.) consists of four eyeshadows and is part of a limited edition collaboration collection between Sephora and Disney. The shades are described as “pearl shimmer,” “champagne nude,” “grey pearl,” and “charcoal shimmer glitter.”
The first shade is a bright white with a very subtle gray tinge. It has a high-frost finish that’s almost metallic. The texture was soft, buttery, and yielded good color payoff. Maybelline Too Cool is very similar. theBalm Sassy is also close. MAC Forgery is a bit grayer. Inglot #453 is more metallic.
The last shade is a dark gray that turns rather brown when I swatched it. It was dry, a bit stiff, and had the least color payoff of the four–a little sheer and uneven. MAC Moody is darker. Urban Decay Black Market is much darker.
I like the palette, and certainly, it performed better than I anticipated (but I was, admittedly, rather cynical when I approached this collection), but it didn’t knock it out of the park like the larger eyeshadow palette did. This set of shades is interesting, and I will say that the warmer beige/peach shade is an odd choice. I didn’t feel like it complemented the other three cooler-toned shades. Perhaps it could have used a silvery-blue or really inky black. When I wore the shades, they lasted almost eight hours over a primer, and without a primer, there was noticeable fading after eight hours.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Sephora has confirmed there is no public Friends and Family sale this year. Sephora has confirmed to expect exciting offers/promotions to-be-announced for the holiday season. They made this decision so they could focus on special offers/promotions for BIs (Beauty Insiders) and VIBs (Very Important Beauty Insiders). These are all the official details I have at this time–we’ll be sure to share details as soon as we do know!
The present Friends & Family sale is limited to literal friends and family of Sephora employees and require an associate to send you a special one-time use coupon.
Update: The following response was given to a Facebook user by Sephora (on Sephora’s Facebook page here and here): “We will be having a VIB 20% off sale. Keep an eye out on your email!”
This is part two of the review for theCinderella Storylook Eyeshadow Palette ($55.00 for 0.70 oz.), which focuses on the next ten eyeshadows in the palette. To read a review of the palette overall as well as the wear, read part one.
Gus Gus is described as a “gold shimmer.” It’s a bright sunshine yellow with a golden shimmer and sheen–the finish is fairly frosted. The color payoff was excellent, and the texture was smooth and soft. OCC Triptych is darker. Urban Decay Honey is darker, more molten. Bare Escentuals Remix is not as yellow. MAC Goldmine is a smidgen more orange.
Charming is described as a “nude pearl.” It’s a warm champagne with a hint of yellow and a frosted, metallic finish. The pigmentation was right-on, and this shade was soft and smooth. Make Up For Ever #101 is not quite as warm. MAC Nylon is similar. MAC Femme-fi is a little less frosted. Tarina Tarantino Fantastical is similar but less metallic.
Chateau is described as a “brown shimmer.” It’s a medium-dark red-toned brown with a frosted sheen. The payoff was excellent and true-to-pan, while the texture was smooth and finely-milled. NARS Flowers 3 is more matte. Urban Decay Stray Dog is less warm. Illamasqua Focus is similar. Benefit Dandy Brandy is similar, not quiet as red-toned. Urban Decay YDK is very close.
Cinders is described as a “black with gold glitter.” This is a dark brown-toned black with gold sparkle. The finish is satiny. When I tested this on the eye, it was incredibly pigmented–a light hand is recommended! Bobbi Brown Black Gold is similar. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy is similar but has more coppered shimmer. MAC Legendary Black is softer. Milani Melange has more gold shimmer.
A Wish is described as a “cream pearl.” It is a soft beige with a satiny finish. The color is true-to-pan and applied smoothly. Urban Decay Anonymous is warmer. theBalm Adagio is similar but matte. MAC Brule is also similar but matte. Urban Decay Kinky is very similar, but it does have a matte finish.
Rococo is described as a “plum with multi-glitter.” It is a plummy burgundy with a satiny sheen. While I saw sparkle in the pan, it did not seem to translate to the swatch or the eye. The color was nicely pigmented, and it wasn’t powdery. Chanel Ebloui is more shimmery. Bare Escentuals Kismet is browner. Bare Escentuals Most Requested is less plum. theBalm Moderato is more matte. theBalm Sexy is darker.
Well worth the price of admission, Sephora's collaboration with Disney for a Cinderella-inspired collection has been done well and without gimmicks, which makes it all the more impressive.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
4.5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
