Thursday, November 29th, 2012

Tarte Carried Away Collection
Tarte Carried Away Collection

Get Carried Away with This Kit

Tarte Carried Away Collection ($54.00) is a Sephora-exclusive set that contains one blush (0.05 oz.), one finishing powder (0.07 oz.), one mascara (0.16 oz.), one face brush, eight lipglosses (0.059), and twenty-four eyeshadows (0.06 oz.). It is all housed in a soft case. The eyeshadow palette is cleverly tucked away inside of the case, behind the mirror. It’s currently out of stock online, though it can be found in-stores.

Face Products

  • Adventurous (Amazonian Clay Blush) is a warm-toned, muted, reddish-brown with a rosy iridescent sheen. It had good color payoff, and it was soft and smooth applied. This shade wore for seven hours on me. NARS G-Spot is redder. MAC Stratus is more intense and a bit redder. Tom Ford Savage is a touch darker. MAC Buddy Up is similar.
  • Finishing Powder is very finely-milled and soft. I did not test the wear of this item.
  • Face Brush is fairly soft, dense, and blended out the Adventurous blush well.
  • Lights, Camera, Lashes! (Mascara) didn’t flake or smudge on me when I’ve worn it in the recent past.

Lipglosses

The eight glosses included in the set were sheer to semi-sheer, thin, and wore for an average of two hours. Several of the shades looked very alike when applied.

  • Heath is a sheer orange-red with gold shimmer. Chantecaille Glaze is similar–a bit brighter.
  • Casey is a sheer, neutral-warm light pink. It just looks clear on me–any sheer, shimmer-free gloss with a pink-tinted base will work in its place.
  • Mel is a sheer, cool-toned pink with no shimmer. MAC Infinitely Likeable is creamier, more opaque. MAC Pagoda is a touch bluer-based, lighter.
  • Anne is a sheer raspberry pink with no shimmer. Bobbi Brown Cosmic Pink is comparable on.
  • Jena is a sheer red-pink with no shimmer. This gives lips a slight reddish tint. MAC Fabulous Fun is a touch brighter and has shimmer.
  • Mer is a light-medium pink with yellow undertones and gold sparkle. Tarte Darling is similar; smaller shimmer. MAC Floating Lotus is pinker.
  • Ali is a darkened fuchsia-pink with light pink shimmer. MAC Dress Kimono is redder.
  • Nuria is a brightened pinky-red with no shimmer. MAC Dress Kimono is closer in color to this shade but has sparkle. Le Metier de Beaute Hibiskiss is similar, has slight shimmer. Burberry Hibiscus is darker.

Eyeshadows

Snowfall in Paris is a shimmering white with a subtle warm undertone. It has a frosted finish and so-so color payoff–there’s noticeable sheerness. Tarte Shooting Star is less shimmery. MAC How to Marry is whiter. Dior Night Golds is very similar. Too Faced Vanilla is more matte.

Golden Gate Bridge is a soft, darkened gold with a frosted, metallic finish and orange-brown tones. It had good pigmentation and was soft and smooth. Dior Night Golds is a bit darker. Tarte Canary Diamond is less frosted, more metallic. L’Oreal Eternal Sunshine is yellower.

Volcanic Ash is a dark, smoldering brown with a cool undertone and dark champagne shimmer. It had good pigmentation, and the texture was a little dry. bareMinerals VIP is incredibly similar. Too Faced Licorice is more matte. Cinderella Cinders is also similar.

Pyramid Gold is a light-medium bronze with a champagne metallic sheen. It had nice color payoff with a soft, smooth texture. MAC Silk Stocking is very similar. Chanel Harmonie du Soir is darker. Urban Decay Echo Beach is less warm-toned. Dior Fairy Golds is sparkly.

Pearl River is a pale pink-tinged white with a frosted, metallic finish. It is slightly sheer but goes on smoothly. Tarte Macaroon is more frosted in finish. MAC Winterscape is a bit cooler-toned.

Seychelles Sand is a medium taupe with a strong gray tone. It has a matte finish, and it was actually a little less pigmented than anticipated though not powdery. Tarte Sailboat is lighter. Bobbi Brown Slate is darker. Bobbi Brown China is warmer.

Touchdown in Londontown is a vibrant violet purple with cool undertones and a fuchsia-pink edge. It has a pearly sheen. The color payoff was good, but it was a little powdery. Make Up For Ever #26 is similar but a cream product. Clarins Enchanted is similar. Tarina Tarantino Violet Storm is less pink. Inglot #441 is purpler.

Martha’s Vineyard is a deep, blackened purple with red undertones and a matte finish. This shade was a bit dry, and so it ended up sheer, too. MAC Indian Ink is purpler. MAC Shadowy Lady is similar. Tarte Pumped About Purple is shimmery.

Pebble Beach is a warm, peachy beige with a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff and was smooth to the touch. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is very similar. Cinderella Midnight Hour is a smidgen darker.

Boston Brick is a darkened taupe with a hint of warmth and a matte finish. It had good color payoff and wasn’t powdery. Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige is lighter. Estee Lauder Tempting Mocha is grayer.

Spanish Sangria is a gold-shimmered plum with soft pink-red tones. It had so-so color payoff–a bit sheer. Tarte Ice Wine is similar but more muted.

Napa Grapes is a darkened eggplant purple with a matte finish. It had decent color payoff but was powdery. OCC Overlook is shimmery. MAC Fig. 1 is comparable. bareMinerals Nightcap is also comparable. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is a touch lighter.

Georgia Peach is a soft peach beige with a matte finish. It had good color payoff, and it wasn’t powdery. MAC Sahara Dust is pearly. Urban Decay Skimp is lighter. Inglot #390 is grayer.

Tuscan Sun is a coppered orange with a metallic sheen. It had excellent pigmentation and was incredibly smooth and easy to work with. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is a touch darker. Urban Decay Penny Lane is softer. Tarte Cabana is less metallic.

Acai Jungle is a medium-dark red-toned bronze brown with a softened metallic sheen. It had great color payoff and was soft and smooth to use. MAC Ever Elegant is more orange. Cinderella Chateau is slightly subdued in comparison.

Coral Reef is a pink-ish orange with gold shimmer-sheen. It’s one of the more interesting shades in the set–there’s something about it that says “tamed fire” to me. It had good color payoff and was soft but not powdery. MAC Hot Paprika was the closest I could think of, but it is a bit redder.

Iceland Air is a cool-toned white with a frosted, metallic finish. The payoff is so-so with some sheerness. MAC Winterscape is similar, perhaps not as stark. MAC She’s Got Class is similar in color but more frosted. Cinderella Ball Gown is comparable in color.

Mystic Seaport is a darkened lavender with a frosted, metallic finish. It was a bit sheer. MAC Digit is lighter. Too Faced Cut the Cake is more matte.

Concrete Jungle is a medium-dark gray with a satiny sheen. It had a drier texture and sheerer color payoff. Urban Decay Desperatoin is a bit darker. bareMinerals Chateau is darker and cooler-toned.

Hampton Waves is a bluish-teal with a mostly matte finish. This shade had good color payoff but was very powdery, so it was easy to blend away into something sheer. Giorgio Armani Ecailles Black Pearl is shimmery. bareMinerals Water has a slight sheen.

Sunshine State is a pale, sparkling gold. It has a chunkier, more glitter-like texture, which also resulted in sheer color payoff. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is a touch darker and less sparkly. Tarte Bellini is darker and less shimmery/sparkly. Cinderella Charming is less sparkly. Dior Couture Gold is a touch lighter.

Hawaiian Palm is a muted, light-medium green with a soft golden sheen. It had so-so color payoff, but it applied smoothly. bareMinerals Wicked is lighter. Wet ‘n Wild Comfort Zone is similar. MAC Juxt is yellower.

Olive Grove is a olive brown with golden shimmer-sheen. It had good pigmentation but was a touch powdery. Tarte Match Point is lighter, more golden. Inglot #433 is greener.

Sin City is a dark, sooty gray with brown undertones and a little bronze sparkle. This was the worst performing shade in the palette–super sheer and powdery. It looks a lot darker swatched than it did in the pan. Tarte Stiletto is lighter.

Overall, it’s a set that’s certainly worth its price tag, even despite some imperfections. I think if you already own a few Tarte eyeshadow palettes, you’re going to run into enough overlap for it to be frustrating. (The same is true for several brands that launch mega-sized palettes and sets like this one.) I like the inclusion of the face products, because it helps make the whole kit a great starter selection to give to someone. I think the lipglosses are a little drying and similar to each other, so they’re not my favorite. The formula was thin and didn’t wear as long as the average gloss. The eyeshadows come in “quads” in a way, which instantly creates several distinct looks to try. Some of the eyeshadows are great, some are good, and a few are so-so.

The Glossover

coming-soon

Tarte Carried Away Collection Review, Photos, Swatches

B

Product

8.5/10

Pigmentation

8.5/10

Texture

9/10

Longevity

8/10

Application

4/5

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Tuesday, November 27th, 2012


Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Collection

Twenty Eyeshadows to Give or Get

Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous ($49.98) contains four lipglosses, four eyeliners, and twenty eyeshadows. This review focuses on the eyeshadows, and a second review will feature the lipglosses and eyeliners. These are the twenty eyeshadows you’ll find in the set: Macaroon (shimmering white), Privacy, Please (light pink), Canary Diamond (pink gold), Truffle (eggplant), Tiramisu (matte soft brown), Bellini (champagne), 24 Carats (shimmering gold), Safari (silver), Cabana (copper), Locket (bronze), Bubble Bath (matte white), Ice Wine (raspberry), Sailboat (gray),
Match Point (green), Gossip (purple), Stiletto (denim), Skinny Dip (skinny dip), Frozen Hot Chocolate (beige pink), Velvet (burgundy), and Tahitian Pearl (charcoal).

Macaroon is a shimmering warm white with a frosted finish. It was noticeably sheer but very soft. MAC Preferred Blonde is similar. Illamasqua Slink is warmer. Tarina Tarantino Lonely is less frosted. bareMinerals 500 Thread Count is cooler-toned.

Privacy, Please is a rose-shimmered bronze with champagne sparkle. This had a larger shimmer in it. The color payoff was semi-sheer. Too Faced Hot Cocoa is darker. Cinderella Palace is more golden.

Canary Diamond is a warm, orange-toned gold with a frosted, metallic sheen. It had decent to good pigmentation and was very smooth. Dior Night Golds is very comparable. theBalm Iron Maid-in is less orange. MAC Barefoot is less metallic. Dior Couture Gold is more metallic. Milani Drenched in Gold is a touch less orange.

Truffle is a warm, red-toned, medium-dark brown with a pearly sheen. It had good color payoff and applied smoothly and evenly. Cinderella Chateau is similar, a bit richer. NARS Flowers 3 has less of a sheen. Illamasqua Focus is a cream and a touch grayer. Urban Decay YDK is more intense.

Tiramisu is a medium-dark brown with subtle red undertones and has a matte finish. It had good pigmentation and was easy to blend on the eyelid. Bobbi Brown Stone is a touch warmer. MAC Texture is more orange-toned.

Bellini is a creamy white gold with strong yellow tones and a frosted finish. The pigmentation was excellent, and it was soft and finely-milled but a touch powdery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone is a touch less yellow. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is similar. Guerlain Calligraphy is whiter. Cinderella Charming is more metallic.

24 Carats is a brightened orange-gold with a metallic sheen. It had decent color payoff but there was some sheerness. Cinderella Gus Gus is yellower. Tarina Tarantino Mr. Gold is darker. bareMinerals Remix is less orange. Chanel Blazing Gold is comparable. MAC Goldmine is more intense.

Safari is a warm golden beige with a frosted, metallic sheen. It had so-so pigmentation but applied smoothly. MAC Retrospeck is very similar. MAC Ricepaper is a touch more beige and less frosted.

Cabana is an orange copper with a golden sheen. It had good pigmentation, applied smoothly, and wasn’t powdery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Sparkle ‘Til Morning is frostier. Guerlain Calligraphy is darker. Urban Decay Penny Lane is more red-toned. bareMinerals Golden Iris is similar.

Locket is a warm, orange-toned medium brown with a pearly sheen. It was easy to work with a soft, smooth texture and good color payoff. NARS Flowers 3 is a touch browner. MAC Aurora is less orange-toned. Bobbi Brown Praline is softer. Urban Decay Chopper is a little more orange.

Bubble Bath is a pale pink beige with a matte finish. It had excellent pigmentation and blended easily, but it was a little powdery. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine is more beige. Urban Decay Walk of Shame is a touch darker. bareMinerals 500 Thread Count is lighter. MAC Creamy Bisque is also lighter.

Ice Wine is a plummy purple with gold shimmer. It had so-so color payoff and was a bit powdery. Le Metier de Beaute Icon is grayer and matte. NARS Charade is less purple, redder. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is similar.

Sailboat is a light-medium gray-tinged brown with a matte finish. It had good pigmentation and was soft, smooth, and not at all powdery. Tarina Tarantino Lovely is shimmery. Chanel Prelude is shimmery and darker.

Match Point is an olive green with strong golden olive coloring and a frosted, metallic finish. It had good color payoff and applied smoothly. Urban Decay Rush is darker, more bronze. Urban Decay Blitz is more metallic. Maybelline Bold Gold is more metallic and a cream product. MAC Sumptuous Olive is greener.

Stiletto is a medium-dark gray with a soft sheen. The color payoff was good, but it was powdery. bareMinerals Chateau is cooler-toned.

Gossip is a fuchsia purple with very fine shimmer, but it appears mostly matte on the lid. It had good color payoff, and while soft, was a tiny bit powdery. Cinderella Maiden is pinker, less purple. Urban Decay Infamous is similar but more intense.

Skinny Dip is a light pink with yellow undertones and a matte finish. It had great pigmentation and was easy to blend and work with. Chanel Variatoin is lighter. Chanel Premier Regard is softer. Dolce & Gabbana Cinnamon is shimmery and a bit cool-toned. bareMinerals Giddy is very similar. Inglot #356 is a touch less pink.

Frozen Hot Chocolate is a mauve-tinted brown with a frosted finish. It had good color payoff and applied smoothly. NARS 413BLKR is slightly lighter. Giorgio Armani #27 is darker. Tarina Tarantino Fantastical is purpler. MAC Tendersmoke is similar.

Velvet is a red-toned eggplant purple with a satiny sheen. It had good pigmentation and applied evenly. OCC Overlook is similar. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is darker. NARS Caravaggio is redder.

Tahitian Pearl is a medium black with brown undertones and a pearly sheen. The color payoff was good, but the texture was a smidgen dry. Illamasqua Obsidian is a touch darker. Wet ‘n’ Wild Shimmer the Night Away is comparable–more matte.

The concept behind the Treat Yourself collection is that it comes in three distinct pieces, so you can keep all three boxes or give one or two away.  The eyeshadows are housed in the larger gold box that slides open on each side to reveal twenty eyeshadows that are 0.06 oz. each–that’s larger than the average full-sized eyeshadow (MAC and Urban Decay full-sized eyeshadows are 0.05 oz.).  I would prefer flip-top packaging, because the sides don’t slide open easily, and it takes up a lot of space on the counter when it’s fully open.

I like the eyeshadows, but I’m not fully in love, because some are sheer, others are somewhat powdery.  The more pigmented shades tended to be slightly powdery, while the sheer shades smoothed out very nicely, even if they didn’t pack a punch.   The best shades were Bellini, Cabana, Locket, Bubble Bath, Sailboat, Skinny Dip, and Velvet.  The weakest shades were Macaroon, Privacy Please, and Ice Wine.  For my first test look, I used Gossip, Skinny Dip, Ice Wine, and Bubble Bath.  For my second test look, I used Locket, Safari, Truffle, Tiramisu, and Bellini.  Both test looks lasted eight hours without creasing or fading without a primer.  Please note that the rating for this post (as well as the next one) reflect the entire palette overall.

The Glossover

coming-soon

Tarte Treat Yourself to Gorgeous Collection Review, Photos, Swatches (Part 1)

B
It's a solid palette, and for the price, still interesting and worth considering. The powderiness of some of the shades was the biggest downside, and the pigmentation varied from sheer to rich, which may or may not be a deal-breaker.

Product

8.5/10

Pigmentation

8.5/10

Texture

8.5/10

Longevity

8.5/10

Application

4/5

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Sunday, November 25th, 2012

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette
Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette

For Every Neutral & Matte Eyeshadow Lover Out There

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette ($27.00 for 0.30 oz.) contains six full-sized eyeshadows: Venus (soft, off-white demi-matte), Foxy (very light yellow/beige matte), Walk of Shame (very light pinky nude matte), Naked 2 (rosy taupe matte), Faint (warm, dusty brown matte), and Crave (deepest, darkest brown/black matte).

You’ve been pleading with Urban Decay to release a matte version of the Naked palette, and Naked Basics is their answer. You may be familiar with shades like Foxy (available individually, also in Naked 2) and Walk of Shame (exclusive to Build Your Own Palette), which have shown up in other palettes.

Venus is a white-shimmered creamy white. It’s not a full-on frost, but it is more than a satin on me. When I used this on the brow, it added quite a bit of sheen against my skin tone. The color payoff was excellent, and the texture was soft, smooth, and buttery. Urban Decay Kinky is matte. bareMinerals Silhouette is more metallic.

Foxy is a yellowed beige with a matte finish. It had good color payoff and was soft and smooth to work with. Urban Decay Booty Call is a frosted version–a little more orange. bareMinerals Serendipitous is frosted. MAC Brule is more beige.

Walk of Shame theBalm Adagio is less pink. Urban Decay Virgin is frosted. Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine is comparable. theBalm Matt Smith is similar. Inglot #390 is more beige.

Naked 2 is a soft taupe–a little brown, a touch of gray–with a matte finish. It had nice pigmentation and a soft, smooth texture. Giorgio Armani Moonlight Beige is shimmery. MAC Omega is darker. MAC Camo is browner, darker.

Faint is a medium-dark brown with a hint of warmth and a matte finish. The pigmentation was perfect, and it was very soft to the touch. theBalm Sultry has a satiny sheen. bareMinerals Namaste is similar, slightly grayer. MAC Wedge is warmer.

Crave is a dark black with brown undertones and a matte finish. It was very soft, smooth, and nicely pigmented. Le Metier de Beaute Fin has micro-shimmer, which isn’t very visible applied. Giorgio Armani #1 is very similar. MAC Dark Dare has micro-shimmer.

The palette itself feels and looks tiny. It’s minimalistic (and I don’t think I’ve ever described any packaging by Urban Decay as such!) and perfect for travel. It could fit in your wallet–it’s delightfully compact and lightweight. I couldn’t believe there were full-sized eyeshadows in it. The soft, almost rubberized (but not quite like NARS’ packaging) case should hold up well to travel abuse, and it is easy to wipe down.

Now, the only warning I have is if you already have both Naked palettes, you have one shade exactly, and then Crave is similar enough to Blackout (2), while Venus is similar to Bootycall (2) and Naked 2 is a tiny bit darker/grayer than Naked (1) and Faint is a bit darker than Buck (1). See individual shade descriptions above for dupes. There are also three light shades in the palette, though they each have a different tone so they’ll work differently for cool, warm, and neutral looks but can feel repetitive.

If you’re a fan of neutrals, OR you know someone who loves (or perhaps, has to wear) neutrals, this is a must-have palette. The texture of these eyeshadows is phenomenal; silky, smooth, finely-milled, but not even a smidgen powdery. They’re densely pigmented with true-to-pan color payoff.  I test-drove them over the weekend, and they lasted eight hours without fading and stretched into the ninth hour the same way–without a primer.

The Glossover

palette

Naked Basics

A+
If you're a fan of neutrals, OR you know someone who loves (or perhaps, has to wear) neutrals, this is a must-have palette. The texture of these eyeshadows is phenomenal; silky, smooth, finely-milled, but not even a smidgen powdery. They're densely pigmented with true-to-pan color payoff.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

MAC Taste Temptation Eyeshadow Quad
MAC Taste Temptation Eyeshadow Quad

Not Quite as Tempting as Touted

MAC Taste Temptation Eyeshadow Quad ($40.00 for 0.20 oz.) includes four shades: Look at the Eyes (light violet), Stay Sultry (deep navy), Naval (navy blue), and Carbon (intense black).  It’s a limited edition palette that will launch with Taste Temptation, due for release in-stores on December 13th.

Look at the Eyes is a pale lilac with a frosted finish. It has decent color payoff, though when I used it, I really packed it on to get it to show up. It was the best performing shade out of the four. MAC Creative Whim is similar–a bit purpler. MAC Silverwear is lighter. OCC Datura is more iridescent, brighter.

Stay Sultry is a blackened purple with a bluish shimmer. It’s supposed to have a satin finish. It had a stiff, dry texture when I attempted to swatch it, and it performed similarly on the lid. Giorgio Armani Green Jacquard is purpler. MAC Indian Ink is also purpler, but it is similar. MAC Spellcaster is a touch redder.

Naval is an indigo blue; there’s just this purplish tint that keeps it from being as blue as it seems. It seemed even less blue when I was working with it on the eye. It looks like a matte, though it is listed as a velvet finish on the label. OCC Technoir is brighter, bluer. NARS Self Portrait 3 is lighter. Tom Ford Cobalt Rush is shimmery. NARS Self Portrait 1 is more vibrant. This shade is part of the permanent (PRO) range.

Carbon is a matte black. It has sheer color payoff with a stiff, dry texture that makes blending difficult. It’s part of the permanent range, and it’s been repromoted more than a few times recently. Shades like Wet ‘n’ Wild Drinking a Glass of Shine, NARS Self Portrait 2, Milani Pitch Black, and other black eyeshadows are all similar. Matte black is a basic enough color, so it’s really about finding the texture and richness of black that you like best. Carbon is a softer black (I’d describe it as a medium black).

The best part of the quad was inviting one to use the set of four shades together. It’s a very dark set of colors, aside from the one light one, so it was interesting trying to come up with something that used all four. The best shade was Look at the Eyes, which was softer than the other three, and it proved to have the most color payoff. You might say to yourself, “But it looks pigmented in the how-to,” but since the images are static, let me tell you that in order to develop the intensity of the crease color (Naval), I put brush to pan five times. Then, three times a piece for all three shades I used on the lid (Stay Sultry, Look at the Eyes, Carbon). In comparison, for a good eyeshadow, once is usually enough.  I’ve been wearing all four eyeshadows over a primer as well as on bare lids–and you absolutely need a primer to get decent color payoff–for the past six hours, and everything looks good thus far. If I experience any fading/creasing, I’ll update the post later tonight to reflect that.

I don’t think you should have to work this hard, period; more budget-friendly brands have put out higher quality products and have proven that you don’t need to spend a lot to get pigment-packed eyeshadow.  There’s absolutely no reason why a higher-end brand like MAC should put out dry, stiff eyeshadows with chalky, uneven color payoff.  For a similar (but these are not exact dupes!) composition by MAC with higher quality shades from their permanent range, try Beautiful Iris, Indian Ink, Atlantic Blue (for a brighter blue) or Contrast (slightly darker), and Typographic (or your preferred matte black).

The Glossover

palette

Taste Temptation

D
I don't think you should have to work this hard, period; more budget-friendly brands have put out higher quality products and have proven that you don't need to spend a lot to get pigment-packed eyeshadow. There's absolutely no reason why a higher-end brand like MAC should put out dry, stiff eyeshadows with chalky, uneven color payoff.

Product

6/10

Pigmentation

6/10

Texture

6/10

Longevity

8.5/10

Application

3/5

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Monday, November 19th, 2012

bareMinerals The Happy Place Eyeshadow Quad
bareMinerals The Happy Place Eyeshadow Quad

This Happy Place is Warm and Cozy

bareMinerals The Happy Place Eyeshadow Quad ($30.00 for 0.17 oz.) includes four shades: Peace (muted apricot), Imagine (rose gold), Exhale (smoky taupe), and Euphoria (eggplant).

Peace is a soft peach with a mostly matte finish. It had excellent color payoff and was very soft and smooth. bareMinerals Stealth is a touch more orange. Urban Decay Freestyle is more beige. Dolce & Gabbana Jewels is comparable, just more shimmery. MAC Nubile is a touch more beige and is a cream product. MAC Orb is more pink-toned.

Imagine is a muted, medium copper with a golden shimmer-sheen. It had good pigmentation and was fairly soft and smooth. MAC Star Myth is darker. MAC Mythical is darker and redder.

Exhale is a mauve-tinged taupe with a matte finish. It had great color payoff, and while it was very soft, it wasn’t powdery. This kind of color can be really versatile and easy-to-use in more dramatic looks as well as more natural ones. bareMinerals Suspense is lighter, grayer. MAC Cloudy Afternoon is lighter and frosted. Urban Decay Bust is grayer, frosted.

Euphoria is a reddened brown with warm, orange undertones. It had fantastic pigmentation and was very soft and smooth on the lid. Cinderella Rococo is more burgundy. bareMinerals Most Requested is more matte and muted. MAC Star Violet is pinker. Estee Lauder Violet Underground is browner, warmer.

All in all, The Happy Place is a well-made quad with nicely pigmented eyeshadows and soft, smooth textures that feel finely-milled, buttery, and dense.  Imagine was the “weakest” of the bunch, as it was slightly less pigmented compared to the other three, and a wee bit powdery.  I really do mean slight and bit–they’re so minor that one might not normally notice, but among truly stellar eyeshadows, it stood out.  When I wore all four shades together, they wore without fading or creasing for a full eight hours without a primer.

The Glossover

palette

The Happy Place

A
The Happy Place will surely make someone very happy indeed, so long as the colors are ones you'd wear! The quality is top notch, and they're so easy to blend and intensely pigmented. The four shades work well together, too.

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

9.5/10

Texture

9.5/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Sunday, November 18th, 2012

Giorgio Armani Moonlight White Palette
Giorgio Armani Moonlight White Palette

Not Enough Smoke in This Smoky Eyed Palette

Giorgio Armani Moonlight White Palette ($88.00 for 0.41 oz.) is a face palette that contains one highlighter, two eyeshadows, and one lip color. The shades are described as, “White shimmer highlighting powder is paired with a gradation of grey eyeshadows to create a wash of color, finish with the red lip wax for a sophisticated winter style.”

The highlighter is a pure snowy white with a silver-white shimmer. This one was a bit more sparkly compared to the Moonlight Beige palette. The texture, while finely-milled and soft to the touch, wasn’t as blendable–perhaps easier to notice given how stark this looked against my skin tone in particular. It will look best on very, very pale complexions. The closest dupe I could think of was Benefit High Beam, which is pinker.

The lip wax is a darkened pink-red with a natural sheen. On lips, it looks more red than pink and yielded semi-opaque color coverage. It has a thin consistency, so it looked a lot like a stain when applied to the lips. MAC Fire Sign is a little brighter, but it has a similar look and feel on. NARS Flamenco is also very similar, perhaps a touch more pigmented.

The first eyeshadow is a light-medium gray with a soft shimmer. It had decent to good pigmentation, and while finely-milled, was just a bit powdery. NARS Self Portrait 2 is darker. NARS Ramatuelle is shimmery and lighter. Guerlain Les Gris is more frosted. MAC Silver Gull is similar. Guerlain Les Ombres de Nuit is frosty.

The second eyeshadow is a medium-dark, faded gray with a mostly matte finish, though it is sprinkled with sparkle–you just don’t see it show up or at a distance. The color payoff here was weak; it had a faded, almost dry quality to the end result. bareMinerals Chateau is more pigmented, more matte. MAC Scene is very similar, just more pigmented. Chanel Gris Exquis is similar but has no sparkle.

My biggest problem with this palette is in the composition, all quality comments aside. There’s simply not enough contrast between the two eyeshadows for a really great smoky eye. I felt like the colors together ended up looking so much like the other–instantly muddied (if mud was gray). I was originally interested to see how Giorgio Armani took a rather bold pairing (smoky eyes and red lips), but I can see now that the grays are subdued enough that the lips are more of a focal point.

The highlighter lasted just over seven hours, and after eight, there was some slight fading.  The lip wax lasted four hours, but it was a little drying to wear. Both eyeshadows were prone to blending out and disappearing (the lighter shade did this in a particularly frustrating fashion!), but once applied, they didn’t seem to fade much more. The eyeshadows appeared a little faded after eight hours without a primer (but no fading with a primer).

The Glossover

palette

Moonlight White

C+
At this price point, the quality needs to be upped quite a bit! Even if the quality was better, though, I don't think it's as versatile as it could be. Maybe with more pigmentation, you could achieve greater contrast between the two eyeshadows, but as is, they run together.

Product

7/10

Pigmentation

8/10

Texture

8.5/10

Longevity

8/10

Application

3.5/5

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