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Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio Review, Photos, Swatches

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio ($28.00 for 0.39 oz.) is a limited edition set of two blushes and a highlighter. This year’s trio is definitely worth considering from the Color of the Year collection, as much like last year, it’s pretty good overall (could wear a little longer) with good color payoff, soft, blendable textures, and has good value. It’s a warm-toned set of shades, so if you prefer cooler-tones, you might check out some of the dupes listed.

Spanish Villa is a golden beige with warm undertones and a frosted finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, blendable consistency. It does slightly emphasize pores if you’re not careful–I found using less dense brushes (like fan brushes) made it really easy to get luminous results that didn’t also make my pores stand out. On me, it lasted for seven hours before fading. Just a heads up, this is the same shade in last year’s Color of the Year blush trio. Kevyn Aucoin Starlight (P, $44.00) is darker, warmer. Bobbi Brown Pink Glow (LE, $45.00) is more metallic, lighter. bareMinerals The Premiere (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Glow (P) is yellower. Becca Opal (P, $38.00) is more golden. Giorgio Armani Belladonna (LE, $88.00) is lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Coral Pink is a light-medium peachy-orange with warm undertones and a satin-matte finish. It looks mostly matte on the skin, though, even when really buffed and worked into the skin. The texture was soft, finely-milled, and smooth, but it was a smidgen powdery, which may translate to chalky depending on the skin tone. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that was moderately buildable. When I tested it, the color lasted for seven hours on me. Chanel Caresse (180) (LE, $45.00) is darker. Surratt Beauty Duchesse (P, $32.00) is lighter. Makeup Geek Smitten (P, $9.99) is darker, more orange. MAC Corol #1 (LE, $21.00) is pinker. Sisley Paris Mango (3) (P, $85.00) is similar. Make Up For Ever #225 HD Blush (P, $26.00) is darker, cream. Hourglass Dim Infusion (P, $35.00) is darker, more beige. MAC Cream Soda (LE, $21.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Marsala is a medium-dark, plummy brown with warm, reddish undertones and a satin finish. It had excellent pigmentation that was very blendable with a soft, smooth texture. The color didn’t start to fade until after eight hours of wear. NARS Almeria (LE, $29.00) is cooler-toned, darker. Gucci Beauty Cherry Nectar (P, $49.00) is darker. Tom Ford Beauty Contour (Softcore) (LE, $55.00) is cooler-toned. Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Blush (LE, $26.00) is browner. NARS Seduction (P, $29.00) is darker, cooler-toned. NARS Lovejoy (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, slightly more plum than red. MAC Stylish Me (LE, $21.00) is browner. MAC Ambering Rose (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer. Illamasqua Allure (P, $26.00) is pinker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Shimmering Marsala

LELimited Edition. $28.00.
A-
A-
9
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8
Longevity
5
Application
90%
Total

Spanish Villa

LELimited Edition.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
90%
Total

Coral Pink

LELimited Edition.
B
B
8.5
Product
8
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
7.5
Longevity
5
Application
83%
Total

Marsala

LELimited Edition.
A-
A-
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
8.5
Longevity
5
Application
92%
Total

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter
Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter

Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter
Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter

Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter
Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa Highlighter

Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Coral Pink Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush
Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Blush

Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio
Sephora + Pantone Universe Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Powder
  • Sephora + Pantone Universe Marsala Cheek Trio
On eyes:
  • Sephora + Pantone Universe Shifting Sand
  • Butterrum
  • Chutney
  • Marsala Satin
  • Macaroon
  • Autumn Blonde; Estee Lauder Rose Gold Eyeliner
On lips:
  • Sephora + Pantone Universe Pure Marsala Lip Creme

46 Comments

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Celia Avatar

The Marsala blush looks lovely on you, Christine! The color interpretation on that is quite lovely. I wonder why they decided to include the same highlight shade as last year. Seems like it would give a more “curated for Marsala” feel and look.

Katherine T. Avatar

So pretty looking in the pan, but might be too orange and warm for me, will have to swatch in person. So far, the Marsala products are running warm…

Rachel Avatar

I picked up the palette and lipstick after seeing your swatches (I couldn’t even wait for the review on the palette, I was so smitten!!), but now I’m wishing I’d gotten this as well! Your full face look is so gorgeous! Marsala looks so lovely on you! <3

Keturah Avatar

I received this cheek palette today. It is so gorgeous! I will have to play with coral pink, though. Maybe I can use it as a highlighter or for setting my under eye concealer. (My skin tone is NW43 in mac for reference.) Love, love, love the limited edition lipstick! 🙂

kdrake31 Avatar

It does look a tad chalky, but I think it looks okay lightly layered over shimmering marsala. Also, it does not work under my eyes — I was hoping that it would be a dupe for my Peaches & Cream refill from Anastasia — but it’s too pink.

kellly Avatar

aaagh …. “May contain carmine”. Well, does it or doesn’t it? I’m allergic to carmine and I sure would hate to have this give me some reaction (swollen crusty eyes). I wish companies would print what it DOES contain, not what it MAY contain. I see that so frequently and generally have to pass when I see that, especially in eye shadows. :C

xamyx Avatar

It could be because they get their pigments from a third-party distributor, who may get it from yet another source, and so on, or they bought one batch from one source, and another batch from someone else. I’m just grateful the disclaimer exists. What irks me is when brands/products list a “secret” ingredient, or (particularly with HE skincare) they make it very difficult to find ingredients lists, and print them sooo tiny on the packaging…

Cee Avatar

Kudos for working on Christmas eve, Christine! 🙂
How useful do you think this trio is for people with darker skin tones? I am NC 42-44 in MAC and am not sure if Coral Pink will even show up on my cheeks. I am really excited by this cheek trio, but don’t know if it is going to be worth it given my skin tone.

Lotus Avatar

Perhaps. I do quite appreciate the review & while you know I love collecting things, I’m only in for that reason. It’s $28 I don’t have. I’ve faith that it’s not the greatest value and I’d much rather spend more on something I REALLY feel excited to put on me! I’m Still hoping to pickup Almeria, but it’s not conclusive. I have SO MANY blushes! I’d like to tread onto the mill of brands I don’t have, like Tom Ford. And choose THE one. Perhaps explore more Charlotte Tilbury, sell or give away the Hourglass ones I stupidly bought all of but won’t use, play with more Becca, def the 50 Shades of Grey EVERYTHING, but I still mean to note the colors of blush and come here for swatches to see if ideal… I don’t even remember the question. What am I talking about? OH! Pantone Sephora.. Meh.

Lotus Avatar

You look beautiful, yet the lip color reminds me of Tom Ford Negligée on you! 😀 identical. Check your TF contour LE dupe post. BINGO. I’m Already a fan of Ambering Rose & Bikini Blush as well as Slave to Love.. All MAC. 🙂

kellly Avatar

oh yeah! and with my *cough* more “mature” vision and the funky lighting (yes, in the Sephora store) I generally have to get one of the younger store employees to read it for me! Altho I also have brought my sewing glasses to the store with me just so I’ll be able to read that 2-point font listing the ingredients! I’m SO hoping that eye palette won’t have carmine in it. I LOVE those 4 different finishes in the Marsala color. I may take a chance on it and this cheek palette, too just in case it only “may” contain carmine. I love the colors too much to pass them by — but if I am allergic to it, my own eyeballs will probably end up matching the marsala color HA HA HA

.Nancy T Avatar

Originally wasn’t sure I would love this year’s color of Marsala, but… OMG, this is just GORGEOUS! If nothing else, I am getting this cheek trio. I figure I’m pretty much covered in the eyeshadow department with UD Vice 3’s Sonic, Alchemy and Lucky giving off that vibe. As for a lippy, Mac Retro, perhaps?

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