Just Another Neutral Palette?: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review

So I know this palette has been featured and swatched to high heaven all over social media, but according to a Twitter poll I held, a review and makeup look for this palette were still very much requested. I think it is important as a consumer to read many, many, many reviews on any given product and find out the good, bad, and the ugly before making a solid decision if the product is worth purchasing. I, like many other consumers, have a drawer filled with "must have" neutral palettes collecting dust, which begs the question: do we really need them all? While I'm probably not the best fit to answer that question as I am a self-proclaimed beauty addict, it is some food for thought. However, if we are being completely honest, I was not at all impressed when I saw the initial PR images for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette. It wasn't because the palette looked like a bad one by any means, but appeared to have so many multiples of the exact same shades. Nonetheless, clearly my inner beauty addict gave in the second I swatched this palette in stores at Sephora, so hopefully this review will shed some light on what others haven't yet told you.

Q&A's

♥What is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette?♥

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette is a 14-pan eyeshadow palette containing a variety of warm neutrals and berry tones (nine mattes, two satins, & three metallics). Each eyeshadow contains 0.02 oz of product and are housed in a durable cardboard packaging topped with fuzzy, mauve-pink velvet. As an added bonus, the palette also comes with a double-ended brush for on the go. It the first palette that ABH has produced that will be permanent to their line and can be purchased at Sephora, Ulta, and Macy's for $42.

♥How do these shadows perform?♥

In previous palettes, I have felt that Anastasia Beverly Hills lacked the quality and cohesiveness that draws me in with other neutral palettes. I much preferred the quality of their single shadows, which always proved to be pigmented and easy to work with. However, I am pleased to say that ABH has tremendously improved the formula of their eyeshadow palettes. The shadows in the Modern Renaissance Palette are buttery smooth and pigmented, but are also easy to work with and build up. I do find that the shades provide a lot of kick up, but that does not really bother me as all I have to do is tap off any excess from my brush. On initial application of the mattes in particular, I noticed that buffing and blending cause them to lose their vibrancy and pigmentation, but when applied a second time, the pigment stuck and was nicely buildable. I believe this makes it a palette that is very user- and beginner-friendly.

♥How do the shadows wear?♥

I had absolutely no issues with the wear of these eyeshadows. There was no creasing, fading, or transferring whatsoever.

♥What are my overall thoughts on this product?♥

While there are a ton of neutral palettes on the market, I do believe this specific palette has its own voice and individuality. Many of the neutrals in this palette, such as Golden Ochre, Warm Taupe, and Realgar, are very unique and are ones I haven't seen before. The palette is also very compact and portable, allows you to create an entire look with just this one palette, and gives a good amount of variety to transition you through the seasons. The price point also isn't that bad as it breaks down to $3 per shadow, though I do wish each shadow contained more product. All in all, the quality is pretty on par with other neutral palettes on the market, such as the Lorac Pro Palette and the Kat Von D Shade And Light Eye Palette. However, it maintains a better quality and consistency than the more affordable Morphe 35O Palette, which can be pretty chalky and reads one-note overall. Nevertheless, if you already have a ton of neutrals in your collection, this palette may not be an absolute must-have, but if you are just beginning out in makeup or are interested in trying out some of Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows, this would be an excellent introduction.

Makeup Deets

♥Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe

♥Eyeshadow - Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette (Burnt Orange, Red Ochre, Cyprus Umber, & Venetian Red), ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Lace, & NYX Roll-On Shimmer in Mauve Pink
♥Glitter - Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Duo in Lilac Luster

♥Eyeliner - Wet n Wild H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner & Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Pencil in M-10

♥Lashes - Koko Lashes in Queen Bee

♥Foundation - Maybelline Dream Velvet Soft-Matte Hydrating Foundation in Sandy Beige

♥Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal in Porcelain

♥Highlight - Nars Illuminator in Copacabana topped with Lorac Illuminating Highlighter in Twilight

♥Bronzer - L'Oreal Glam Bronze in Medium

♥Blush - Mally Effortless Airbrush Highlighter & Blush Duo in Peach

♥Lips - Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Kathryn

XO♥

The Most Affordable Full Coverage Foundation EVER! Review of the Jordana Complete Cover Maximum Coverage 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation

First off, I know the name of this product is completely ridiculous. If the name got any longer, I would literally need to start abbreviating, so for the purpose of this review I'll be referring to this product as the Complete Cover Foundation, okay? Now that we got that out of the way, it's story time. Whenever I pass by a drugstore, I always have to stop in and check out the new makeup displays. It is such a bad, compulsive habit, but I like knowing all of the new beauty bits that are coming out. Well evidently this product is not new, but it was on a display in Walgreens as a repromote because the packaging was upgraded. So after a tiny bit of research and seeing the amazing price tag, I picked up two shades of this foundation and that is what I have to show you guys today.

Jordana Complete Cover Maximum Coverage 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation in Fair Beige (Left) & Golden Beige (Right)

Q&A's

♥What is the Jordana Complete Cover Foundation?♥

The Jordana Complete Cover Foundation is a full coverage foundation in a squeeze tube packaging with a thick, yet liquidy consistency. It is marketed to double as a spot concealer and comes in a total of 12 shades. This foundation can be found at certain drugstores and beauty supply stores for $3.99. I picked mine up from Walgreens.

♥What claims has Jordana made on this product?♥

Here are Jordana's claims: "Meet your secret weapon for making dark circles and spots look like they’ve vanished! Complete Cover 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation evens out skin tone when applied as an all-over foundation, and also works as a full coverage concealer—just dab onto trouble spots for a quick fix. Complete Cover 2-in-1 Concealer & Foundation = the ultimate in double duty beauty!

• Max full coverage
• Oil-free formula
• Evens out skin tone
• Blurs the look of flaws
• Suitable for all skin types
• Made in USA"

♥How do you apply this product?♥

Immediately after applying this to my skin, I noticed that this foundation has an extremely strong cosmetic chemical smell (it honestly made me nauseous). On top of that, it has an interesting texture that is just overall not my favorite. There is a thickness to it so when applied with a brush, you may risk streaks and cake-iness. I recommend using a damp sponge, but bare in mind that the sponge lessens the coverage a bit. However, you can always go back and spot conceal wherever you need it.

♥How does it wear?♥

I have to say that I found this foundation incredibly heavy on the skin, which is probably due to the beeswax and silicon ingredients found in it. Once applied, its finish reminded me quite a bit of Mac Studio Sculpt, so it will be a great dupe if that is one of your faves. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wearing it on a hot Summer day as it creased and caked up terribly at the corners of my nose within the first few hours. It may be a more suitable foundation for those needing a moisturizing Winter foundation with lots of coverage.

♥What are my final thoughts?♥

While I don't hate the Jordana Complete Cover Foundation, I cannot truly recommend it as I myself wouldn't wear it. The price point is excellent, so it may be a good choice for beginners or even makeup artists who need to stock their kit on a budget. As I said before, if you love the Mac Sculpt Foundation, I think you'll absolutely love this one as well. It just doesn't make the cut for me due to the way it sits on my skin and the incredibly strong scent. At $3.99, however, it doesn't hurt to give it a try and see if it is your cup of tea. Other foundations that have similar consistencies, but worked better for me are the Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation and the Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation.

XO♥

NEW Lancome Teinte Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick

Lancome has long been a brand that I've admired for several reasons. They have always sought to offer themselves to a wide diversity of shades, skin types, and ages. It also makes luxury products at a much more attainable price point than say Chanel or Guerlain. But most importantly, it holds a special place in my heart for being the brand that I purchased my first blush from, a blush I still keep in my collection even now that it is way past its expiration. So when they created a version of the cult fave Teint Idole formula that us acne-prone gals can actually sport, I quickly high-tailed it to my nearest Sephora and practically stalked this sucker down. Now let's move on to all the reasons you NEED this foundation, shall we?

Q&A's

♥ What is this product? ♥ 

The Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick is a cream-based stick version of their cult-fave Teint Idole formula. Unlike it's predecessors the Longwear Foundation Stick offers 0.31 oz of product compared to the standard 1 oz for a whooping $42. However, this foundation is the only one in the Teint Idole family that is truly non-comedogenic or acnegenic, containing no ingredients that will cause or exacerbate acne-prone skin. It comes in 20 different shades and is currently available for purchase at Sephora and higher end department stores, such as Nordstrom or Lord and Taylor.

♥ What are the claims Lancome has made about this product? ♥

These are the claims made about this product by Lancome on their website, "This oil-free, highly pigmented long wear makeup stick delivers buildable coverage with a natural-looking matte finish for ultra-versatile application: use as a foundation, for touch-ups, as a spot concealer, or to contour. For those long days, full coverage, comfortable long wear… when you need it, where you need it. The foundation's innovative extreme long-wear formula gives all skin tones a flawless, complexion-perfecting coverage. Its ultra-lightweight powder-crème texture blends smoothly for a traceless, second-skin result. Made with porous polymers that absorb excess oils, it leaves the skin looking flawless and shine-free. Plus, with ambora extract, it helps to reduce the appearance of redness. This formula is transfer-resistant and smudge-resistant, so the color-true coverage stays on all day long. Suitable for all skin type, even sensitive skin. This pigment-rich makeup stick is infinitely versatile— with ample coverage to use as a concealer, an even glide for custom contouring, and perfect portability to take with you on the go, it goes beyond your average foundation. All day color wear. All day comfort. Oil-free, fragrance-free, transfer-resistant, smudge-resistant. Non-comedogenic. Tested under dermatological conditions. For all skin types, suitable for sensitive skin. Broad Spectrum SPF 21 Sunscreen. Its 20 shades were developed based on real skin tones so that everyone can find the perfect match."

♥ How do you apply this product? ♥ 

My favorite way to apply this foundation is by striping it on straight from the tube. I put two stripes on each cheek, a stripe on my forehead and chin, and then a small dab on my nose. Then, I buff it in with the Elf Ultimate Blending Brush, which is a flat-top, synthetic brush of medium density and--let me to you--this stuff goes on like butter. I found application with this brush to allow for complete full coverage over dark spots or acne, whereas using a sponge offers much lighter coverage. 

♥ How does this product perform? ♥

Simply put: this product preforms beautifully! It glides onto the skin smoothly; lasts through my crazy long, often sweaty, shifts; and gets better with wear. Depending on the kind of day I'm having, my foundation won't start breaking down around my chin until around the 10 or 12 hour mark and that's on my super oily skin. However, those with dry skin should beware because this foundation does cling to dry patches. 

♥ What are my overall thoughts on this product? ♥

Though I've only been testing out this product for the past month, it is safe to say that it has already become a staple in my collection, especially as the weather starts to get warmer. This formula sits so beautifully on the skin and, without fail, I've been asked what foundation I use every day that I've worn it because it looks that good. And while you only get 0.31 oz, honestly you don't need much to get a full coverage look, so you're wasting a lot less product. If it wasn't clear already, I highly recommend this foundation to those of you with normal to oily skin. I think you'll absolutely fall in love with it.

Makeup Deets

♥ Brows - Milani Brow Fix Brow Kit in Light

♥ Eyes - Coastal Scents Persian Peach, Inglot 102R, Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadow in Rich Velvet, Mac Plumage Eyeshadow, Make Up For Ever Artists Shadows in S-234 & D-200

♥ Lashes - Eylure x Vegas Nay in Grand Glamour

♥ Foundation - Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Highlight - Nars Illuminator in Copacabana topped with Violet Voss Pro Highlighting Powder in Unicorn Luster

♥ Bronzer - L'Oreal Glam Bronze in Medium

♥ Blush - Fiona Stiles Soft Cheek Veil in Lex

♥ Lips - Rimmel Show Off Lip Velvet in Apollo

XO♥

NEW! $10 Dupe for the Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder

I was lucky enough to snag up the Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder in Mirage Filter the second it hit stands at my local Sephora. I say this because this particular shade seems to fly off the shelves faster than hotcakes and for good reason. It contains that much sought after banana-colored powder and a beautiful cool-toned contour shade for those of you that are intent on contouring the "proper" way. Well if you still haven't managed to get your hands on it because your Sephora hasn't stocked it or you're looking for a more budget friendly alternative, you've come to the right place!

The moment that I spotted the brand new Wet n Wild Contouring Palettes at my Walgreens, I immediately made the connection. They look so similar to the #Instamarc Contour Powders as they are also a highlight and contour duo sort of product. And, at the affordable price tag of $4.99 each, it wouldn't hurt my pockets nearly as bad to test out this hunch.

Q&A's

♥ What are the Wet n Wild Megaglo Contouring Palettes? ♥

The Wet n Wild Megaglo Contouring Palettes are affordable drugstore palettes that contain two matte shades -- a highlighting shade and a contouring shade. They come in two different colors, Dulce de Leche (for lighter complexions) and Caramel Toffee (for medium to tan complexions), and can be found wherever Wet n Wild is sold, such as Walgreens, Rite Aid, or Target for $4.99.

♥ How do they compare to the Marc Jacobs #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powders? ♥

As I mentioned earlier, visually these palettes remind me a lot of the Marc Jacobs product because of how they are half highlight and half contour. In terms of packaging, however, that is where the comparison ends. The Wet n Wild packaging is a much cheaper plastic, has a clear lid, and does not contain a mirror. That being said, it is the product inside that counts, right? But before I get to that, I think it's a nice added touch that Wet n Wild included a diagram on the back of where to place the highlight and contour shades on the face in case you happen to be a newbie to this trend.

As for the product inside, the texture of the powders are very similar. The Marc Jacobs is just a tad bit smoother and finely milled, but for the price you really can't beat the quality of these Wet n Wild powders. Also worth noting, the Marc Jacobs palette comes with 18 grams of product for $49, whereas the Wet n Wild version comes with 12.5 grams for $4.99. So while the Wet n Wild has less product, you're still getting a ton more value for your money.

♥ How do you apply the Wet n Wild Palettes? ♥

I mentioned above that Wet n Wild has included a diagram of where to place both shades on the face. As most of you probably already know from the millions of videos floating around on this subject, you highlight the high points of your face or the places you want to bring more attention to and you contour the places that you want to recede or give more structure to. As the texture of my skin has become a lot drier throughout the Winter, I don't really utilize the highlighting powder on the places I would normally when I'm oilier. So at the moment I'm only focusing that powder underneath my eyes to set my concealer and to bake underneath my contour.

Nevertheless, because the texture of the powder is both smooth and pigmented, I think it will be helpful to mention the couple of different ways I was able to actually apply these powders. When I do my concealer, I like to set using the baking method and the lighter powders in the palettes work surprisingly well for that. All you have to do is swipe your dampened beauty blender across the powder and then dab it on the face. The best part is that the powders don't go hard pan or get that weird film over them when you use the dampened sponge either. For contouring, I use them in the traditional way--with a brush like a fluffier angled one or something more straight and sculpting. These powders are extremely pigmented so you only need a tiny bit (tap off those brushes, girl). You won't need to dig your brush in them at all because these babies kick up a lot of product. If you do find that you've put on entirely too much though, don't worry yourself as these powders have a nice blendability to them.

♥ How do they wear? ♥

If a product doesn't wear well on me, I'll first start to notice it around the nostril area. I'll get that weird caking up look or, even worse, the product will go patchy and magically disappear. That was one of my biggest problems with the highlighting shade in the Marc Jacobs Palette, but I have to say, I didn't experience that at all with the Wet n Wild ones. They set and locked in my concealer so perfectly and I would really love to see how it performs as the weather begins to get warm again. As for the darker side of the palette, I noticed that it could go a bit patchy if you have drier skin. However, I remedied that the next time I tried out the powders by moisturizing my skin more heavily. To be fair, that's not really the powder's fault. I haven't quite adjusted to the change my skin has made over the past month.

♥ Are they a dupe? ♥

If you're a bit extra like me and purchase both of the Wet n Wild Palettes, mixing the two highlight shades in the palettes creates the exact same shade as the one in the Marc Jacobs Mirage Filter Palette. While that might seem too high-maintenance for some, you really can't beat that at a $10 price tag. I do have to say, however, that the "contouring" powders in the Wet n Wild duos are entirely too warm in comparison and are much more like bronzers. So in that respect, it's not a perfect dupe, but for those with warmer undertones you can use these to contour. I would also like to point out the fact that I prefer these more affordable Wet n Wild Palettes for setting my concealer as the flawless look seems to last a lot longer. Do be aware that if you're on either end of the skintone spectrum--pale or deep dark complexions--you will find that these palettes won't work for you, which is really unfortunate, but common within the drugstore. Hopefully, if these Contouring Palettes are received well by the entire beauty community, Wet n Wild will feel the need to expand their range.


Honorable Mention

I thought I would throw in this last tidbit for those of you who aren't on as much of a budget or are really hell-bent on having a cool-tone contour. At a whopping $12.99, the L'Oreal Pro Contour Palettes are on the more expensive end of drugstore alternatives. However, the contour shade in the Light Contour Palette in particular is the closest to the Marc Jacobs Mirage Filter Contour that I've ever come across. In fact, the L'Oreal contour is even more cooler toned. Not to mention, the packaging also provides a pretty awesome brush. On the other hand, the L'Oreal Pro Contour Palettes only contain 7 grams of product, meaning that the contour shade is only 3.5 grams. Also, the L'Oreal powders, while pigmented, are pressed into the pan much harder, so you may have to dig your brush into the product or at least dip into it a bit more. I don't know about you, but that sounds like it will be a product you will have to purchase more often depending on how much of your face you deem necessary to contour. I still like this product, especially since it offers a shimmery highlight as opposed to a matte one like the other palettes, but I would definitely suggest getting it when it's on a BOGO sale at the very least.


XO♥

Review of the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (+ Lip Swatches)

You may remember a couple of weeks ago when I reviewed the ColourPop Super Shock Shadows. Well, I didn't include these in that review because I felt I needed a little more time to properly test them out. You see, the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks, while extremely affordable, are either hit or miss as far as the beauty community is concerned. You either love them or you hate them--very rarely is there ever an in between--and I thought it was only right that I give them a fair shot. Unfortunately, I misplaced the shade "Limbo" so I don't have that currently for this review. However, I do have a good range of colors from light to dark and neon to neutral, so that you can get a good sense of ColourPop's range.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (Left to Right): Midi, Koala, Lychee, Succulent, Zipper, & LAX - Click To Enlarge

♥ What are the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

As the name suggests, these are a liquid lipstick with an extremely matte appearance. They retail for $6 with 1 oz. of product and can only be found on ColourPop's website as of the date of this post. While this might make it difficult when trying to find the right shade, there are a ton of swatches that can be found online since this is such a hot product.

♥ How do you apply the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

The doe foot applicator on this product is pretty standard and will suffice to provide a precise application. However, if you have a wobbly hand, you can always opt for a lip liner and lip brush. Personally, I'm not for or against the applicator--it's nothing special and rather hard compared to others on the market. I find I have to dip into the product three or four times because the applicator is so teeny tiny and can only dispense so much product at a time. This can be a positive for those of you who are very cautious about wasting product, but for me it's a bit of a hassle. I typically like products that only require one to two dips max. Just a note: if you find a particular color is not opaque enough for your liking, let the first layer dry down completely before going in with the second layer. Due to the product's fast dry time, it gets tacky relatively quickly and if you go in too early to apply the second layer, it may pick up that first layer and become patchy.

♥ How do they wear? ♥

This particular part of the review is why I wanted to test this product out a little longer than expected. When I first received the product, I swatched all of the shades on my arm. I allowed them to dry down completely for 20 minutes and then I proceeded to run my arm under water and scrubbed like my dear life depended on it to no avail. The product did not budge in the slightest. Yet, when worn on the lips, I had a completely different experience.

ColourPop suggests applying this product onto dry, exfoliated lips, so for my first impression, that's exactly what I did. For dramatic effect, I used the darkest shade that I purchased, LAX. On applying the first layer, I noticed that the liquid lipstick didn't go on opaquely over the entire lip. I made the mistake of going in too early with my second layer and ended up having to put on three layers just for it to look decent. After allowing it to dry down for 20 minutes, I did notice that it felt a bit dry, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I proceeded to drink my coffee and then did the kiss test on my hand with only a minimal amount of transfer.

However, after that it was all downhill for this lippie. I didn't eat or drink much throughout the day until later than night at around 8:30 PM because I was insanely busy (horrible habit, I know). Despite that, the lippie wore off in the center of the lips in the most unflattering way possible and became increasingly more dry as if it was sucking all of the moisture out of my lips. And by the time I ate my food, I was able to easily wipe off the rest of my lippie with no problem at all. I wore the liquid lipstick for a little over eight hours total...if you count the many hours that it looked as if I was wearing extremely dark lip liner with nothing in the center of my lips.

♥ What are my overall thoughts on this product? ♥

The ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are awesome, affordable products if you're looking to experiment with a wide range of colors. Past that, I can't recommend them as there are much better and longer-wearing formulas on the market. The second you drink or eat anything, it seems as though this lippie disappears, which can make it quite tricky and embarrassing with the less natural colors. While you'll have to spend quite a bit more, I'd be much quicker to recommend the Sephora Cream Lip Stains or the Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks.

Other Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in ME-512 & S-102

♥ Liner - Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner & Inglot Gel Liner # 77

♥ Brows - Nyx Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in Brunette

♥ Foundation - Maybelline Dream Velvet

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - Japonesque Velvet Touch Blush # 2

♥ Highlight - Sephora Radiant Luminizing Drops in Ultralight topped with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal

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Matte Palette Showdown: Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette VS Tarte Tartelette Palette

With every company seemingly coming out with some version of a neutral eyeshadow palette, it can be quite overwhelming when trying to decide which one is right for you. To narrow things down, I have decided to pit two of the most popular matte neutral eyeshadow palettes out there against each other--the Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette and the Tarte Tartelette Palette. Now you might be wondering why you would need a palette full of matte shades. Well all-matte eyeshadow palettes are especially useful because not only can you create looks just using the palette alone, but they can serve as great companions to ground more shimmery looks. Their diversity lies in the wide variety of shadows, ranging from highlights to transitions and defining shades, everything you could possibly need to create a well put together look.

At first glance, these two palettes are extremely different in outer appearance. The palette by KVD is a bit bulkier and is made of basic black cardboard, whereas the Tarte palette has very appealing plastic gold and purple packaging. Both palettes also come equipped with relatively large mirrors. The Shade + Light palette mirror is not full sized nor is it able to stay up on its own, however, it is still a pretty big mirror. The Tartelette palette, on the other hand, spans the full size of the palette and can stay up on its own, which makes it extremely convenient if you're doing your makeup on the go. Also, it is important to note that both have secure closures, making them travel-friendly. While the Shade + Light palette has a magnetic closure, the Tartelette palette has a clasp closure.

Swatches

Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette

Tarte Tartelette Palette

Now if you think the two palettes are polar opposites in packaging, the differences only continue to accumulate when comparing the shades inside. Both palettes contain 12 matte shades, but that is about as far as the similarities go between these two. Shade + Light has more neutral to warm shades, whereas the Tartelette palette is very cool-toned. After swatching both palettes, I found that I enjoyed the texture of the Tarte eyeshadows more. They were more smooth and pigmented and easier to build up than the Kat Von D eyeshadows. For those of you concerned with the value you're getting for your buck, you get 16.8 grams of product for $46 with KVD and 18 grams of product for $45 with Tarte. Though there is only a slight difference, it is undeniable that the Tartelette palette is a better value.

Personally, I find myself reaching for warmer shades more frequently with my makeup looks, so it is all about personal preferences and what you would actually use on an everyday basis when choosing between the two. Either way, you can't go wrong choosing one or the other as they are both great palettes to have in your arsenal.


XO♥


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Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (Comparison & Review | Holiday 2015)

Now it's no secret in the beauty community, Tarte has yet to top the blush palette that they released during Holiday 2013. In fact, the blush palette released last year was such a disappointment in terms of packaging and product quality, that I was very surprised to see Tarte give it another go. Needless to say, I was very much looking forward to this release because the original blush palette is an absolute favorite of mine and is what introduced me to the Tarte brand in the first place. So the question remains: How does the Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette measure up to its older sis?

Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (Outer Packaging)

Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (left) and Tarte Off the Cuff Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (right)

I figured the best way to go about a comparison was to put these two babies to the test side by side. At first glance of the outer appearance, one would think that the palettes are similar. However, the Off the Cuff Palette packaging is made with a woven shimmery fabric, while the Bling It On Palette is made with actual chunky glitters. This means that the packaging is not as smooth and that the glitter particles fleck off from time to time, leading to a bit of a messier makeup application. It is also notable that the palette did not come with Tarte's usual cute additions. The Holiday 2013 Palette came with an actual cuff bracelet to match the theme.

Though at first sight, they might be reminiscent of one another, opening the palette soon reveals that the differences become even more striking. The first thing that I noticed immediately had to be the color selection--the original palette has much more bright, saturated shades, whereas this year's palette is more neutral and muted, not to mention the Off the Cuff Palette also sports Tarte's beloved Park Ave. Princess Bronzer. While the palettes clearly reflect the beauty trends of the time, the original palette satisfies a lot more skin tones than the current one does. I don't see the Bling It On Palette working on dark or deeper skin tones, so that is a bit unfortunate, but the formula is still the same remarkable formula that I fell in love with. In fact, I seem to like the formula of the Tarte blushes better in these palettes. They appear to have smoother pigmentation and blendability, where I find the individual blushes to be slightly more patchy and not as long-lasting. Secondly, the 2015 palette has the names printed on it, which is a change that Tarte instilled last holiday season and is greatly appreciated by beauty bloggers and consumers alike.

Swatches from the Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette Left to Right: Fetching, Dollface, Prim, Smashing, and Beaming

I'm very pleased with the pigmentation of the blushes in this palette. They work beautiful on the skin and meld into the other base products seamlessly. Here is the breakdown of this year's shades:

♥ Fetching (LE) - True matte rose

♥ Dollface (Permanent) - Repeat shade from the Tarte Off the Cuff Palette, however, I find that in this palette it is more cool-toned, lighter, and the white base of this product to be more prominent

♥ Prim (LE) - My favorite shade in the palette. It is a lighter version of Dazzled (second shade in the Off the Cuff Palette). It is a matte neutral dusty rose shade

♥ Smashing (LE) - Matte bright pink with coral undertones

♥ Beaming (LE) - As the name suggests, there is a ton of shimmer in this shade. However, it is quite beautiful. It is a very, very light coral that will probably only show up on fair to light-medium complexions

Now let's see the two palettes swatched side-by-side for further comparison:

Tarte Off the Cuff Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (left) Left to Right: Crave, Dazzled, Darling, Dollface, Park Ave. Princess Bronzer. Tarte Bling It On Amazonian Clay Blush Palette (right) Left to Right: Fetching, Dollface, Prim, Smashing, Beaming

As I mentioned earlier, the Off the Cuff Palette is a lot brighter and much warmer compared to the muted tones found in the Bling It On Palette. They will pair much better and even enhance any contouring you choose to do on your cheekbones. While the Bling It On Palette may not be an efficient purchase for darker complexions, it is still a purchase I'm glad to have in my collection because it is a fresh take on Tarte's current Amazonian Clay Blush collection. It is now available for purchase at Sephora for $44.


XO♥