2016 was the year of eyeshadow palettes. I told myself I wasn't going to buy anymore after I purchased the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario on a whim.

I had been eyeing the Huda Beauty Rose Gold Edition Eyeshadow Palette for a bit but repeatedly talked myself out of it (and it was pretty much sold out every time I checked so that helped).  The reviews were mixed and I tend to reach for the same few palettes usually so I managed to hold off for a while. I started getting bored of the same matte colors that I had and was really interested in how the glitter shadows were in the palette

Product details:
The palette contains a good mix of matte and glittery shadows.
Specifically, the palette has: ten matte shadows, two pearl finish shadows, and six 3D metal shadows.

List price: available on Sephora.com for $65.00.
Currently sold out on http://www.shophudabeauty.com/ but you can add yourself to the waitlist (free shipping on orders over $75)

Thoughts:
I was lucky enough that I was able to snag this palette from Sephora's website because I received the product in two days (shout out to Sephora Flash Shipping!).  I had heard horror stories from people that had ordered from the Huda Beauty website not receiving their packages for well over a month.


The packaging is typical of Huda Beauty products (still a sucker for it, though). The eyeshadow is laid out on a fairly cheap black plastic palette, which I was expecting since others had mentioned the poor quality.  It's similar to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Creme Contour Kit case but cheaper quality.

When I initially read reviews regarding the palette, I was concerned because some of the common complaints were about the lack of pigmentation of the shadows.  However, I didn't find this to be true - especially with the pearl finish and matte shadows. They were very easy to pick up and apply with a brush and equally easy to blend out.

The only issue I experienced (similar to other users) was that the glittery shadows are nearly impossible to apply with any sort of brush.  This problem is pretty easy to solve if you just use your fingers for these, but if you're not a fan of that technique, then this palette definitely isn't for you. I was skeptical about how these more stubborn shadows would show up on my eyes (I haven't used my fingers to apply eyeshadow in...a few years...) but the end result was great and very pigmented. The 3D metal shadows are not chunky so if you're expecting a very obvious glitter look (think "instagram makeup tutorial looks"), then you'll find yourself disappointed with the shadows in this palette.

When I swatched these shadows, the color payoff wasn't as great as on my actual lids, but I think that may be due to the fact that I primed my eyes prior to application.  Keep that in mind if you decide to purchase this palette.

Also, the swatches shown below are with two swipes of an eyeshadow brush.

(top to bottom): Dubai, Fling, 14K, Rose Gold, Trust Fund, Angelic

3D Metallic Glitter Shadows (swiped using fingers)

(Top to bottom): #Blessed, Bossy, Flamingo, Shy, Bae,Moondust

(Top to bottom): Black Truffle, Suede, Coco, Maneater, Henna, Sandalwood

Repurchase?
The Huda Beauty Palette is pricey and incredibly difficult to get, as it's been sold out almost every time I've checked since it's release.  If you have the ABH Modern Renaissance palette and tend to stay away from glittery eyeshadow (and/or hate applying makeup with your fingers), then I would skip this palette. You'll be missing out on very little.  However, one of the greatest draws of this palette is the ability to play with muted looks, as well as, more vibrant and colorful colors.  I have been traveling quite a bit these past few months and the versatility of this palette is great because I can pack just this and have a variety of different colors/textures at my disposal.

The theme for this month was fairly self explanatory.  Between the new cosmetic line being stocked at Sephora (Milk Makeup) and an "innovative" gel blush, the April Play! by Sephora box tried to highlight the popular trends in skincare and makeup.  I prefer to receive makeup products in my boxes so this month's box left something to be desired.  I'm glad they included Milk Makeup, but I would've liked to try something more traditional (hint hint, Sephora).


1) Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil


I was really excited when I heard that there was going to be a Milk item in the April box.  Sephora just recently started carrying the line and I have been curious as to how it is.  The brand's whole idea is to make beauty products quick and easy to use, with simple packaging (which I love) instead of the elaborate designs we usually see.

The "sunshine oil" was...yellow (clever) and smelled pretty good (citrusy) but I honestly didn't know what I was supposed to do with it. Was it supposed to be applied to areas I wanted a "glow"? Was I supposed to only use it on my face? Sephora sends a little booklet with details on each product, but their directions for what to do with the oil weren't very helpful. In any case, I applied it to my face and elbows after I showered and...yep, I stand by what I said before about oils- I'm not a fan.  I don't like the way oils make my skin feel and though this wasn't the worst (by far), it was just an unpleasant sensation.  I don't think I'll be using this again. Also, for those wondering, this dried clear and didn't add any color.

2) Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment




This basically makes the same claims as other anti-aging products.  And if you thought the $85 DDF Wrinkle Resist Serum I reviewed in my Allure April box here was expensive, just stop reading about this right now. It's nice to try out this cream for $10 but I highly doubt I will ever see enough of a change to justify dropping $105 on this. At least not right now. If you're looking for recommendations on moisturizers and products to help with hyper-pigmentation (that are easier on your wallet), feel free to go back to my Allure April box review.

3) Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream



I was a loyal Clinique fan for many years of undergrad before they changed up their makeup formula and I no longer could find the correct foundation match with my skin tone.  Since then, I've mostly given up on them so this is one of the only Clinique products I own--besides the sample lipgloss in "Black Honey" I received in a Sephora purchase (lipstick version--which I am a huge fan of--here).

Like the whole "anti-wrinkle" serum stuff, I don't really understand the deal with eye creams. In the rare occasions that I've actually tried them, they've done nothing that a good facial moisturizer doesn't do and I still have to apply under-eye concealer regardless.  The Clinique eye cream was no different. It comes in a cute little orange tube and applies fairly easily but I didn't notice any change the times I used it.

4) Nars Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien"



As soon as I pulled this out of the box, I knew it looked familiar. This was part of the Sephora birthday gift for Beauty Insiders a couple of years back so I'm not sure why they sent out the exact same shade again.  Regardless, it's a nice, very neutral color which is perfect for clinic days (and a good change from my usual, darker lips I've been doing recently).

As far as consistency, it doesn't dry down completely.  It has a sheen (but not super sticky, because that's a deal breaker for me with lip colors) but doesn't look like you slathered on lip-gloss.  The main negative with this is that the color transfers pretty rapidly and I basically had nothing left on my lips after a couple of hours.  If you're not a fan of reapplying lipsticks (like me) then this may not be the best choice for you.

5) Sephora Collection Colorful Cheek Ink Blush Gel in "Peony"


Gel...blush. I didn't know how I felt about this when I received it and, honestly, I'm still on the fence. Initially, I think I didn't apply enough and I noticed nothing.  Then the second time, I think I over-applied and I could clearly see streaks of pink (ugh). Finally, I tried applying a little bit with a Sephora Collection Airbrush Sponge and then slowly layered and...it worked!

The color is definitely on the brighter side and it's easy to overdo it (tip: just continue to blend it with a sponge and eventually it'll soften the color a bit).  I'm also not a fan of the texture because, as opposed to regular powdered blushes, I could definitely feel it on my face for a while. It stayed put for a few hours so that was great, but I really didn't like how I was aware it was on for most of the day.  Lesson learned: blush gel + southern humidity are not a good mix.



If you like this color but want a more traditional blush, my favorite is: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 hour Blush in "Doll Face".

6) Derek Lam 10 Crosby "2am Kiss"

When I found out Sephora was coming out with a monthly subscription box, I was ecstatic. I had pretty much given up on them entirely after trying out Ipsy for a few months (and a trial of Birchbox along the way, also) but I figured, since almost all my beauty purchases were made at Sephora, their box would be perfect. Of course, I went on to the website, realized that there was a waitlist, promptly signed myself up...and then forgot about it.

So imagine my surprise when more than six months later, I got an email saying I was finally off the waitlist (conveniently the day after I had signed up for the Allure Beauty Box -- which I reviewed here)!

The shipping schedule for the box is pretty annoying, because it wasn't sent out until the end of the third week and I received it about a week ago.  Hopefully, that's just an early kink that will be worked out.



First things first - the packaging. It comes in a box with the usual black and white Sephora design elements. Along with the usual beauty items, each box comes with a pamphlet that talks about the products and a "play pass" that allows you to get a complimentary "one on one session" in store along with 50 Beauty Insider points with any purchase.

Each month has a specific theme for all the products, with the March 2016 box named "The Perfection Collection".

The products:

1) Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (1.0 fl oz: $65)

I have tried a few other Murad products in the past and, to be honest, I just do not understand all the hype.  I haven't found the hefty price-tag worth it so I wasn't too excited to try this out. It's supposed to be a SPF + moisturizer + basically a built in "instagram filter" for your face all in one. I'm not so sure about the last part. I'm sure it moisturized and protected my skin, but I most definitely still had to use concealer and makeup.  I think I'll stick with my cheaper Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer that costs me a fraction of the price.

2) Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (1.7 fl oz: $15)

Every time I've tried to get my hands on the Fresh cleanser deluxe samples from Sephora, they've been out of stock and with all the other face cleansers I have, I didn't feel the need to purchase it without trying it out first. Fresh's other products have always been phenomenal (still managed to hold out on buying the full sized Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment) so I wanted to try this cleanser out as soon as possible. The product claims that the soy helps refresh skin and the cleanser removes makeup, and my face did feel noticeably cleaner after I used it but it was definitely not completely makeup-free. This is another one of those items that feels good on my skin, but not enough to necessarily justify the cost, especially if you already have a go-to cleanser.

3) Sephora Collection - The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge ($12)

Perfect timing! My beauty blender had to be thrown out and I was going to purchase another one so I was glad I received this in my box this month.  Most of the time, when you're reading reviews for the Beauty Blender, there seems to be the opinion that anything beside the original Beauty Blender sponge is inferior in quality.  Because of that, I was willing to spend the $20 dollars every few months to replace my old, beat up sponge.  Last year, I decided to try out the Sephora Collection dupe and I found that I actually preferred those to the original I had.

The shape for these sponges is different than the traditional Beauty Blender, but I find that that's an improvement and makes it easier to handle when applying makeup.  Also, these sponges last a whole lot longer and I haven't had problems with mold, discoloration, and all the other complaints associated with the original Beauty Blender.

If you haven't tried using a sponge for makeup application/blending and were hesitant because of the price tag, I would recommend checking these out. I was skeptical about using sponges initially, but I really think that they do a far better job of giving a more natural, flawless appearance.

(The sponge that came with the Play! by Sephora box is currently sold out but here are similar products that you can try out: Sephora Sponge, black'Up Contouring Sponge, Blending Sponge)

4) Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (1 oz: $42)

I only use primer under my foundation, which I wear rarely (only for special occasions). I had used the original Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer for many years and then moved on to the more lotion-like Nars Pore-Refining Primer because it felt a lot better on my skin. I wasn't aware that Smashbox had come out with an oil version of their primer and tried it out since I've been having trouble with some dry areas on my face recently. I generally don't like working with oil because I just feel shiny/greasy the whole time and this kind of left me with the same feeling.  My face didn't look like I was sweaty or anything like that, but I felt as if my makeup wasn't as matte as I would like it.

Again, this is not a cheap investment so I would recommend trying out something a little easier to work with if this is your first foray into primers.  And, obviously, avoid this if you have any problems with oily skin.  I'm probably going to stick with my Nars primer from here on out, but I can see this being useful for applying to those specific dry patches on your skin, if you have those.  If you really don't like the feel of the original primer (I admit, the silicone makes it difficult to work with at times) and want an alternative that also isn't oily, I would try out the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water. The best part is that it comes in a more affordable size so you can try it out with less regret.

5) Kat Von D Tattoo Liner - "Trooper" ($19)

I think I've mentioned this eye liner multiple times already, so I'll spare you the details.  This has been my holy grail eyeliner since I first tried it out and I try to keep myself stocked up for when I run out. It truly is waterproof, smudge-proof (good for people like me that are constantly rubbing their eyes...oops), and very pigmented.  I'm terrible at working with liquid eyeliner but I really think that liquid gives the most vibrant color so this was a God-send.  One or two swipes is all you need to get the color pay-off and the pen is easy to control so you can make the line as thick or thin as you want.

6) Maison Martin Margiela - "Replica" Beach Walk

Along with the five deluxe samples in the box, Sephora also sends a small fragrance sample, which is nice because the size is useful for travel.  This month's perfume was different from what I usually use (I'm more into the muskier scents) but I liked it; "Beach Walk" is appropriate for the Spring - fresh, clean, and a much lighter scent.

Verdict: 
Though this first month's beauty box had items that I wouldn't necessarily purchase, it was nice to try out different formulations, brands, and products that were outside of my comfort zone.  The biggest perk with the Sephora box, for me at least, is the fact that I make most of my beauty purchases there and this allows me to try out mid/high range items before I commit.  As you can see from the pricing for the full-sized products, the items tend to be pricier than the Allure box and that may be a benefit or flaw, depending on the individual.

Given that I felt pretty much the same way about both boxes this month, I'll probably give it another month or so before I decide which one to keep!