Tag: eyeshadow palette

When I hear of a movie sequel, I often think it will be rubbish and in my experience, they generally are. Also, when I hear the words, ‘ just add water’, (especially on the packages of pre-mixed sauces) I automatically think it’s bad for me, MSG, High Sodium content, a potential heart attack (okay, that’s a bit dramatic) but I use it anyway (in emergencies only . . . that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

I guess this has influenced my choices in buying make up too, because I’m weird like that.

Funnily enough, when I heard that the Smashbox Double Exposure palette, the sequel to the Smashbox Full Exposure palette, I wasn’t deterred in the least. Why? Because I love Smashbox eye shadows, especially their Photo Op formula. And while this palette isn’t the Photo Op formula, when I saw them unpacking it in Red Square in Sandton City, I did a happy dance and jumping jacks (in the parking lot of course. I am cray, but not that cray). Since I am on a no-buy, I immediately hinted to my hubby that I really wanted to try it. And if you follow me on Instagram, you would know, I hand it in my hands the very next day! Since it was a gift, I’m still being a good girl and sticking to my no-buy!

But, enough of my rambling and onto the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette.

The Smasbox Double Exposure palette has 14 shades in total, which is more than a full size Urban Decay Naked palette that has 12. Unlike the Smashbox Full Exposure palette that had 7 sparkly/glittery eye shadows and 7 mattes, this palette has seven shimmers, four satins and three mattes. There is also an insert showing you what transformation to expect from each shade when you use it with a wet brush. Nice touch.

Now onto the selling point, Smashbox claims that each eye shadow in this palette, when used with a wet brush, transforms into either a different finish or a more intense colour. Basically, these 14 shades are transformed into 28 shades. Now those are a lot of shades. And you don’t need fancy pants MAC Fix+, just regular H2O (straight from the tap, nogal, not even bottled water!)

I love that this palette has names for each colour.

The layout of this palette is very well thought out. On the left hand side are six cool-toned eye shadows. The white and black shades are BANG in the middle and the six warm and rosy shades are on the right.

The eye shape chart, which came with the Full Exposure palette as well, is also included.

Smashbox is BIG on showing and telling and the chart will help you identify your eye shape and show you how to use the shades in the palette, where to place them to get maximum impact in your eye look.

A quick one, wet, doesn’t mean sopping wet like when you wash your hair and come out the shower, remove the excess water by turning it on either side of a paper towel before dipping it into the eye shadow pans. If you go gung-ho with a wet brush, you will end up with a watery hell of a mess. This brings me to the next point. Usually when you go into an eyeshadow with a wet brush, it can jack up your eyeshadows. This however will not glaze over and dry to the original texture.

The shades are a pretty mix of neutrals, pinks, corals and grey, silver and a beautiful blue. It also has a white and matte black eyeshadow, which is a must in any eye shadow palette.

The palette also comes with a handy dual-ended.

A dense, short shader brush to pack on colour and blend.

The angled brush is not fluffy enough for blending and great to define and smoke out the lower lash line, define the outer crease and apply eyeshadow close to the upper lash liner to intensify any eye look.

The palette is made from heavy cardboard and has a plastic cover. While the Smashbox Double Exposure palette is not the slimmest (it has some junk in its trunk, which I appreciate), it has a magnetic closure so you can travel with it with peace of mind and it comes with a handy, large mirror.

 

 

 

 

Let’s get to the swatches:

 

WET:

Silver (Shimmer to Metallic): Before you think this is just a flat silver . . . do a double take. It has a beautiful trio-chrome effect with hints of dark blue and a bit of gold. This is a very unique colour. Applied wet, it’s supposed to turn metallic and it does. It’s has a beautiful sheen and the blue and gold are intensified. The shade is nothing like I’ve ever seen, and I have seen a lot of eyeshadows.

Mauve (Satin to Metallic): Dry this a beautiful taupe/ shade that has the texture of satin and a sheen that is slightly metallic. It leans more on the purple/lilac side. When wet, the mauviness is intensified and the metallic is not BOOM but definitely there. However, oddly, when wet, the colour is not as metallic as when applied dry but the colour is darker. It is difficult to blend when wet so I suggest only using it on the lid. Dry, it works like a dream

Peony (Shimmer to Metallic) is a soft rosy shade with a hint of champagne that makes it a soft rosy/gold shade. It leans more towards being a metallic shade because there was no shimmer that I could detect. Applied wet, it’s slightly more metallic. This has a duo chrome finish that I would happily wear alone for a subtle feminine look. Again, this colour when wet, is difficult to blend out, but packed on the lid or on the lower lash line it is beautiful.

Blanc (Frost to Metallic) is a white with a hint of gold. This one was the most different when applied wet. It turned super frosty and metallic. It will make for a great brow bone highlight

Quartz (Shimmer to Amped Up Vibrancy) is peachy/golden shade, which comes off more as a satin than a shimmer. When wet, it turns into a golden shade with a very, very subtle hint of peach.

Flushed (Shimmer to Gets Deeper) is a soft rose colour that again is more of a satin metallic shade rather than a shimmer. It is one of my favourites in this palette. When wet, it becomes deeper and more metallic. This blends out beautifully both wet and dry.

Veiled (Satin to Amps Up Vibrancy) is a creamy buttery highlight shade but when used wet doesn’t seems to get lighter and very sheer. I recommend using this one dry only. That said, it makes for a great all over eyeshadow base as well as the perfect brow bone highlight, especially on darker skin when a stark white shade like Blanc may not suit an eye look, unless of course your going for high drama!

Bottom Row

DRY:

 

WET:

Midnight (Satin to Adds Sparkle) is a blackened navy blue with hints of navy blue sparkles. This is one of those magical shades when you wet it because it turns into a beautiful metallic colour with slight, sparkly navy blue that would be perfect for a smokey eye because it blends out beautifully used both wet and dry.

Temper (Satin to Adds Sparkle) is a nice dark plum color with a lilac and pink duo chrome finish. When wet, it transforms into an intense violet and the lilac sheen is amped up and hint of sparkles are noticeable, but not that rodeo-look kind of sparkle. This shade looks gorgeous wet or dry but doesn’t blend out easily so you have to blend until your wrists bend.

Haze (Shimmer to Gets Deeper) is a dark smokey grey/plum but more of a satin formula. Applied wet, it doesn’t get more intense. This works well wet and dry and is easy to blend.

Noir (Matte to Gets Deeper) is black. It’s beautiful. Applied dry, this needs to be built up because it can be a bit patchy. Used wet, it definitely gets deeper and this is a very useful shade to darken a look or even use as a liner.

Copper (Shimmer turns Metallic) is a beautiful reddish brown shade. It looks amazing wet because when it turns metallic the hints of plum and brown really pop. Easy to blend both wet and dry.

Fig (Matte to Gets Deeper) is a rich dark brown with red /plum under tones. Applied wet, it loses the pluminess and looks like deep a chocolate brown. It doesn’t blend out well wet but is super blendable dry.

Espresso (Matte to Gets Deeper) is a brown, with slight yellow undertones. Applied dry, this is a true matte and the texture is beautiful. When applied wet it does get deeper and a more greyish undertone. This is best used dry because using it wet can be a bit difficult to blend out. It is a beautiful shade though.

I was really wowed by the Smashbox Full Exposure pallete but did note that the glittery eyeshadows weren’t pressed enough and needed to be used wet to prevent sparkle face (glitter eyeshadow fallout)

So when Smashbox SA brought in the Double Exposure palette with huge claims I couldn’t wait to get it. There is certainly no fallout and while I like the idea of using the shadows wet, the eye shadows are so pigmented that there isn’t a need to intensify the colour. Some shades don’t work well wet, but those that do work, work so beautifully that I am ok with using the non- wet-working eye shadows dry because they are equally amazing. This is not gimmicky, it’s a beautiful palette, with an excellent variety of shades to choose from and create numerous looks from everyday soft, neutral and feminine to smoldering and sexy.

With insanely opaque eyeshadows with virtually no fallout and double the fun, this palette is a winner and I definitely think it’s worth the splurge.

I’m often asked why I review the Smashbox palettes when I have far too many already, the reason is simple. We are not spoilt for choice in Mzansi when it comes to high-end palettes where you can walk into a store, swatch the colours and even get a make over at the counter before you buy it. Often, we have to read reviews, watch YT videos and shell out a lot to get an UD Naked palette, which may be fake depending on which retailer you buy it from. Beware; a reputable store has been selling fake UD Naked palettes. I have irrefutable evidence. Or you have pay three times the price from a third-party seller. This is why I will do my best to review these palettes because while I love international brands, there’s a feeling of great satisfaction when you buy local, from an actual store. Hey, we don’t have Sephora, but we do have Red Square and Smashbox!

Halaala Smashbox, halaala, this is ayoba for sho!

Where to buy: Smashbox counters countrywide

Price: R990

Have you tried the Smashbox Double Exposure Palette? Which are your favourite shades? I would love to know! Comment down below J

Until next time, stay blessed and beautiful. Love you double than I did since my last post.

xoxo

Prativa

Beauty Bugle