I owe
Kristen a huge "you were right!" but first, allow me to explain. I'm browsing Bobbi Brown palettes and come across this
beautiful shimmering neutrals palette fit for a sun-goddess. I swatch the sacrificial tester palette in the front of the display case. The golden shadows are swiping "like buttah" so I am instantly hooked. I grab myself a fresh box and run to the checkout. Moments later I excitedly share the news of a Bobbi Brown score with
Kristen via text message. We throw some gold emoji glitter, and as my celebration winds down, she advises me to tread carefully. Unbeknownst to me, Bobbi Brown palettes are notoriously sheer. I scratched my head and replied naively; "I swatched the colors and they are beautiful. I'm hoping I didn't make a grave mistake. They felt super buttery though, so fingers crossed?" and didn't think about it much after that.
The next day I take pictures of the palette (for this review post!!) before smashing my fingers into the shadows. By the end of the photo-session there is drool rolling out the sides of my mouth, I'm ready to get a beach-beautiful makeup look! I swatch the first eyeshadow in the palette, a creamy matte white. Nothing. "I'm really pale, it's not showing up" I think to myself, and try to build up the color. Next I swatch a beautiful metallic gold shadow, one of the main reasons I fell so deeply in love with the Surf & Sand palette. All that is left behind are a few flecks of gold. How can this be!? Panic set in and I aggressively began trying to build the swatches up in intensity.
several layers of each eyeshadow swatched with my finger shown below. saddle was the only successful eyeshadow when using a brush (natural & synthetic)
Dismayed, I shut the palette and walked away. I'll give it a day, as if that changes anything. The following afternoon I decided to use my new Bobbi Brown palette as the feature of my #fotd. Truth be told if I hadn't layered the shadows from the Surf & Sand palette over a Morphe eyeshadow, you might have thought I didn't use anything but mascara. I can't believe how terrible this palette of shadows is when compared to the tester I swatched in-store. I've never experienced anything like that in my life. Bobbi Brown, I am truly disappointed!
In case you haven't already guessed, I DO NOT recommend this palette. I've even written to Bobbi Brown's customer support to let them know how remarkably bad these eyeshadows are. If I'm being brutally honest, these eyeshadows have less pigmentation than the pastels in those "my first makeup" kits you buy your three-year-old daughter to experiment with. Say WHAT?!
Much Love,
-Stephanie Eva
Labels: makeup, review
