British brand, Ciaté is famous for their nail products and recently, they've expanded into makeup. For their autumn 2015 collection, they collaborated with the style icon and socialite Olivia Palermo to create a range of nail colours (of course!) as well as makeup. I've many Ciaté nail polishes in my collection and I adore them (just do a search of this brand on my blog and you will find several blog posts on it), so I was a bit skeptical of how well they would do makeup considering all they did before was nail products - which they really do excel at. I had seen a few photos of the Olivia Palermo range and wasn't really drawn to it until...I read Gaia's rave reviews on The Non-Blonde. I just had to try them! And, I am soooo glad I did, because OMG...!
Sneak Peek of My Initial Purchases
I first picked up the Cheekbone Cheat Duo in Bluff Point, the Smoked Out Gel Kohl Liner in Fig and what I think is the star of the collection (and reviewed in this post), the Smouldering Eye Palette - all pictured below (and first image above). My picks were also inspired/enabled by Mallory1712's review on her YouTube Channel (she also has swatches). I would have also loved to purchase the deeper nail colours in the range, but unfortunately couldn't find them anywhere that would ship them to Australia. :'( I've since purchased more from the collection as I will reveal at the end of this post.
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Below is the eye shadow palette. The top of the palette is packaged in pebbled black faux leather and the rest is in gold. The packaging is ok - others might love it more than I do. I personally don't like it when faux looks too fake and with this one, you can kinda tell straight away. I also prefer silver to gold, but that's by the by... It's what's inside the palette that counts the most! ;-)
Sneak Peek of My Initial Purchases
I first picked up the Cheekbone Cheat Duo in Bluff Point, the Smoked Out Gel Kohl Liner in Fig and what I think is the star of the collection (and reviewed in this post), the Smouldering Eye Palette - all pictured below (and first image above). My picks were also inspired/enabled by Mallory1712's review on her YouTube Channel (she also has swatches). I would have also loved to purchase the deeper nail colours in the range, but unfortunately couldn't find them anywhere that would ship them to Australia. :'( I've since purchased more from the collection as I will reveal at the end of this post.
The Smouldering Eye Palette
I love the box that the palette comes in with its colourful, scalloped design. So pretty! :)
Below is the back of the outer box packaging that has all the shades and their names. Some might prefer to have these on the palette itself as a permanent and more convenient reference though!
Below is the size of the palette with respect to my slightly smaller than average hand.
Here's the product description label on the bottom of the palette...
"Seriously soft-touch suede eye shadow..." I totes agree with that. More on this later...
The large mirror and the 9 eye shadows in the palette below.
Colours & Finishes
The palette contains a great range of colours and finishes (matte, pearl and shimmer) for achieving different smokey eye looks - appropriate for day and night.
Top (L - R):
// Camo - deep olive pearl
// London - deep gray matte
// Pisces - light gray pearl
// Double Denim - blue shimmer pearl
Centre:
// Butler - bone matte
Bottom (L - R):
// Amaretto - aubergine/brown matte
// Mulberry - cranberry pearl
// Penny Jar - purple gray shimmer pearl
// Blondie - gray/purple matte
I love all the eye colours and finishes. I initially thought the shades in the palette looked a little dated, but they are actually gorgeous and sophisticated when worn together. Soooo flattering and timeless! Well done Olivia! :D (How could I have doubted the impeccable taste of this lady). In particular, however, I've been surprisingly obsessed with using the more plummy shades in the palette (despite my love of blue!) - the Amaretto and Mulberry then Penny Jar as a light, shimmering top coat on the centre of the lid. I'm really loving the red-toned plums - so flattering for those with brown eyes, green, blue and pale eye colours in particular. The red doesn't make me appear sickly at all. I truly can't get enough of it and have been wearing it whenever it's not too sweltering hot for makeup! I also wore this combination for Christmas (see my Christmas makeup selections on Instagram). I can't wait for autumn down-under! Mostly so I can wear this more often. Hehe. >_<
The deep olive is also nice and contains just the right amount of green that I can tolerate. :)
Swatches
For reference, all swatches were applied on my current medium to tan summer (~NC30-35) olive skin tone. Applied with a clean, dry finger and without a primer. All photographed indoors using a strobe.
Pigmentation
All the shades have great pigmentation that lends itself to softer, smokey effects that the palette is designed for (as opposed to bright, bold pops of colour).
Texture & Application
Apart from the gorgeous shade selections, it is definitely the texture that you will notice the significant difference in compared to any other eye shadow you have ever come across! BIG statement, I know! Suede-like texture is definitely what it is. Buttery, smooth...oh so, beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable to touch and apply! I don't want to be rude or explicit here, but it's almost (dare I say it) orgasmic even. Haha! Oh my...what is my blog post coming to. Basically, you need to try its amazing texture to know what I'm talking about. ;-) It is simply exquisite and heavenly! All this means, it applies and blends incredibly well and with little time and effort. I find it best to pack on colour using a thicker/coarser natural-haired, flat eye shadow brush, or you can even use just a clean finger to apply the colour on the lids initially and blend with a soft, natural-haired brush to match the soft, buttery texture of the shadows. Using this method, I didn't experience any fall out apart from the shimmer eye shadows where a little of the shimmer particles dropped.
Longevity
I found these eye shadows to last from morning until I remove it late at night with hardly any fading. Very impressed - granted I do have normal skin condition on my eye lids (neither oily or dry). This is also only with the thinnest layer of face primer and foundation over the eye lids (as I tend to do this to even out my skin tone all over).
Size
12 g / 0.42 oz.
Made in Italy.
Many of the gorgeous powder products I've encountered have been made in Italy. Just my observation!
All the shades have great pigmentation that lends itself to softer, smokey effects that the palette is designed for (as opposed to bright, bold pops of colour).
Texture & Application
Apart from the gorgeous shade selections, it is definitely the texture that you will notice the significant difference in compared to any other eye shadow you have ever come across! BIG statement, I know! Suede-like texture is definitely what it is. Buttery, smooth...oh so, beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable to touch and apply! I don't want to be rude or explicit here, but it's almost (dare I say it) orgasmic even. Haha! Oh my...what is my blog post coming to. Basically, you need to try its amazing texture to know what I'm talking about. ;-) It is simply exquisite and heavenly! All this means, it applies and blends incredibly well and with little time and effort. I find it best to pack on colour using a thicker/coarser natural-haired, flat eye shadow brush, or you can even use just a clean finger to apply the colour on the lids initially and blend with a soft, natural-haired brush to match the soft, buttery texture of the shadows. Using this method, I didn't experience any fall out apart from the shimmer eye shadows where a little of the shimmer particles dropped.
Longevity
I found these eye shadows to last from morning until I remove it late at night with hardly any fading. Very impressed - granted I do have normal skin condition on my eye lids (neither oily or dry). This is also only with the thinnest layer of face primer and foundation over the eye lids (as I tend to do this to even out my skin tone all over).
Size
12 g / 0.42 oz.
Made in Italy.
Many of the gorgeous powder products I've encountered have been made in Italy. Just my observation!
Overall
I am completely surprised and thoroughly impressed by the quality of the eye shadows. Gobsmacked I tell you! I'd hate to say it, but I'm probably even more wowed by them than the Burberry Sheer Eye Shadows, which are among my all-time top eye shadow formulations. These are so buttery and suede-like to touch! I did not know it was possible nor did I expect it from a brand that's fairly new to makeup. They are that amazing. You have to get this while you still can! >_<
I just LOVE the eye shadow palette so much that like Gaia, I had to purchase the other palette as well! >_< The palette is called The Smokey Suedes and I am still waiting for it to arrive. I am averse to green eye shadow (especially since I am naturally green(olive)-tinted already LOL), but I am very drawn to the rest of the shades in that palette and with the same gorgeous texture, I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Lastly, I also picked up the Satin Kiss Lipstick in Praline from the collection as part of this second order (it was sold out initially, but then became available - yesss! Nooo! Yells my wallet) So...I'm dying to get my hands on these!
DO NOT REPUBLISH CONTENT OR PHOTOS WITHOUT PERMISSION
Not bad Ciaté, not bad at all.
Availability
Limited edition. I purchased mine online from Look Fantastic, which ship internationally (free standard shipping). They are also currently doing a gift with purchase at the time I have written this post.
Will/have you tried this palette? Also, please share any recommendations you might have from the Ciaté makeup range.
DO NOT REPUBLISH CONTENT OR PHOTOS WITHOUT PERMISSION