Photolog 2019: Day 327 of 365

Anastasia Beverly Hills Jackie Aina Eyeshadow Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Jackie Aina Eyeshadow Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1
Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Liner and Brow Wiz in Medium Brown (x3)
My friend Viv, who now works for Anastasia Beverly Hills, gifted me a package of their makeup goodies as a belated birthday present! Inside, I found the Liquid Liner (I never thought I'd abandon my MAC one, but wow, this is a serious contender as holy grail), three of my favourite Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, and some beautiful new palettes: the Jackie Aina Eyeshadow Palette, the Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1, and the Norvina Mini Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1. Time to get my creativity flowing again! (Also, both the Pro Pigment Palettes remind me of BTS' "Boy in Luv" photoshoot so I kinda automatically love them.)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Sugar Glow Kit

Last month, Anastasia Beverly Hills released their new and limited edition Sugar Glow Kit, which is "a collection of four metallic powder highlighters for intense luminosity." These shades "feature a buildable metallic-lustre formula and can be applied wet or dry." They can be worn together or separately on the face, eyes, and body. (Marshmallow, Gumdrop, and Butterscotch can also be worn on the lips.) The four shades are housed in a slim mauve-to-white iridescent ombre cardboard case. Each Sugar Glow Kit contains a total of 29.6 grams of product (7.4 g per shade), and retails for $52. It is available online and in store at Sephora and Anastasia Beverly Hills.
In daylight: Marshmallow, Gumdrop, Butterscotch, and Starburst
In direct sunlight: Marshmallow, Gumdrop, Butterscotch, and Starburst

Marshmallow is a light neutral-warm brightened silvered white with gold duochrome pearl in a metallic finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Sweets Glow Kit, and is limited edition. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and less yellow than Anastasia Beverly Hills Helia (Aurora), more muted than Makeup Geek Electrify, slightly brighter than Becca Pearl Flashes Gold, and more duochrome than ColourPop Ruffle My Feathers.

Gumdrop is a medium warm peachy pink with pink duochrome pearl and gold micro-glitter in a metallic finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink than Anastasia Beverly Hills Lyra (Aurora), lighter and more gold than Anastasia Beverly Hills Hard Candy, more peach than MAC Show Gold, and lighter and brighter than Urban Decay Fireball.

Butterscotch is a light-medium warm champagne gold with silver micro-shimmer in a metallic finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Sweets Glow Kit, and is limited edition. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It is more gold than Anastasia Beverly Hills Forever Young (Nicole Guerriero), slightly cooler than MAC Oh, Darling!, more gold than Becca Moonstone, and darker and more yellow than Becca Champagne Pop.

Starburst is a light neutral-warm peached beige in a metallic finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Gleam Glow Kit, and is limited edition. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Crushed Pearl (Gleam), slightly peachier than Fenty Beauty Fire Crystal, lighter and cooler than MAC Soft and Gentle, and lighter and cooler than Becca Opal.

Over the past couple years, Anastasia Beverly Hills' powder highlighters have become one of my favourite formulas. I honestly haven't been disappointed by a single Glow Kit yet (granted, I don't have the Ultimate Glow Glow Kit, which received less-than-stellar reviews). Not only does the Sugar Glow Kit include four full size highlighters (in magnetized pans, so you can remove them if you so wish), but they look stunning on the skin; they're for those who like their highlighters to pop. They give an incredible luminosity with an almost wet-looking metallic finish. They're not overly intense, but they do give an obvious beaming highlight, so these aren't for people who like softer or more muted highlighters. What sets the Sugar Glow Kit apart from previous palettes is the inclusion of two duochrome shades, Marshmallow and Gumdrop; they're not the most unique in colour, but they are really well-executed in finish and texture. Each shade is ultra-smooth, buttery, and pigmented, but not overly soft or dense, so you have more control of the product and can layer and blend them out easily. There is literally nothing bad I can write about the formula of these. If you couldn't get your hands on the Sweets Glow Kit that was exclusive to ABH's website last year (personally, I wasn't willing to pay the shipping and the duties), then you'll be glad to know that the Sugar Glow Kit — which has two of the four shades from Sweets — is also available in-store and online at Sephora.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Eyeshadow Palette

Last month, Anastasia Beverly Hills launched a new eyeshadow palette called Subculture, "an essential eyeshadow collection with fourteen shades featuring grungy mattes and bold metallics with an underground edge." Subculture will be Anastasia's second permanent eyeshadow palette. It is housed in a rectangular magnetic case with a dusty peacock blue velvet exterior (exactly the same size and material as Modern Renaissance). There is a mirror spanning the inside of the lid, and it also comes with a double-ended eyeshadow brush. Each Subculture palette comes with a total of 9.8 grams of product, and retails for $55. It is available in-stores and online at Sephora, as well as Anastasia's website.
Cube, Dawn, Destiny, Adorn, and All Star

Cube is a pale cool icy white with a lavender to orange-pink shift in a duochrome finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, but powdery texture, and goes on patchy and unevenly. It has low pigmentation and sheer to semi-sheer colour pay-off. Due to the texture, it can be hard to layer and blend out. It is warmer with more of a duochrome shift than MAC Ready to Party, sheerer and less reflective than Makeup Geek Prism, and lighter with more of a sheerer with more of a duochrome shift than NARS Cassiopeia.

Dawn is a medium warm peachy brown in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and peachier than Anastasia Beverly Hills Raw Sienna (Modern Renaissance), lighter than MAC Soft Brown, and more brown than Jeffree Star Courtney (Beauty Killer).

Destiny is a medium-dark warm olive green in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than Makeup Geek Dirty Martini, darker and cooler than Jeffree Star Military (Androgyny), and darker than Make Up For Ever M322 Khaki.

Adorn is a medium warm copper bronze in a metallic finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more bronze than MAC Amber Lights, lighter than Makeup Geek Legend, and darker than Ardency Inn Copper.

All Star is a medium-deep warm burgundy plum in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly lighter than MAC I'm Into It, similar to MAC Deep Damson, and slightly cooler than Makeup Geek Cherry Cola.

Mercury, Axis, Roxy, Electric, and Fudge

Mercury is a medium-deep neutral taupe brown in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Warm Taupe (Modern Renaissance), warmer than MAC Concrete, and darker and cooler than MAC Charcoal Brown.

Axis is a dark cool teal blue in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than MAC Plumage, darker than Jeffree Star Poison (Androgyny), and darker and more teal than Jeffree Star Swallow (Androgyny).

Roxy is a medium warm brightened peach-orange in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and brighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Burnt Orange, lighter than MAC Rule, and lighter and more muted than Violet Voss Hash Tag (Holy Grail).

Electric is a light-medium cool yellow gold with a gold to green shift in a duochrome finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium pigmentation and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. Due to the texture, it can be layered easily but difficult to blend out. It is more muted and less sparkly than MAC I Like 2 Watch, lighter than Makeup Geek Karma, and more green than Makeup Geek Voltage.

Fudge is a medium-deep warm chocolate brown in a matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than MAC Espresso, less red than Violet Voss Tender (Matte About You), and similar to Jeffree Star Dominatrix (Androgyny).

New Wave, Untamed, Edge, and Rowdy

New Wave is a medium warm marigold orange in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and more yellow than MAC Up at Dawn, slightly darker and more muted than Makeup Geek Chickadee, and more yellow than Jeffree Star Charm.

Untamed is a medium-dark cool muted teal green in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more green than MAC Plumage, more green and more muted than Jeffree Star Poison, and lighter and more muted than Makeup Geek Time Travel.

Edge is a light-medium warm sunflower yellow in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter and more yellow than Anastasia Beverly Hills New Wave (Subculture), darker and warmer than MAC Yellow Chrome, and darker and warmer than Makeup Geek Lemon Drop.

Rowdy is a deep-dark neutral-warm blackened plum in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Deep Plum, warmer than MAC Shadowy Lady, and slightly cooler than Makeup Geek Taboo.

There's been a whole lot of controversy and backlash with this palette over the past few weeks through social media (mostly YouTube), saying that the shadows here are far too powdery, kick up too much excess product, are hard to blend out, and oxidize on the lid. First of all, I gotta say, these social media "influencers" or "gurus" or whatever you wanna call them are just being overdramatic, almost ridiculously so (the critic in me wants to say it's because drama = more views). I've seen a lot of these people trying out this palette on camera, and nearly all of them use this palette in a way that is unrealistic or overemphasized. First of all, whether or not you are going to use an eye primer, you want to set your lids using a powder. Why? Because matte shades will darken and oxidize over bare skin or any porous surface where natural oils or moisture occurs. People that are freaking out because that matte colour turned darker or ashier on their slick/sticky eyelid? Sorry, they're just not using common sense. They're acting like they've never used eyeshadow before. 
Secondly, these powders (with the exception of Cube and Electric, which are the duochromes) are intensely pigmented. So you do not need to excessively swirl your brush into them. A couple dabs will do. Almost every single video review I've seen of this palette features the "influencer" swirling their brush into the shadows over and over again, and then tapping off their excess shadows against the palette or on a hard surface to showcase just how "powdery" the eyeshadows are. No, no, no, no, no. If you keep swirling your brush into a powder eyeshadow, yes, it will loosen the powder and kick it up. Again, this is common sense. Also, if there's excess pigment on your brush, dab it on to a towel or paper towel. Tapping shadows off your brush on a hard surface is a) going to make the powder fly everywhere thereby causing a mess, and b) damage the ferrule of your brush over time. Subculture is not more or less powdery than Modern Renaissance, which only got rave reviews — you just didn't see people testing out that palette the same way as this one, and it's a totally unfair assessment. Thirdly, use common sense when choosing which colours to use together. If you're going to try to blend an orange with a dark blue, or that teal green with burgundy, then yeah, it's gonna look like a hot mess. It's not going to look good, and it's futile to make them work together. This is basic colour theory.
Okay, now that my rant is over, I will get to my conclusion. This palette features 11 ultra-matte shades, one metallic shade, and two duochrome shades. The ultra-mattes are extremely pigmented, give off full colour pay-off with the tiniest amount, apply smoothly and evenly, and are easy to blend out. A light dab of a brush into any of the mattes is enough to get full saturated colour pay-off even without primer, and there is little-to-no fall-out, even from the darkest shade (Rowdy). I didn't experience any skipping or patchiness, either — but again, I always set my eyelids with a transparent powder before going in with eyeshadow so the powder doesn't cling on to any moisture (I find this step to be essential for flawless blending, whether on myself or others). The metallic shade (Adorn) is absolutely incredible, giving off rich colour pay-off with the smoothest, most buttery texture. I really wish they had included a couple more shades in this finish. My biggest issue with Subculture is with the duochrome shades (Cube and Electric), which go on sheer and patchy, regardless of using them dry or wet. Their surfaces also harden over time, making it hard to get a hold of the pigment. Electric gives off more colour pay-off and is marginally smoother than Cube, which is just atrocious. It's not impossible to use, but it's a pain in the ass. A real shame, because ABH typically does shimmery shades really well.
This palette isn't for everybody and it's going to intimidate some — it's called Subculture for a reason. It's designed for experienced makeup wearers — that is, someone who knows how to use product with different finishes and how to manipulate textures on skin — and people who want to wear colours that aren't neutral, everyday, or conservative. Upon first glance, it doesn't even look like a very cohesive palette, with muted jewel tones ranging from warm to cool and bright to deep dark scattered throughout, seemingly without much thought. But these shades can create some absolutely stunning looks from fiery and sultry to cool and smoky — so long as you're willing to put in the work.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Aurora Glow Kit

Last month, Anastasia Beverly Hills released their latest highlighter palette called the Aurora Glow Kit, which is described as "a collection of full-spectrum highlighters with iridescent and metallic finishes" for "intense luminosity." The shades can be "layered together to brighten cheekbones and décolletage, or worn separately over eyelids, brow bones, and inner corners of the eyes." Each palette has six shades and they are housed in a slim pink-to-periwinkle iridescent ombre cardboard case. It will be added to ABH's permanent range. Each Aurora Glow Kit contains a total of 25.2 grams of product (4.2 g per shade), and retails for $52. It is available online and in store at Sephora and Anastasia Beverly Hills.
In daylight: Eclipse, Luna, Spectra, Helia, Orion, and Lyra
In direct sunlight: Eclipse, Luna, Spectra, Helia, Orion, and Lyra

Eclipse is a light warm white gold with a golden pink to peachy gold shift in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more gold than Anastasia Beverly Hills Kitty Kat (Nicole Guerriero), warmer and more peach than Anastasia Beverly Hills Forever Young (Nicole Guerriero), lighter and less sparkly than MAC Show Gold, warmer and more pink than MAC Double-Gleam, and more peach than Becca Champagne Pop.

Luna is a pale neutral brightened pearly white in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer than Anastasia Beverly Hills Lucky Clover (Moonchild), warmer and more white than Anastasia Beverly Hills Pink Heart (Moonchild), whiter than MAC Double-Gleam, similar to Jeffree Star Ice Cold, and more metallic than Becca Pearl.

Spectra is a light-medium cool dirty lavender with a lilac-pink to grey-purple shift in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more muted and more grey than Anastasia Beverly Hills Purple Horseshoe (Moonchild), darker and more pink than Anastasia Beverly Hills Blue Moon (Moonchild), darker and more grey than MAC Soft Frost, warmer and more pink than Jeffree Star Lavender Snow, and darker and more grey than Makeup Geek Celestial.

Helia is a light cool white gold with a yellow gold to green-gold shift in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more yellow than Anastasia Beverly Hills Lucky Clover (Moonchild), brighter than Becca Pearl Flashes Gold, more metallic than Makeup Geek Electrify, more yellow than Makeup Geek Telepathic Foiled Pigment, and brighter than Make Up For Ever 2 Frozen Gold Star Lit Powder. 

Orion is a light cool sky blue with platinum reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more blue than Anastasia Beverly Hills Blue Moon (Moonchild), lighter than Jeffree Star Deep Freeze, more blue than Makeup Geek Moon Phase, more blue than Kat Von D Saphyre, and more blue than Make Up For Ever 944 White/Turquoise Star Powder. 

Lyra is a light-medium warm golden peach with pink reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills Daydream (Nicole Guerriero), more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills Mimosa (Gleam), lighter and more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills Peach Nectar, more orange than MAC Show Gold, darker and more orange than Becca Champagne Dream Flashes Bellini, and more orange than Jeffree Star King Tut.

You know, I had originally written off the Aurora Glow Kit because I didn't think it would be wearable enough as a whole to justify the price, the same way I had written off the Moonchild Glow Kit. But then I finally swatched them in store and ate my words. Because most of the shades have duochrome shifts, they actually look very different on the skin. Not only does Aurora have a better variety of cool and warm shades than Moonchild, but this is also far more flattering on all skintones. The only shade I see being challenging to incorporate into looks as a highlighter is Orion because sky blue is tougher to wear in general, but I do think that it looks especially gorgeous layered with Helia or Luna to give it a starlit beaming effect. And I think many people will think Spectra looks too ashy and grey to suit many skintones, but it actually gives off an incredible lilac-pink duochrome sheen that looks absolutely stunning when it hits the light (I especially love it buffed on top of pink blushes). Of course, Aurora has the same beautifully smooth, ultra-pigmented formula that the ABH Glow Kits are known for, so they execute evenly with great colour pay-off and blend out effortlessly. But what sets this apart from ABH's previous highlighter palettes is the unique shade range and shifting duochrome finish that look magical no matter the colour combination —  much like the auroras themselves.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit

In February, Anastasia Beverly Hills released a limited edition highlighter palette in collaboration with beauty vlogger, Nicole Guerriero. The Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit is described as "a palette with six, metallic powder highlighters for intense luminosity. Each highlighter has an ultra-fine formula that won't leave behind shimmer particles. Just layer these shades together or wear them separately on your face, eyes, and body. Complementing shades can be layered together to brighten cheekbones and collarbones, or worn separately over eyelids, brow bones, and inner corners of the eyes." The six shades are housed in a slim peach-coloured cardboard case. Each Glow Kit contains a total of 27 grams of product (4.5 g per shade), and retails for $52. It is available online and in store at Sephora and Anastasia Beverly Hills.
Kitty Kat, Forever Young, and Daydream

Kitty Kat is a light warm shell pink with platinum reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly warmer than Anastasia Beverly Hills Forever Young, darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Crushed Pearl, more pink than MAC Soft and Gentle, lighter than MAC Superb, lighter and more pink than Becca Opal, and more pink and more metallic than Too Faced Blinded by the Light.

Forever Young is a light neutral pinked pearl with silver reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Kitty Kat, darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Crushed Pearl, slightly more pink than MAC Soft and Gentle, lighter than MAC Superb, lighter and cooler than Becca Opal, and more pink and more metallic than Too Faced Blinded by the Light.

Daydream is a light-medium warm gilded peach with silver and gold reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills Peach Nectar, slightly cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Mimosa, brighter and more orange than Anastasia Beverly Hills Hard Candy, lighter and more orange than MAC Fairly Precious, lighter and more orange than Becca Rose Gold, and more orange and more metallic than Too Faced Ray of Light. 

Forever Lit, Glo Getter, and 143

Forever Lit is a pale cool platinum with lavender-silver reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonstone, brighter and more white than MAC Soft Frost, cooler than Jeffree Star Ice Cold, brighter and cooler than Becca Pearl, and lighter and brighter than Becca Prismatic Amethyst.

Glo Getter is a light-medium warm golden opal with rose reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills 143, slightly more pink than MAC Soft and Gentle, lighter and more pink than MAC Global Glow, lighter and warmer than MAC Superb, slightly lighter than Becca Opal, and warmer and more metallic than Too Faced Ray of Light.

143 is a light-medium warm rose gold with bronze reflects in a metallic pearlized finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly darker and more bronze than Glo Getter, darker and more bronze than MAC Soft and Gentle, more pink than MAC Global Glow, warmer and more bronze than MAC Superb, slightly more bronze than Becca Opal, lighter and more gold than Becca Rose Gold, and more orange and more metallic than Too Faced Ray of Light. 

I had debated whether or not to post this because by the time I had tested all the shades and took pictures (and actually had time to blog), this palette was already sold out everywhere. And as a limited edition product, it wasn't expected to come back. But Anastasia Beverly Hills decided to be smart and re-stock all Sephora locations this this week, including online at Sephora and on their own website, so that's why this post is going up — nearly three months after I originally bought it. I don't really know who Nicole Guerriero is, nor do I follow her on any social media platform, but she did a phenomenal job with ABH on this palette because it's not only my favourite Glow Kit that has been released, but my favourite highlighter palette ever. I think I used this palette exclusively for about a month straight without ever feeling the need to stray from it. (Which is really saying something 'cause, as you know, I'm a highlighter fiend.)

The colours here are well-rounded and widely flattering, working on many skintones from fair to deep dark, and the formula for all six shades is phenomenal. After the dip in quality with ABH's Ultimate Glow Kit, which featured gritty textures with sheerer colour pay-off and tremendous fall-out, ABH definitely redeemed themselves with the Nicole Guerriero palette, in which each shade is smooth, buttery, and beautifully pigmented. It also seems like there are more pearl pigments in these shades than even the original Glow Kits (Gleam, That Glow, and Sun Dipped), so they come out more vibrant and reflective. The only thing about this Glow Kit as compared to the older ones is that the shades don't pop out of the palette. If you're someone who likes customizing their own palettes (say, for travel or if you're a makeup artist working out of a kit), the Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit doesn't offer that. But it's a very minor detail for such a gorgeous, well-edited palette. And for $52, it's also one of the most reasonably priced highlighting products out there (by weight, it's cheaper than MAC, Becca, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Kat Von D, etc.). So if you even remotely like highlighting, this is a must-have. Don't even think twice about it. Just get it.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows in Belize, Plum Smoke, Labyrinth, and Aubergine

Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows have been getting more and more attention in the past year and have really helped ABH expand out of their eyebrow and contouring categories. Previously, the ABH single eyeshadows were only available in the US through their website, Sephora, and Macy's, but they are now available online at Sephora and at select Sephora locations for Canadian shoppers (without having to worry about extra shipping costs or duties). ABH describes their eyeshadows as "finely-milled" and "highly blendable" with an "ultra-fine formula [that] won't leave shimmer particles." ABH only offers their eyeshadow singles in refillable pan-form right now, so you will need a magnetic palette to put them in (ABH does offer four- and eight-pan palettes, though Z-Palettes are ideal if you want bigger options). There are a total of 95 shades available through ABH's website, and 84 of those are available through Sephora. Each eyeshadow contains 1.7 grams of product and comes in a standard size round pan, and retails for $12 USD or $16 CAD. 
Belize, Plum Smoke, Labyrinth, and Aubergine

Belize is a light-medium warm sand brown with a soft shimmer-sheen in a Satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and less metallic than Anastasia Beverly Hills Rose, more metallic than MAC Wedge, warmer than MAC Patina, and cooler and more brown than Makeup Geek Purely Naked.

Plum Smoke is a dark bronzy plum with a soft shimmer-sheen in a Velvet finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more plum than Anastasia Beverly Hills Truffle, cooler and more metallic than Anastasia Beverly Hills Aubergine, darker than MAC Mulch, and darker and more plum than MAC Twinks.

Labyrinth is a medium-dark warm pinked mauve with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more brown than MAC Star Violet, warmer and more pink than Makeup Geek Toxic, cooler and more purple than Makeup Geek Anarchy, and darker and more brown than Make Up For Ever ME840 Pink Chrome.

Aubergine is a dark reddened brown in an Ultra-Matte finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It is more plum than Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Mark, more reddened than MAC Embark, more brown than Makeup Geek Cherry Cola, and darker and more reddened than Makeup Geek Vintage.

Gorgeous, buttery textures with rich, saturated colour; Anastasia Beverly Hills definitely hit the mark with their eyeshadows, with a huge range of shades and a variety of different finishes to compete with some of the best shadows on the market, proving that they're no longer just about eyebrows or contour kits. When you shop online at ABH's website, they offer bundle packages: if you get four eyeshadows, it's $40 USD and you get a free empty four-pan palette, and if you buy eight eyeshadows, it's $70 USD and you get a free empty eight-pan palette. These bundles are really only beneficial to you if you live in the US, however, since you must pay exchange rates as well as shipping and duties if you live outside the US.

Sephora now offers the same bundle deal for four pans of eyeshadow, and both Americans and Canadians can benefit from this (for Canadians, buying four pans of ABH eyeshadow from Sephora ends up being $52 CAD with the bundle deal because they end up being $13 each instead of $16). Canadians will also see that ABH is expanding at more and more Sephora locations, so that you can actually play with these eyeshadows in person now instead of relying on online swatch photos. That having been said, with so many makeup brands offering standard-sized (1.5 - 1.7 g) single eyeshadow pans these days, the ABH ones are significantly more expensive at $16 CAD ($12 USD) each — by comparison, both MAC's and Makeup Geek's eyeshadow pans are $8 CAD ($6 USD). I'm not saying the ABH ones aren't worth it, but I recommend grabbing their more unique shades (e.g. Chiffon, Peacock, Macaroon, Star Cobalt, etc.) and looking at other brands for the more dupeable ones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows in Amber, Intense Gaze, Henna, and Cognac

Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows have been getting more and more attention in the past year and have really helped ABH expand out of their eyebrow and contouring categories. Previously, the ABH single eyeshadows were only available in the US through their website, Sephora, and Macy's, but they are now available online at Sephora and at select Sephora locations for Canadian shoppers (without having to worry about extra shipping costs or duties). ABH describes their eyeshadows as "finely-milled" and "highly blendable" with an "ultra-fine formula [that] won't leave shimmer particles." ABH only offers their eyeshadow singles in refillable pan-form right now, so you will need a magnetic palette to put them in (ABH does offer four- and eight-pan palettes, though Z-Palettes are ideal if you want bigger options). There are a total of 95 shades available through ABH's website, and 84 of those are available through Sephora. Each eyeshadow contains 1.7 grams of product and comes in a standard size round pan, and retails for $12 USD or $16 CAD. 
Amber, Intense Gaze, Henna, and Cognac

Amber is a light-medium warm peachy gold with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more peach than Anastasia Beverly Hills Surface of the Sun, darker and more peach than Anastasia Beverly Hills Peach Sorbet, darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Primavera (Modern Renaissance Palette), and more gold and more metallic than MAC Honey Lust.

Intense Gaze is a medium-dark warm muted bronzed coral with a soft shimmer-sheen in a Satin finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more muted than Anastasia Beverly Hills China Rose, darker and more pink than Anastasia Beverly Hills Fresh Peach, darker and more bronze than MAC Paradisco, and darker than MAC Expensive Pink.

Henna is a medium-dark warm orange copper with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more bronze than Anastasia Beverly Hills Wine, more bronze than Anastasia Beverly Hills Copper Shimmer, more bronze and more muted than MAC Coppering, and more muted than Makeup Geek Flame Thrower.

Cognac is a medium-deep cool warm copper brown with a frosted shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It is more orange than Anastasia Beverly Hills Truffle, more brown than MAC Antiqued, more reddened than Makeup Geek Brown Sugar, and darker than Makeup Geek Goddess.

Gorgeous, buttery textures with rich, saturated colour; Anastasia Beverly Hills definitely hit the mark with their eyeshadows, with a huge range of shades and a variety of different finishes to compete with some of the best shadows on the market, proving that they're no longer just about eyebrows or contour kits. When you shop online at ABH's website, they offer bundle packages: if you get four eyeshadows, it's $40 USD and you get a free empty four-pan palette, and if you buy eight eyeshadows, it's $70 USD and you get a free empty eight-pan palette. These bundles are really only beneficial to you if you live in the US, however, since you must pay exchange rates as well as shipping and duties if you live outside the US.

Sephora now offers the same bundle deal for four pans of eyeshadow, and both Americans and Canadians can benefit from this (for Canadians, buying four pans of ABH eyeshadow from Sephora ends up being $52 CAD with the bundle deal because they end up being $13 each instead of $16). Canadians will also see that ABH is expanding at more and more Sephora locations, so that you can actually play with these eyeshadows in person now instead of relying on online swatch photos. That having been said, with so many makeup brands offering standard-sized (1.5 - 1.7 g) single eyeshadow pans these days, the ABH ones are significantly more expensive at $16 CAD ($12 USD) each — by comparison, both MAC's and Makeup Geek's eyeshadow pans are $8 CAD ($6 USD). I'm not saying the ABH ones aren't worth it, but I recommend grabbing their more unique shades (e.g. Chiffon, Peacock, Macaroon, Star Cobalt, etc.) and looking at other brands for the more dupeable ones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows in Chocolate Crumble, Macaroon, Not Today, and Star Cobalt

Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows have been getting more and more attention in the past year and have really helped ABH expand out of their eyebrow and contouring categories. Previously, the ABH single eyeshadows were only available in the US through their website, Sephora, and Macy's, but they are now available online at Sephora and at select Sephora locations for Canadian shoppers (without having to worry about extra shipping costs or duties). ABH describes their eyeshadows as "finely-milled" and "highly blendable" with an "ultra-fine formula [that] won't leave shimmer particles." ABH only offers their eyeshadow singles in refillable pan-form right now, so you will need a magnetic palette to put them in (ABH does offer four- and eight-pan palettes, though Z-Palettes are ideal if you want bigger options). There are a total of 95 shades available through ABH's website, and 84 of those are available through Sephora. Each eyeshadow contains 1.7 grams of product and comes in a standard size round pan, and retails for $12 USD or $16 CAD. 
Chocolate Crumble, Macaroon, Not Today, and Star Cobalt

Chocolate Crumble is a medium-dark cool mauve taupe with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more mauve than MAC Satin Taupe, lighter and cooler than MAC Stolen Moment, similar to Urban Decay Factory, and darker than Makeup Geek Prom Night.

Macaroon is a light-medium cool pinked lilac in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Labyrinth, more pink than MAC Smoky Mauve, more pink and less metllic than Makeup Geek Daydreamer, and darker and more pink than NARS Callisto.

Not Today is a dark cool plummy brown with silver micro-glitter in a Sparkle finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more sparkly than Anastasia Beverly Hills Aubergine, more brown and more sparkly than Anastasia Beverly Hills Pose, darker and cooler than MAC Mulch, and cooler than Too Faced Black Currant.

Star Cobalt is a medium-dark cool muted indigo-cobalt blue with silver micro-glitter in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It is more purple-leaning than MAC In the Shadows, lighter than MAC Lunar, more muted han Makeup Geek Center Stage, and similar to NARS Cressida.

Gorgeous, buttery textures with rich, saturated colour; Anastasia Beverly Hills definitely hit the mark with their eyeshadows, with a huge range of shades and a variety of different finishes to compete with some of the best shadows on the market, proving that they're no longer just about eyebrows or contour kits. When you shop online at ABH's website, they offer bundle packages: if you get four eyeshadows, it's $40 USD and you get a free empty four-pan palette, and if you buy eight eyeshadows, it's $70 USD and you get a free empty eight-pan palette. These bundles are really only beneficial to you if you live in the US, however, since you must pay exchange rates as well as shipping and duties if you live outside the US.

Sephora now offers the same bundle deal for four pans of eyeshadow, and both Americans and Canadians can benefit from this (for Canadians, buying four pans of ABH eyeshadow from Sephora ends up being $52 CAD with the bundle deal because they end up being $13 each instead of $16). Canadians will also see that ABH is expanding at more and more Sephora locations, so that you can actually play with these eyeshadows in person now instead of relying on online swatch photos. That having been said, with so many makeup brands offering standard-sized (1.5 - 1.7 g) single eyeshadow pans these days, the ABH ones are significantly more expensive at $16 CAD ($12 USD) each — by comparison, both MAC's and Makeup Geek's eyeshadow pans are $8 CAD ($6 USD). I'm not saying the ABH ones aren't worth it, but I recommend grabbing their more unique shades (e.g. Chiffon, Peacock, Macaroon, Star Cobalt, etc.) and looking at other brands for the more dupeable ones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadows in Chiffon, Brownie, Peacock, and Prussian Blue

Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows have been getting more and more attention in the past year and have really helped ABH expand out of their eyebrow and contouring categories. Previously, the ABH single eyeshadows were only available in the US through their website, Sephora, and Macy's, but they are now available online at Sephora and at select Sephora locations for Canadian shoppers (without having to worry about extra shipping costs or duties). ABH describes their eyeshadows as "finely-milled" and "highly blendable" with an "ultra-fine formula [that] won't leave shimmer particles." ABH only offers their eyeshadow singles in refillable pan-form right now, so you will need a magnetic palette to put them in (ABH does offer four- and eight-pan palettes, though Z-Palettes are ideal if you want bigger options). There are a total of 95 shades available through ABH's website, and 84 of those are available through Sephora. Each eyeshadow contains 1.7 grams of product and comes in a standard size round pan, and retails for $12 USD or $16 CAD. 
Chiffon, Brownie, Peacock, and Prussian Blue

Chiffon is a medium cool antiqued khaki-gold with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It lighter and more olive than Anastasia Beverly Hills Brownie, lighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Truffle Glitter, cooler and more olive than MAC Woodwinked, and more brown than MAC Sumptuous Olive.

Brownie is a medium-dark warm golden brown with gold sparkle and a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer and more golden than Anastasia Beverly Hills Truffle Glitter, more metallic than MAC Tempting, cooler and less metallic than MAC Havana, and warmer than Make Up For Ever I628 Reptile.

Peacock is a dark cool muted teal-toned forest green with a frosted shimmer-sheen in a Metallic finish. This is a permanent shade (not available at Sephora). It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more green than Anastasia Beverly Hills Mermaid, brighter and more teal than MAC Club, more muted and more teal than MAC Humid, and lighter than Makeup Geek Envy.

Prussian Blue is a medium-dark cool muted cerulean blue with a metallic shimmer-sheen in a Titanium finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, dense, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation to opaque colour pay-off. It is brighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Dragonfly, darker and more muted than MAC Freshwater, lighter and brighter than MAC Deep Truth, and brighter than Makeup Geek Ocean Breeze.

Gorgeous, buttery textures with rich, saturated colour; Anastasia Beverly Hills definitely hit the mark with their eyeshadows, with a huge range of shades and a variety of different finishes to compete with some of the best shadows on the market, proving that they're no longer just about eyebrows or contour kits. When you shop online at ABH's website, they offer bundle packages: if you get four eyeshadows, it's $40 USD and you get a free empty four-pan palette, and if you buy eight eyeshadows, it's $70 USD and you get a free empty eight-pan palette. These bundles are really only beneficial to you if you live in the US, however, since you must pay exchange rates as well as shipping and duties if you live outside the US.

Sephora now offers the same bundle deal for four pans of eyeshadow, and both Americans and Canadians can benefit from this (for Canadians, buying four pans of ABH eyeshadow from Sephora ends up being $52 CAD with the bundle deal because they end up being $13 each instead of $16). Canadians will also see that ABH is expanding at more and more Sephora locations, so that you can actually play with these eyeshadows in person now instead of relying on online swatch photos. That having been said, with so many makeup brands offering standard-sized (1.5 - 1.7 g) single eyeshadow pans these days, the ABH ones are significantly more expensive at $16 CAD ($12 USD) each — by comparison, both MAC's and Makeup Geek's eyeshadow pans are $8 CAD ($6 USD). I'm not saying the ABH ones aren't worth it, but I recommend grabbing their more unique shades (e.g. Chiffon, Peacock, Macaroon, Star Cobalt, etc.) and looking at other brands for the more dupeable ones.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in Sun Dipped

Last year, Anastasia Beverly Hills came out with their Glow Kits, which are highlighter quad palettes. They became available online at Sephora earlier this year (and is carried at select stores), and ABH came out with a new colour wave for summer called Sun Dipped. The Glow Kit is described as "four velvety powders that instantly cast a lit-from-within glow. Complementing shades can be layered together to brighten cheekbones and décolletage, or worn separately over eyelids, brow bones, and inner corners. Results are flawlessly incandescent." The Glow Kit now comes in three permanent colour waves: That Glow, Gleam, and Sun Dipped. Sun Dipped is housed in a bronze ombre cardboard case; the four shades included come in removable magnetic pans. Each Glow Kit contains a total of 29.6 grams of product (7.4 grams per shade), and retails for $52 CAD.
Bronzed, Summer, Tourmaline, and Moonstone

Bronzed is a medium-dark warm coppery bronze in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more bronze than Anastasia Beverly Hills Golden Bronze, more golden than MAC Cheeky Bronze, more brown than MAC Gold Deposit, more brown and more muted than Becca Topaz, and lighter and more metallic than Laura Mercier Seduction.

Summer is a light warm whitened yellow gold in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more gold than Anastasia Beverly Hills Starlight, lighter and brighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills So Hollywood, slightly darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Sunburst, more gold than Becca Champagne Pop, and more gold than Becca Moonstone.

Tourmaline is a medium warm muted pinked taupe-bronze in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and more brown than Anastasia Beverly Hills Riviera, darker and cooler than MAC Global Glow, cooler and more muted than MAC Cheeky Bronze, darker and more bronze than Laura Mercier Devotion, and darker and cooler than Becca Opal.

Moonstone is a light warm whitened champagne gold in a metallic finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly less yellow than Anastasia Beverly Hills Summer, more metallic than Anastasia Beverly Hills Starlight, brighter and more metallic than MAC Lightscapade, brighter than Becca Moonstone, and slightly darker and warmer than Becca Pearl.

Not only do Anastasia's Glow Kits include full size highlighters (and in magnetized pans, so you can remove them if you so wish — I usually put two pans from each Glow Kit into a Z Palette to use on freelance jobs), but they look stunning on the skin; perfectly glowy and shimmery and "strobed," but not scary intense or ultra-metallic so they aren't hard to blend out and don't emphasize skin texture. They're super smooth and buttery and pigmented, but not overly soft or creamy so you get more control with layering and blending out. There is literally nothing bad I can write about the formula of these. Sun Dipped includes four gorgeous shades that are perfect for summer — Bronzed and Tourmaline look especially stunning on tanned skin — but I really wish that there was more of a difference between Summer and Moonstone because they look virtually identical when applied to the skin. (And if you have the Glow Kit in That Glow, they look almost identical to Sunburst.) That having been said, I've been loving mixing different shades from this palette for more customizable glow as I get more tanned this summer. Plus, at $52 for 29.6 grams of product, the value is downright incredible.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette

Last month, Anastasia Beverly Hills launched a new eyeshadow palette called Modern Renaissance, "an essential eyeshadow collection with 14 shades in neutral to berry tones." The shades are described as "a present-day take on Renaissance colours" to "create endless looks for daytime and evening." Modern Renaissance will be Anastasia's first permanent eyeshadow palette. It is housed in a rectangular magnetic case with a pinky mauve velvet exterior (similar to Urban Decay's Naked Palette). There is a mirror spanning the inside of the lid, and it also comes with a double-ended eyeshadow brush. Each Modern Renaissance palette comes with a total of 9.8 grams of product, and retails for $55. It is available in-stores and online at Sephora, as well as Anastasia's website.
Tempera, Golden Ochre, Vermeer, Buon Fresco, and Antique Bronze

Tempera is a light warm peachy beige in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is similar to Anastasia Beverly Hills Blanc, brighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Vanilla, and lighter than MAC Orb.

Golden Ochre is a medium cool muted earthy yellow in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is slightly darker than Anastasia Beverly Hills Custard, lighter and more olive than MAC Soba, and lighter than Makeup Geek Desert Sands.

Vermeer is a light warm brightened shell beige in a metallic finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is peachier than Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Gold, warmer than MAC Phloof!, and slightly peachier than Too Faced Satin Sheets.

Buon Fresco is a medium-dark cool muted mauve in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade, and is also available individually. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler and more purple than Anastasia Beverly Hills Dusty Rose, more purple than MAC Quarry, and cooler and more grey than Too Faced Almond Truffle.

Antique Bronze is a medium-deep warm plummy bronze in a metallic finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is more plum than Anastasia Beverly Hills Comfort, similar to MAC Mulch, and lighter than Too Faced Dark Truffle.

Love Letter, Cyprus Umber, Raw Sienna, and Burnt Orange

Love Letter is a medium-deep cool vibrant berry pink in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is brighter and more matte than Anastasia Beverly Hills Rosette, cooler and more pink than Anastasia Beverly Hills Venetian Red, and darker than Make Up For Ever M842 Wine.

Cyprus Umber is a deep dark cool brown in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is cooler than Anastasia Beverly Hills Hot Chocolate, darker and cooler than MAC Mystery, and similar to Makeup Geek Americano.

Raw Sienna is a medium warm muted camel brown in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than Anastasia Beverly Hills Warm Taupe, darker than MAC Wedge, and cooler than Too Faced Mousse.

Burnt Orange is a medium-dark warm orange brown in a matte finish. This is a permanent shade, and is also available individually. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Caramel, more orange than MAC Saddle, and darker than Makeup Geek Crème Brulee.

Primavera, Red Ochre, Venetian Red, Warm Taupe, and Realgar

Primavera is a light-medium warm peachy gold in a metallic finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled, almost buttery texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is lighter than Anastasia Beverly Hills Surface of the Sun, more muted than Anastasia Beverly Hills Peach Sorbet, and darker and peachier than Ardency Inn Sunday.

Red Ochre is a dark warm burnished red-brown in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more red than Anastasia Beverly Hills Red Earth, more brown than MAC I'm Into It, and darker and more red than Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear.

Venetian Red is a dark cool burgundy red in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer and more red than Anastasia Beverly Hills Love Letter, darker and more matte than Anastasia Beverly Hills Sangria, and brighter and cooler than MAC I'm Into It.

Warm Taupe is a medium-dark warm taupe-brown in a matte finish. This is a permanent shade, and is also available individually. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is warmer than MAC Coquette, lighter than MAC Charcoal Brown, and and lighter and cooler than Makeup Geek Latte.

Realgar is a medium-deep warm muted burnt orange in a matte finish. This is a new and permanent shade. It has a soft, finely-milled texture, and goes on smoothly and evenly. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It can be layered and blended out easily. It is darker and more orange than Anastasia Beverly Hills Caramel, darker and more brown than Anastasia Beverly Hills Morocco, and more orange than MAC Brown Script.

I'd never been that interested in Anastasia's eyeshadow palettes — not because of the quality of the shadows, but because I didn't love any of the colour combinations — so I always ended up opting to build my own palettes with her single eyeshadows. But Modern Renaissance is a game-changer, not just in Anastasia's own range but in the palette world as a whole. The colours, which mix both warm and cool neutrals along with pops of rich, jewel-toned reds, all somehow work cohesively together to create a variety of eye looks from soft to dramatic, elegant to punk-rock, and classy to sultry. The pinks and reds have enough depth to them so they never look too bright; they turn out saturated but not garish. Most palettes are neutral or bright or a really random mish-mash of both, but Modern Renaissance combines neutrals with berries in a very deliberate way so that there is no mistaking the colour story and theme.

The quality of these shadows seem to be even softer and more pigmented than Anastasia's single eyeshadows, which are already impressive to begin with. A light dab of a brush into any given shadow is enough to get full saturated colour pay-off even without primer. But what's even more impressive is that every shade has flawless blendability, even the most matte shades. They never skip and they never look patchy. This palette isn't going to be for everybody and it's going to intimidate some, but it makes it easy for anyone to wear reds on their eyes, and it will flatter almost everybody from fair to dark and cool to warm. My only complaint with this palette is the exterior packaging; as with Urban Decay's original Naked palette, the Modern Renaissance is covered with a velvet material that grabs on to dirt, makeup, and dust like nothing else, and is notoriously difficult to clean. But it's a small price to pay for the glorious gems inside. If a palette could ever be described as sexy, it would be this one.