Yesssss!!!! Say hello to the Too FacedChocolate Gold palette! Created, in my eyes, as the antithesis to the White Chocolate Bar palette, this one is chockfull of rich, vibrant jewel tones centered around a golden theme.
Too Faced Chocolate Gold
While I haven ‘t used the palette on my face yet (I was rushing to get swatches up and I’m about to film a try on with this palette – so watch out for that on my YouTube channel as it’ll be up this week), what I can tell you is that these shadows feel more like foiled shadows. They’re almost wet looking on the skin and there’s a density to them that was unexpected but so appreciated. The palette also comes with four absolutely vital matte shades (a brow bone highlight, a transition shade, a deeper brown and a black) amongst all the shimmers.
Too Faced Chocolate Gold Swatches
Too Faced – Money BagsToo Faced – Love & CocoaToo Faced – Holla For A DollaToo Faced – Chocolate GoldToo Faced – Old MoneyToo Faced – Gold DippedToo Faced – New MoneyToo Faced – Livin’ LavishToo Faced – Rich GirlToo Faced – FamousToo Faced – Drippin’ DiamondsToo Faced – Cocoa TruffleToo Faced – Classy & SassyToo Faced – Rollin’ In DoughToo Faced – DecadentToo Faced – So Boujee
With three highlighters, a blush and two bronzers, this seemed like such a great deal for $22 CAD! The pans are huge, so there’s more than enough space to get your face brushes in there. The only thing that kind of threw me off was that this is said to be an illuminating palette, so I actually thought these were all highlighters till I flipped it over and read the instructions that indicated there was a blush, bronzer, etc.
QUO Holiday 2017 Illuminating Palette – swatches
Swatched out, I’d actually go ahead and say that aside from the coral-pink blush shade, the rest of the colours really are highlighters. The deeper shades – the bronzers – are fundamentally too shimmery and a touch too orange to be used as a bronzer.
Face Swatches
I’ve swatched these on my face in the order in which they appear in the palette – left to right, top row then bottom row. All swatches are on my cheek/cheekbone and done extremely heavily – about five layers for the highlighters and bronzers. The blush was done lightly.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Highlighter 1
More of a pearlescent-white sheen, Highlighter #1 was the most reflective in direct lighting.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Highlighter 2
Highlighter #2 leans more pink, but loses a lot of of sheen on the face.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Blush
The Blush is GORGEOUS! Super stunning colour with excellent payoff and easy to blend.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Highlighter 3
Highlighter #3 is a beige-cream highlighter that provide a faint hint of sheen.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Bronzer 1
Bronzer #1 delivers a muted orange-gold sheen.
Quo – Illuminating Palette – Bronzer 2
Bronzer #2 is a touch deeper than Bronzer #1, but the colour tone is roughly the same.
Final Thoughts
Sadly, the QUOIlluminating Palette isn’t for me (or for very many others, I imagine). I found the powders just didn’t give me what I was looking for in a highlighter (not enough sheen) or bronzer (*definitely* not the right tone). The only shade I truly loved was the blush, but that’s not enough of a reason for me to want to buy this palette. The highlighters provide a very soft subtle sheen, but I found it was often gone by the end of the day. The “bronzers” are not bronzers – they’re basically warm-toned semi-shimmery highlighters. On me, the colouring of them wasn’t great, and they definitely would not work on deeper skintones as a bronzer – maybe as a highlighter?
Hard pass on this one I’m afraid. Womp womp.
The QUOIlluminating Palette can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart for $22 CAD.
The product featured in this post was sent to me for consideration.
Another set from Too Faced’s Holiday 2017 collection! This set, Best Year Ever, houses three palettes in a makeup bag. While this is just a swatch post, my full review and looks can be found in this post.
Too Faced Best Year Ever set
Fundamentally, all three palettes are very neutral, leaning pink.
Too Faced Best Year Ever Swatches
Too Faced – Best Year Ever – Super Fun NightToo Faced – Best Year Ever – Super Fun NightToo Faced – Lucky StarToo Faced – Cozy CashmereToo Faced – TipsyToo Faced – Oh What FunToo Faced – Sleighhh GirlToo Faced – No PeekingToo Faced – Dashing Through The GlowToo Faced – Natural BeautyToo Faced – Natural BeautyToo Faced – AngelicToo Faced – 5 Golden RingsToo Faced – Oh, Deer!Too Faced – Pretty PecanToo Faced – Sleigh My NameToo Faced – BAEthovenToo Faced – Warm My HeartToo Faced – I Believe In PinkToo Faced – I Believe In PinkToo Faced – SnowgirlToo Faced – Mink PinkToo Faced – Pink RinkToo Faced – Pink ChristmasToo Faced – Spoiled RottenToo Faced – Wish For ItToo Faced – Pink Poinsettia
If there’s one thing that Too Faced knows how to do with gusto, it’s holiday sets! I feel like every year there’s more and more being thrown at us… and you know what? I’m not ashamed to admit that I start getting excited for them around April! Thankfully, they actually launch them early (usually in September), so you’ve got plenty of time to ponder which ones are for you.
Too Faced – Pretty Little Planner
This particular set, Pretty Little Planner, is my favourite of their three major launches under their “Best Year Ever” holiday collection. The whole theme is centered around having an amazing year and the sets provide you with a planner (big or small, depending on which set you buy). I have to say, for me personally, I’m just not into the planner thing, so having it there does nothing for me and has no reflection on my review. (I’m a Google Calendar queen quite frankly – I have no time for this handwritten stuff!) For the sake of this post, I’ll give you a quick rundown of what the set comes with just so you’re armed with that information.
Too Faced – Pretty Little Planner
The Pretty Little Planner set comes housed in a faux leather zipcase with gold tassel. It’s not cheap feeling, and there is some heft to the planner. It’s really quite pretty if you’re into this kind of planner stuff.
Too Faced – Pretty Little Planner
Inside the case you’ll find the Best Year Ever palette and a deluxe sample size of their Better Than Sex mascara. There’s a small heart mirror, and a few side pockets – one of which houses the 2018 calendar/planner.
Comes with a 12 month calendar planner and a sticker set.
The planner is a basic month by month calendar view, and it comes with a sheet of stickers.
Too Faced Pretty Little Planner
But I’m not here for the planner, am I? I’m into the shadows! (I’ve previously done a Swatch Sunday post, so please click on over to that for full swatch details.) Of all the holiday launches, this is the most pared down set, and honestly the one that gets me the most excited. This palette is chockful of gorgeous jewel tones that are actually a little bit different for the holidays. Usually we get dumped with a silver and a gold and a whole bunch of neutrals and brands call it a day. Not with this one! We’ve got a stunning peacock-blue-green with gold reflect (Break The Ice), an unreal cranberry (Dollhouse), a really punchy orange-gold (Good as Gold), and my favourite – a molten copper that spreads like a dream (Werkshop). There’s even two brow bone highlight shades – one matte (Good Girl) and one with a soft sheen (Why Not?). Seriously guys, this palette is an absolute beauty, and a welcome change from the more traditional colour pairings I’ve seen over the years.
As I mentioned upfront, the Too Faced Pretty Little Planner set is my favourite of their three main holiday releases in the Best Year Ever collection for 2017. I think this one has the best variety of shades in colours I wasn’t expecting, but was really, really pleased with. The colours apply and blend well, and none of them left me feeling disappointed with the quality. While the planner side of things isn’t for me, and doesn’t affect my review in any way, for those who are into it, it’s a nice little addition to this set for you.
In short? This is a good one, and I would say definitely pick it up if you’re into the shades!
Wet n Wild is one of those brands that, had you told me in the 90s, I would love in my 20s and 30s, I probably would’ve scoffed at you profusely. I very clearly remember buying a horrid pink lipstick that was basically the equivalent of a greasepaint stick in balm format when I was 12 years old and figuring that lipstick just wasn’t for me because of that ridiculous texture (of course, I had no concept of higher end makeup at the time either).
Fast forward to 2010 and Wet n Wild has rapidly become one of my most trusted drugstore brands. Their Photofocus foundation? Love it. Their Megalast Lipsticks? Love them. Their eyeshadow palettes? ALSO AMAZING! Their palettes were already so good that I was surprised that they decided to re-release and reformulate them.
BUT HOLY FRIGGING HELL YOU GUYS. It was worth the reformulation and the re-release because these are incredible!
Wet n Wild – Rosé in the Air
Let’s start this off with a bang! With their relaunch, Wet n Wild has gone from an 8-pan format, to a 10-pan one, and with this change they’ve brought us some wonderfully needed transition shades. Rosé in the Air is the one I see most people talking about since it’s a dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette.
Wet n Wild – Rosé in the Air – swatches
Pigmentation on the Rosé in the Air palette is incredible – smooth, soft, tons of colour and easy to apply.
Wet n Wild – Rosé in the Air – eye look
And on the eyes, it’s no different! Colour packed on just as easily as they did for swatches and blended out perfectly!
Rosé in the Air vs Modern Renaissance
Samantha Jane was the first person I know of to point out the similarities between the new Rosé in the Air palette and ABH’s Modern Renaissance palette. In the pan, they’re uncannily similar. And in swatches?
Rosé in the Air vs Modern Renaissance – swatches
Uh. Hi. Yes. Dead freaking dupe! Granted, the ABH palette does have four more shadows than the Wet n Wild one, but the general essence of the palette is absolutely there. It can definitely be said that the ABH shadows are smoother and creamier, but considering the $37 USD difference… well… you can decide where you’d like to put your money!
Wet n Wild – Not A Basic Peach
Although everyone is super excited about the Rosé in the Air palette, my favourite one is definitely this beautiful specimen! This is the Not A Basic Peach palette and it’s so visually appealing to me that it makes me sigh in pleasure. Warm, peachy tones with a shot of blue, a vibrant orange-gold and a raspberry shade that reflects gold??? I am allllll in for this one!
Wet n Wild – Not A Basic Peach – swatches
Even the brow bone and transition shades are incredibly pigmented! This is the kind of palette where every time you swatch it, you’re taken aback by just how good it is.
Wet n Wild – Not A Basic Peach – eye look
Out of this whole post, this was my favourite eye look that I created. The Not A Basic Peach palette speaks to me on a whole ‘nother level. I am so, SO glad they created this one!!!
Wet n Wild – Comfort Zone
With their revamp, Wet n Wild also relaunched one of their olduns – Comfort Zone. While the original Comfort Zone palette had always been an excellent palette, it really lacked in shadows that would help you make a cohesive eye look: namely – transition shades.
Wet n Wild – Comfort Zone – swatches
They’ve rectified that with this launch and the palette comes with two warm transitions shades – one lighter, one darker.
Wet n Wild – Comfort Zone – eye look
There’s a lot of variety in this palette, but instead of keeping it to the neutrals, I used that blue/brown shade all over the lid and deepened it up with the darkest shade in the outer corner. The transition shade helped define my upper crease and the pewter shade added a nice highlight to the inner corner of my eye.
Wet n Wild – Comfort Zone – old vs new
For comparison’s sake, I pulled out my old Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette (which I had attempted to declutter at one point, but everyone I knew already had it!). In just looking at the two palettes side by side, you can see how the matte brown shades help to ground the palette.
Wet n Wild – Comfort Zone – old vs new – swatches
My double set of swatches on this didn’t turn out so well, mostly because I’m really not showing you just how blue/brown that pigment is in the new palette (rest assured that it is, it’s just my photography skills that need some help). There are practically no changes between the two palettes aside from the fact that the new palette has more pigmentation (plus the transition shades not pictured above).
Wet n Wild – Nude Awakening
And lastly, one for the neutral lovers out there. The Nude Awakening palette is a revamp of a palette they had that was long and thin before. It was okay, but not something I ever really played around with much because… hello… it’s neutral.
Wet n Wild – Nude Awakening – swatches
This revamp of the older palette is appreciated though – the colours are incredibly pigmented and far more enticing than I ever remember them being.
Wet n Wild – Nude Awakening – eye look
I kept it pretty simple for this one, but the colours, as with all of the other palettes, blended beautifully.
Final Thoughts
These Wet n Wild 10-pan palettes are incredible! Hands down… I really think this is the most exciting thing I’ve seen come out of the drugstore this year. To see a drugstore brand release such beautiful palettes with COLOUR and keep the prices low ($4.99 USD each)? I mean it’s actually almost kind of unreal! And it’s not like they skimped on quality either – these are blendable and pigmented, and even better than their previous palettes which were already great to begin with! I love the addition of the transition shades – it tells me that they’re listening to feedback and making changes where necessary.
If it wasn’t already clear, I love them immensely and I absolutely think you need these. ALL of these. And at $5 a palette, you are definitely getting the most pigmented, cheapest palettes you can find on the market. Well done Wet n Wild – you’ve got an absolute winning set of palettes on your hands!
The new Wet n Wild palettes are only slowly starting to be released right now, so you may have a bit of a hunt on your hands. As of right now, their web site has all 4 palettes available for $4.99 USD each, but you can expect them to trickle out to your regular retailer throughout the next few months.
The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration. Post contains affiliate links.
