Monday, 25 April 2011

b Collection's 'Waikiki' eyeshadow duo review

I've always fancied an army green eyeshadow with a subtle golden shimmer through it. Sadly, green of any shade is never recommended to me in those quizzy things where you enter in your complexion, hair colour, eye colour and it gives you your "perfect shades". So I was always hesitant to spend money on an eyeshadow I didn't expect to work.

So when I saw this Waikiki duo on sale, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out something new. If it didn't work, well at least it was only around $14AUD! Plus, the second colour, a light golden-tan shimmer, reminded me a lot of one of my favourite eyeshadows, MACs Naked Lunch, so at least I'd be able to use up that half if the green was a total disaster.

                                          b Collections Collecta Colour Eyeshadow duo-Waikiki

Like the Collecta Colour Blush I reviewed previously, the packaging is designed to be stacked with other products. Like the blush, it feels flimsy, as if the product will just swing right out. We all know how well powders and bathroom tiles go, so I'm quite a bit more cautious when using it. You get 2g of product, and there's 6 duos to choose from.

Quality wise, the eyeshadows are much better than I expected. They are well pigmented and apply evenly to the lid, blending in easily. Sadly, as you can see in my arm swatch, the green side doesn't apply as true to the pan colour. It definitely pulls more brown than green when on the eyelids. I road tested this duo two days in a row over Urban Decay Primer Potion, and both lasted until I was ready to wash them off. They managed to hold up over a very warm bakery shift, which is always the true test of makeup for me. Best of all, they didn't irritate my eyes like some cheaper Australian brand eye products have done in the past.

                                          Waikiki Duo swatched on bare arm (no primer)

Final summary:
Pros: Inexpensive, great quality, don't irritate sensitive eyes.
Cons: Awkward packaging & the green doesn't apply true, even with a primer base.

I would certainly recommend these eyeshadows. The other duos include some truly crazy colours (think jade greens, cobalt blues and violet), so it's a fun way to experiment without spending too much.  I've also learned that taking a risk and trying something new can be really successful. I think I'll have to buy another duo now...

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