By Terry Ombre Black Star Worth the Splurge?

I am always up for finding great products at an affordable price. However, there seems to be a lack of cream eyeshadow sticks in the mass market. The very few I found and tried haven't performed too well. For example the Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows crease on me if I don't use a primer. The very reason why I opt for a cream eyeshadow stick is because I want a fast one step solution. As such I decided to bite the bullet and get the By Terry Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadow in Misty Rock. To find out if it's worth the splurge, keep on reading!

I am quite new to the By Terry products. I haven't tried anything but the Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadow in Misty Rock. By Terry is a luxury makeup line that is cruelty-free. Neither its finished products nor ingredients are tested on animals. It's an independent company that doesn't sell in China. By Terry Ombre Black Star Melting Eyeshadows are meant to deliver intense, light-catching pigment with long-wear results. They are packed with Tahitian Black Pearl Extract which is rich in calcium, trace elements and pearl proteins. 

Let's start with packaging. It's sleek with no unnecessary bulkiness. It's surprisingly light weight. I would have imagined it to be a little bit more weighty. But other than that it looks and feels expensive. I appreciate that it's also colour coded, which means if you have several shades you can see which one is which. The eyeshadow comes in a stick format that you can twist up or down. Extremely handy for if you are on the go. The colour I picked is Misty Rock. I figured if I am going to spend a considerable amount of money on an eyeshadow I want it to be wearable yet unique. This shade did not disappoint. It's really difficult to describe as it's so multidimensional. To me it looks like a dusty-rose mauve with flecks of silver running through it. I heard that this shade is a chameleon since it looks different on everyone depending on your complexion. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock (the swatch doesn't do it justice)

Besides the beautiful colour the formula is out of this world. This is one eyeshadow in my collection (and I have plenty) that I can wear on its own and it won't fade or crease. I can't stress enough how crease-proof this little guy is. A lot of cream eyeshadows claim to be long-lasting and crease-proof but most of them fail to deliver in that department. This one does exactly what it promises. The texture is creamy and glides effortlessly on the lids. I will however recommend doing one eye at the time as it dries pretty quickly. I apply it directly on my lids and smudge it with a fluffy blending brush, usually Zoeva 227 Soft Definer Vegan. I always suggest using a synthetic brush with cream products. 

What I also appreciate about this product is that it can take you from day to night. You can swipe a sheer layer of colour all over your lids for a day time look and when going out at night you can intensify the colour by applying a little bit more (until reaching the desired effect). The only downside of this product is the price. I purchased mine from Feelunqiue but you can also find it on Net-a-Porter. At the time of this post going live, Feelunique is running a 20% off site wide including By Terry products. If you wanted to try this product, now is the time to get it! In general, always be on the lookout for offers and discounts, as Feelunqiue has those quite frequently. 

Overall this is one of the favourite products I have purchased in a long while. If I want a no-fuss eyeshadow look that won't budge, I pick this one up. It's pricey but, in my opinion, worth it. I am thinking of getting at least one more shade - Bronze Moon - in the future. A not so little hint, this would make a wonderful gift for a special other. 

Let me know if you have tried anything from By Terry and what you would recommend!

Cheers,
Muffy

Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita Palette

Today I am bringing your way something a little bit different. I don't own a lot of luxury makeup bits and pieces but the ones I do, I really like. As said in my previous posts, prior to buying anything higher-end I do thorough research. This time around when I saw this palette I knew I had to have it. It's all and more you need to feel sophisticated, independent and beautiful. 

Charlotte Tilbury The Dolce Vita Palette

As you might have guessed by the title I am referring to the Charlotte Tilbury's The Dolce Vita Palette. Oh it is so breathtaking! It is the most elegant and luxurious palette I have in my collection. This is the one I go to for special occasions, date nights or if I am just feeling like pampering myself a little bit. It comes in a quad format with four stunning shades. Going clockwise: pale pinky-champagne, burnt sienna, taupe-bronze and glittery gold. The first three shades have a sheen to them but they are not shimmery or metallic by any means. The last shade is more intense and has glitter in it but it's finely milled. I call it a grown up glitter. Besides the Dolce Vita palette Charlotte Tilbury has 8 more to choose from, so you are bound to find the one that appeals to you.

L-R: Pale Pinky-Champagne, Burnt Sienna, Taupe-Bronze and Glittery Gold

I can't fault the packaging, it has a classic design and feels expensive. The eyeshadows are buttery, highly pigmented and easy to blend. They pretty much do all the work for you and you don't have to be a makeup artist to create a wonderful look. They do not crease or fade on me, but I always use an eyeshadow primer. I like how versatile it is. You can take this palette from a day look to a night look. The eyeshadows look amazing on their own or blended with other shadows. At the back of the quad you have instructions on how to use each colour. You have them labeled clockwise as: #1 Prime, #2 Enhance, #3 Smoke and #4 Pop. You don't have to limit yourself to using these shades as suggested - the world is your oyster! Charlotte Tilbury also showcases two looks on her Youtube channel that you can re-create using this palette.

The Dolce Vita Quad Application Instructions 
(You can see mine is very well loved)

However I do have one complaint about this palette. I would have preferred if it came with a matte cream colour instead of the pinky-champagne. It would give it a desert island -status for me. I use any sort of matte cream colour every time I do my makeup to create a base, to make a simple natural eye or to blend out excess eyeshadows. In terms of ingredients do keep in mind that it contains talc and parabens.

Overall it is a fantastic palette. It's pricy but it is worth the splurge if you are looking for a good quality luxury eyeshadow quad. Charlotte Tilbury products are cruelty free. I was gifted this palette but I know it was purchased from Net-a-Porter. It retails for 50,00$ but if you compare it to a Channel quad which retails for 61,00$, it's as good if not better.

Let me know what's your favourite higher-end eyeshadow palette!

Cheers,
Muffy