review: rose quartz eyeshadow palette

Some eyeshadow palettes break the bank. Others barely leave a scratch. Despite the (often massive) price differences between high end and drugstore offerings....quality can vary. For instance, there are pricey palettes in my collection that are only so-so and affordable palettes that continually knock my socks off. While there may be more prestige linked to high-end names and noteworthy brands, it is worthwhile to take a gamble on more cost effective releases. Why? You never know what hidden gem you might uncover. Take the Color Central Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette. A little while back, this palette caught my eye while I was out and about. Maybe it was the compact size. Maybe it was the theme. Or perhaps it had to do with the five dollar price point. Want to find out whether this hidden gem (pun intended) turned out to be a winner? Then you are in the right place. Keep reading for a full review with all the details.

Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette: Review 

Where to begin? With the packaging, of course. This particular palette is nothing to write home about in terms of the packaging itself. It comes in a flimsy cardboard box that feels for lack of a better word, cheap. (To be fair....it was cheap!) That being said, there are some nice aspects to consider. I love that the eyeshadow shade names are printed inside and the words "Perspective is Everything" written underneath the mirror. It is a lovely reminder to re-focus and stay in a state of gratitude. As for the eyeshadow names? I love them! They are so perfectly themed. Some examples are: Rose, Harmony, Happiness, and Heart. Each and every name compliments the metaphysical properties linked to rose quartz. Definitely a nice detail.

In terms of the shade selection and variety, this is impressive. I enjoy the fact that there are darker colours, lighter colours, and thoughtful pops of colour. However there is one aspect that is troubling. On the front of the palette, it says this includes Matte + Shimmer Shades. Well, it does sort of. There are two matte eyeshadows in the palette. Certainly not enough to boast that this is a a mate and shimmer palette, in my opinion. For the most part, this is a shimmer palette. So if you like shimmer this will be more up your alley. If you prefer matte eyeshadow shades....this might be a rose quartz palette you want to skip.

Now for the most important aspect: the performance. How do these eyeshadows actually perform? Are they pigmented? Do they wow? This is a little bit of a hit and a miss. Some of the shadows (like Attraction, Happiness, Heart, and Rejuvenation) are decently pigmented but not overly so. They need to be built up a lot more to create a bold makeup look. However, other shadows (like Rose, Love, Quartz, Sand, and Harmony) have a rich creamy texture, lots of shimmer, and an impressive amount of colour payoff. The true shimmers are easily the standouts.

Below is a makeup look created using the Rose Quartz palette from Color Central. To create this particular look, I used the shade Happiness through the crease, Rose on the lid, Sand on the inner corner and underneath the brow bone, and Rejuvenation smudged along the outer and lower lash line.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

This palette is impressive in some ways and disappointing in others. The pros? The theme is fantastic, the shade names are wonderful, the palette is ultra affordable, and some of the shimmer shades really impress. The cons? The overall packaging isn't great and some of the shadows lack pigmentation. For five dollars, this was worth the risk. Thankfully, there are several eyeshadow shades that I can use and enjoy from this rose quartz themed eyeshadow palette.

Have you tried this palette? What do you think of the theme?