Anastasia Beverly Hills Velvet & Ultra-Matte eyeshadows, my review

I admit, I kind of took my time a little to tell you more about my Anastasia Beverly Hills Velvet and Ultra-Matte eyeshadow palette…

But I really wanted to be sure to choose my favorite eyeshadow from the range, the best of the best. And also, for this kind of review, I like to test different makeup looks to see all the different possibilities, in short: to get to know my products the best I can.

Guide to the different Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows finishes:

The Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows range contains 8 different finishes that can be used usually together to give dimension to the eye makeup look.

- Ultra-Matte: a matte finish formula not powdery or chalky at all on the eyelids, very pigmented and easy to blend,
- Velvet: a matte, semi-matte or slightly iridescent finish depending on the shades. They're extremely easy to blend, the texture is super soft and lightweight on the eyelids,
- Titanium: a very metallic and ultra-shiny finish, like liquid metal. They can be used dry or wet if you want more intensity,
- Satin: a satin and luminous finish, very pigmented and easy to blend,
- Metallic: a metallic finish, luminous but less glittery than the Titanium,
- Duo-Chrome: an iridescent finish, with several shades in one,
- Shimmer: a satin finish with very fine glitter in it,
- Sparkle: a matte base with glitter.

Here is a picture that helps to understand how to combine the different finishes:

Basically, you can use:
- as a transition shade, in the crease: the Velvet, Ultra-Matte and Satin finishes,
- on the eyelid: every finishes works,
- to catch the light on the center of the eyelid: the Satin, Velvet, Titanium, Metallic, Duo-Chrome and Shimmer finishes,
- as a liner, along the lash line: the Ultra-Matte, Sparkle, Titanium, Metallic, Duo-Chrome and Shimmer finishes.

Obviously, the choice of colors is also very important. For example, it's better to use a darker color as a liner.

Photo credit: Anastasia Beverly Hills

 

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There are different finishes in the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows range and the Ultra Matte and the Velvet finishes (in that order) are by far my favorites.
You’ll probably take me for an amateur, but I only discovered the importance of matte eyeshadows (relatively) recently. I’m not a makeup artist even if I learned the basics of makeup when I was in my beauty school. But a), it was a long time ago (15 years) (OMG!!!) and b), my teachers were not makeup artists (ahem).
I’ve always used a flesh color matte eyeshadow as a base for my eye makeup, but until 2 years ago, the existence of the transition shade was totally unknown to me.

And recently, I began to appreciate more and more 100% matte eye makeup.
I’m still not totally convinced by the contouring trend for the face but I love to use the same principles to do my eye makeup. This kind of “eyelids contouring” so to speak, allows me to give a lot of dimension to my eye.
Basically, I’m using some light shades (or luminous finishes) where I want to catch the light: inner corner of the eye, under the brow bone and the center of the eyelid.
And I apply darker colors to give depth to the look: in the crease, the outer corner and along the eyelashes.

So a few months ago, I was on the hunt for beautiful matte eyeshadows that would allow me to realize this type of makeup. I came across the Anastasia Beverly Hills range of single eyeshadows that were recently released (they were released in November 2014).
And I think it’s probably the best choice of neutrals matte eyeshadows in the market: easy colors to wear, a very wide choice of beautiful colors, they’re stunning!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Velvet & Ultra-Matte eyeshadows, presentation:

What the brand said about them:

This finely-milled, highly-pigmented powder eye shadow is available in eighty-four hues and eight finishes for maximum versatility.
Create a custom palette with kits that holds four to eight pans of your favorite colors and textures.

They are magnetic “pans” that can be placed in a Z-Palette type of palette if you purchase them separately (Anastasia Beverly Hills offers palettes too, but they are smaller, they contain only 4 to 8 eyeshadows).
On the photo above, it’s a black Z-Palette Medium which contains 15 eyeshadows.

Ultra-Matte and Velvet are my favorite Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadow finishes but regardless, my goal in creating this palette was to create a palette that I could use in combination with my other luminous eyeshadows.

I wanted to have in this palette:
– some base eyeshadows, to apply all over the lid to unify it,
– different transition shades to match with all my makeup looks,
– and finally, darker eyeshadows to serve as darker transition shades or to define the outer corner and to use as liners.

I think I’ve already explained the role of a transition shade here but just in case, a little reminder ;):
A transition shade will simply serve as a link between two colors to give the illusion that there is no demarcation between them, and that the final result is well blended, more “natural”.
It’s a bit of a cheat technique because you can also blend the shades directly together, but the addition of a transition shade makes the process so much easier and quicker. So why not use it? wink

Most of the eyeshadows which are in this palette are Ultra-Matte ones except Dusty Rose, which is a Velvet, but its finish is matte.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Velvet & Ultra-Matte eyeshadows, the colors and the swatches:

The first row of my palette consists mainly of light flesh tone eyeshadows, which I use as base to apply all over the lid and also matte highlighters to illuminate the areas where I want to catch the light (the inner corner of the eye and the brow bone) and also one eyeshadow I use as a makeup “erasers” to correct any smudge.
Disclaimer: I’m not sure you ever need that much light nude eyeshadows in a palette, I’m just obsessed about them lol!

– Bone: a white beige eyeshadow, slightly gray. It’s the one which I use as an eraser: as it’s very light, it can “absorb” darker colors.

– Fresh: a light pinky nude eyeshadow that I use very often as a base especially in winter, when the my skin looks cooler. It brightens and freshens the eyes!

– Cream: a another nude with a very light peachy undertone that I love to use alone or mixed with Fresh. I also use it as a base, and it’s very luminous!

– Nude: a little bit darker than Cream, but still in the same fair nude tones. This one can be used as a base if I have a tan or even be used as a very light transition shade.

– Soft Peach: a beautiful light transition shade, it’s a very very light orange shade. I love using it with light colors like beige, gold…

The second row is essentially transition shades. I chose the colors according to my favorite eye makeup shades. I usually stick to neutral colors, warm (beige, brown, gold, orange, khaki brown) or cool (taupe, pink, plum, violet).

– Day Rate: a very light dusty pink (slightly grey), such a great transition shade with a pink and/or purple makeup look.

– Dusty Rose: a must-have, it’s a beautiful dusty pink color. I use it mainly as a transition shade for my darker makeup looks or I even use it alone in the crease with a shimmery pink champagne (like MAC Jest for example). It literally blends like a dream, no fall out, I love it!

– Birkin: with Dusty Rose, it’s my favorite ABH transition shade. This is a very light brown beige, with light peach undertones. It goes with absolutely every makeup look. I use it almost every other day! If you choose only one transition shade from the brand and you have the same skin tone as me, you need a Birkin! wink

– Warm Taupe: a darker shade, it’s a beige brown color, slightly taupe.

– Fawn: a super pretty ochre, but not too yellow (I look sick when it’s yellow). This shade is perfect with dark makeup looks.

The last row includes darker transition shades and definition colors that I usually applied on the outer corner, or that I use as liner.

– Burnt Orange Matte: an orange shade with a light ochre undertone, perfect as transition shade for very intense and dark smokey eyes or even used by itself on the entire eyelid.

– Sienna: a sublime rusty orange shade. I use this one for everything: in the crease, the outer corner, on the entire eyelid, along the eyelashes… I love it!

– Red Earth: a beautiful warm brown, perfect to intensify the outer corner.

– Hot Chocolate: a true brown chocolate that I use on the outer corner or along the eyelashes, as a liner.

– Deep Plum: a beautiful plummy brown, that I also use on the outer corner or along the eyelashes, as a liner.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Velvet & Ultra-Matte eyeshadows, my test and thoughts:

– Color Range: one of the best on the market in my opinion, especially for neutral matte shades. Such a great choice of shades and the colors are to die for.

– Pigmentation and Coverage: perfect, they are very pigmented and have a great coverage, no need for 36 layers to get a nice color on your eyelids.

– Texture: they blend like a dream, they’re really easy to work with, and with almost no fall out (it’s pretty rare for matte eyeshadows).

– Finish: the finish is of course very matte, but a nice luminous matte, not chalky at all.

– Lasting Power: they last 10 hours with an eyeprimer (I always use a primer because I have oily eyelids).

– Value For Money: the price is $12 dollars per pan on Anastasia Beverly Hills website (not cheap but still cheaper than MAC to give you an idea). However there is a very advantageous system in the Anastasia Beverly Hills website: the bundles. Basically, if you take 4 eyeshadows, the price automatically drops to $40 with, as a gift,  a free empty eyeshadow palette ($10 per eyeshadow), and if you purchase 8 shades, the price is $70 plus a free empty eyeshadow palette ($8.75 per eyeshadow). This system is so cool and allows much better deals! wink

– Availability: for now, you need to place an online order on the Anastasia Beverly Hills website and the shipping costs depends on the place you live. But the delivery is worldwide.

Finally, here are some makeup looks made with these eyeshadows:

For this look, I’m wearing Fresh all over the eyelid, Day Rate and Dusty Rose in the crease, Warm Taupe along the lower lash line and Deep Plum in the outer corner. I used a Inglot black eyeliner gel and my mascara is Le Volume waterproof de CHANEL.
My liquid lipstick is by Anastasia Beverly Hills in the shade Dusty Rose.

My favorite simple everyday look: Fresh and Cream mixed all over the eyelid, Nude on the eyelid, Soft Peach and Birkin in the crease and a Charlotte Tilbury eyeliner pencil in the shade Bedroom Black smoked and blended. My mascara here is still the one one by CHANEL.
Another liquid lipstick by Anastasia Beverly Hills in the shade Veronica.

In summary:

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For me, these ABH matte eyeshadows are now must-haves, I’m using them so often (especially the light ones) and I love pairing them with my other shimmery eyeshadows. This palette has become one of my fave. Hooray for matte eyeshadows! wink

The Ultra-Mattes and Velvet eyeshadows are available on Anastasia Beverly Hills website for $12 each (or $40 for 4 or $70 for 8, with a free empty eyeshadow palette in each case).

And you, have you tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows? Which are your favorites?

Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com