Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette - Swatch And Review

Type of product: Eyeshadow Palette
Brand:  Catrice
Name of product: Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette, 010 All Nude
Price:  44 HRK
Where to purchase: Muller, Kozmo, Dm
Rating:  4/10
Would I repurchase: Nope.
Opinion: I've already talked about this product, but I wanted to do a review after I've used it for a longer time. I was so excited when this palette came out, but the longer I have it, the less I like it. The good sides are: the packaging is very good quality, it's sturdy and will not break easily, and the quality of the eyeshadows is good (but something to keep in mind: they're not very pigmented, so don't even think about using it without base). The thing that I dislike is: the shades. I don't think this is a nude palette. It's got way too much shimmer in it. I think I've said this before - it would be amazing if Catrice released a matte version of this. I've had this palette for 6 months I believe, and I only ever use the first shade as highlight on my brow bone. I do not think you can use it to create a work or school look, because it's way too sparkly for that. It's ok for a night out if you want shimmer and brown/nudish shades. Overall, I think I could have lived without it had I not purchased it. I never use the brush that came with it, it's ok but I've got better tools. Catrice has also released a new palette (the Bright palette), and I did not get it - it's just a bunch of highlighter shades that all look pretty much the same once applied to the skin. 

Conclusion: I like where Catrice is going with these palettes and I hope they release more of them, but this one does not have what I'm looking for. I do not like the metallic shine of some of the shades, or the crazy amount of shimmer. I think they should have put in at least one matte shade with strong pigmentation. If you're looking for an every-day palette, this isn't for you.

Did you get this palette? Is your opinion of it as mellow as mine? Let me know, and thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to follow me!

Follow this LINK for my review of the LE palette by Catrice.

xoxo, Jelena

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Beauty uk high brow VS. Catrice eyebrow set

Happy Saturday! I recently bought the beauty uk high brow all in one brow definition kit, so I decided to write about it, and also compare it to the Catrice eyebrow set that I've been using until now. I didn't buy the beauty uk set because I was unhappy with the Catrice one, I just thought it looked cute and wanted to try it out. I have not over-plucked my eyebrows since high school (thank god), so I'm happy with their shape, I just need to fill them up a bit (I don't need to draw them on or anything complicated LOL). My eyebrows are quite dark, since my hair is dark chestnut brown (though most people would probably say it's black).

Catrice Eyebrow Set: The packaging is sturdy. It's smaller than the beauty uk one, and a little bit bigger than a lipstick, so it will fit in your purse. It has a mirror inside (beauty uk does not have a mirror), so it's perfect for on the go. You get a tweezer (the tweezers from both of these products are almost exactly the same), a two-sided brush, and two eyebrow powders. I haven't been using the tweezers because whenever I'm at home, I just use my regular one, but these are actually not bad at all if you're in a hurry. I love the brush and I've been using it a lot (both sides). As for the powders, I haven't been using the lighter shade, because it's not well pigmented, and my eyebrows are too dark, so if I apply it, you can hardly see any difference. I've been using the darker shade. It's not too dark (so you don't look harsh), but it's just the perfect shade to fill in darker eyebrows without it looking like too much.

Beauty UK high brow, all in one brow definition kit: What I love about all beauty uk products is that they have a safety seal, so you know no one's touched it before you (take note, essence and Catrice). This product doesn't have a mirror, but this is not a problem for me, since I've always got a mirror with me, and I usually don't touch-up my eyebrows on the go. You get tweezers (the Catrice tweezers are more difficult to press together, so even though both tweezers look almost identical, the beauty uk ones are a bit easier to use). You also get a two-sided brush, but I've only been using the angled side. The lightest-colored pot is not powder, it's a kind of wax that you can use before or after eyebrow powder. I haven't been using it at all because I fix my eyebrows with essence's lash & brow gel mascara. This wax seems too oily for me, and I don't like it. So, the lightest shade I haven't been using. It's too light for me, I think it's better suited for blondes. The darkest shade (second in the top row) is really well pigmented, but makes me look a bit too harsh - so I haven't been using it everyday. I would only use it when I'm wearing a lot of eyeshadow or dark eyeliner, so that my eyebrows don't look washed out. The middle shade is really the best one for me. When I saw it I really didn't think it would suit me, but it did. It gives me a very soft look. And now a photo of the swatches:

As you can see, the lightest beauty uk shade is really light. I've got really dark hair and eyebrows, so I don't use it. What you can also see is how badly pigmented the lighter Catrice shade is. If I would have to pick a favorite, that would be very difficult to do. Both of these products are a good purchase. I am using both sets depending on whether I'm in a hurry (Catrice) or if I want bolder eyebrows (beauty uk). Now that I have both, I really do feel like I need both kits. I use the darker Catrice shade if I don't have a lot of make up at all, just to fill my eyebrows a little bit. I use the beauty uk darkest shade for a bolder night look, or if I know I'll be taking flash-pictures (so I don't look washed out). I use the beauty uk middle shade when I want a softer look to match a lighter eyeshadow.

If you've got light brown hair, I would recommend buying the essence eyebrow set, it seems to me that it's a much better choice for lighter brown hair than any of these two. It's got more brownish-colors. I'm dark chestnut, almost black, so essence did not appeal to me before, but now that I see I'm using both these kits, I might buy the essence one as well. These two are price-wise almost the same (beauty uk 30kn, Catrice 33kn). If I'm judging only by the packaging, I like beauty uk better, it seems more feminine to me. Here's a quick photo of the essence lash&brow gel mascara I've been using. I'm surprised the gel is still light, usually it soon turns a brown shade from the products. I also adore the Maybelline transparent mascara and I use it on my eyebrows, I think I'll buy that one after I spend the essence one. My eyebrow routine is fairly simple: I just fill in my brows lightly, apply some transparent mascara, comb and set eyebrows in place. 

What's your eyebrow routine? Do you use any of these products? I wonder has anyone tried out the essence eyebrow set - I hate their packaging, it's a class below than both of these, it looks so juvenile. But if it's a good product I might get over it. See you in the next post, follow me on all my social sites, links are to the right. ;)

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Inspired by Coffee

Like I said in my previous post, I do wear La Roche-Posay polish A LOT, so I get tired of it just like it is. I usually do a gradient over it, but this time, since I realized it's the exact same color as my mom's favorite coffee, I decided to do a bit of drawing...LOL Those are supposed to be coffee beans actually hehe. I guess I need to get a hang of this...I ended up enjoying this look, though I believe it would have looked better if I just added the brown tip. The dark brown is by Catrice, shade is called 'Bruno Brownani'. It's a beautiful dark brown. The light shade is a polish by La Roche-Posay, featured in my previous post ;) Hope you guys are all having a great start of the week! ;)

See you later, love, J <3

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La Roche-Posay polish is the best!

I've been planing to write about this brand of nail polish for quite some time, but whenever I'd wear them, I'd get bad weather or something, and the pictures were unusable. So here I am, finally, third time's the charm. Some time ago I took a break from wearing polish to try a nail-treatment to make my nails stronger. Well for years now if I want to give my nails a break, there's no need to stop wearing nail polish-I just wear La Roche-Posay! Seriously, there are no words to describe how amazing these polishes are - they would last me 10 DAYS on my nails, chip free (I know, amazing), and I'd have to remove them eventually because my nails would grow too much....gorgeous shades, they protect your nails and make them stronger, and you dont have to stop wearing nail polish!! Now the sad thing is, these are NOT available to buy in my country, but should be available throughout the rest of Europe (only in pharmacies I believe), and you can check them out HERE. Now I have seen that since I've last gotten my hands on these, they have changed the packaging, which makes me so excited since it's time to get a new one. I have 2 bottles of the same shade, however this shade that is on my nails has been discontinued (or so it was last time I checked). At first I didnt like it in the bottle, but placed on my nails it's amazing - such a gorgeous brown shade! Looking at the new bottles, I am eager to get my hands on a red shade! Anyway, to stop myself from blabbing on: amazing polishes, worth every cent, and if you have problems with your nails, you should look for these - they will make your nails healthier and stronger, and you wont have to give up wearing polish!

LOL You KNOW nail polish is AMAZING if I have 2 bottles of the same shade and they're both used up! (And I have over a 100 polishes, I forget how much)....Love these babies, I'm so glad I discovered these, and I am in love with the gentle warm-chocolate tone, I love the way it looks on my nails <3 See you in the next post! ;)

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Ombre In The Fall...

Hey everybody! I did not wear ombre nails for a while, so I loved wearing this look-it was different and so much fun! So let's get to it-the polish on the thumb is Sephora's 'City Amazon', two coats. The forefinger is Catrice's 'Grey's Kelly'-now this color has a purple(?) undertone, and it's two coats. This polish is really weird, I cant really say if it's a grey or a brown color. The middle finger is Catrice's 'Dulce & Havanna' - what a beautiful shade -I fell in love with it! The ringfinger - Catrice's 'Bruno Brownani', another gorgeous brown shade, and the pinky is Essence's black stampy polish, which is a true dark black, i love it!

Whenever I wear ombre nails, I pair it up with very simple jewelry, so with this look I wore just simple black rings. If you havent tried ombre nails, you have to do it - when I saw them in a photo, I thought it would be too much; but once it's on your hands it looks amazing! Here are a few more photos, just because I LOVED wearing this look! ;)

See you in the next post, hope everyone had a great week! ;)

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