Saturday, February 14, 2015

Smoke and Stars

The Dolce Vita palette by Charlotte Tilbury was the single most anticipated item in my Beautylish haul. I agonised over whether I wanted to fork out $70 for four pans of eyeshadow, but eventually decided there was no point in further resisting. We all have our vices, and mine just happens to be makeup. I actually managed to swatch some of the quads at Selfridges when the line first launched in September 2013 (coincidentally, I was on holidays in London at the time), but couldn't bring myself to pay the equivalent of a 12-pan Urban Decay Naked palette for something with two-thirds fewer options, no matter how gorgeously packaged. The quality (in terms of the pigmentation and texture) and the shade selection also didn't seem that unique. I'd never been particularly enticed by the world of high end makeup (I'm not one to stalk the Dior, Chanel, Tom Ford, etc. counters), and Charlotte Tilbury seemed very much in that bracket. Still, in the months that followed, I couldn't help but be persuaded by countless Tilbury raves. There was something about the brand that proved irresistible, and I wanted a piece of the action.










l-r: Prime, Enhance, Pop, Smoke



Like each of Charlotte Tilbury's Luxury Palettes, they're colour-coded with a Prime, Enhance, Smoke and Pop shade. The four shades are designed to complement each other and work harmoniously to create a total eye look that can be taken from day to night. Charlotte Tilbury herself demonstrates ways to wear the quad in this video, starting with the "Prime" and "Enhance" shades for a daytime look, while amping up the drama and sultriness for the evening by adding the "Smoke" shade to the outer-V, socket and underneath the eyes, and dabbing the "Pop" colour all over the lid with the fingers.

"Prime" is a peachy, slightly pink-toned shimmery highlight shade. "Enhance" is a very warm-toned, richly metallic reddish bronze. "Smoke" is a minky chocolate brown threaded with gold, with slight olive tones. "Pop" is a copper/gold sparkly top coat, not much different to a fine, pressed glitter.

A lot has delighted me with the Dolce Vita palette. There's minimal fallout, particularly commendable for the "Pop" and the darkest "Smoke" shade, which isn't something I can say for the majority of eyeshadows I have. The shadows are extremely easy to blend and the colours are expertly put together. The wear time is also one of the most impressive aspects. The glitter stayed PUT and was glimmering past midnight like it'd been freshly applied. Shadows retained their vibrancy and pigmentation without fading. Even the highlight shade in the inner corner, traditionally the first to go, still remained after 15 hours. Say what?

The Dolce Vita reminds me a lot of Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad in Cognac Sable, right down to the same coppery glitter top coat. I've always lusted after Cognac Sable (or Golden Mink), but it's an eye-popping $110 in Australia, so it ain't happening. The Charlotte Tilbury is equally luxurious, more compact and feminine in terms of packaging, and quite a bit cheaper (though both are crazily expensive). While I normally don't splurge on high end eyeshadow quads/quints, preferring instead to spend my money on palettes like the LORAC Pro Palette, Urban Decay Naked palettes or the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette, the Dolce Vita has easily and quickly become a favourite.

26 comments:

  1. This palette is so stunning, the shades are so beautiful and so pigmented! You have a very lovely blog.

    alice x | beautybyalicee | bloglovin'

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  2. You are making me want this so bad, and this is when I do not wear eyeshadows much! Is this gorgeous or what! Love the look you did as well. Oh well! :-)

    TheConscienceFund

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  3. I generally prefer smaller palettes (Mac quads, Naked basics, Nars And God Created Woman) because they're so much more portable, and often have all the shades I need! I never really end up using whole huge palettes tbh.

    ellabooxo • beauty & lifestyle

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  4. Glad you like this one :)
    The Dolce Vita is also one of my fave quads.. The color selection is indeed similar to TF Cognac Sable. But I just can"t justify the price tag, so hefty :/ This one is a very good alternative to the one from TF.

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  5. Ugh these shades are SO gorgeous. The wear time sounds very impressive as well! Charlotte Tilbury in general just sounds entirely worth the splurge. One day some of her products will be mine!

    Tasha // shiwashiful.

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  6. Omg, sooo beautiful!! :) Really nice colors. :) xx S&R
    http://silverandrosy.blogspot.com

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  7. What a gorgeous quad! I keep hearing amazing things about the CT eyeshadows!
    xprincessjas | ♥

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  8. This palette is just so beautiful and I can see why you and the rest of the blogging community love it so much!

    nueyork.blogspot.com

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  9. I absolutely love the shades of the palette! :D

    Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Bloglovin’

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  10. The swatches look much warmer than the pans appear! Looks very much like a sleep and water quad to me. Glad to hear the quality lives up to the reputation. :)

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  11. Damn lady, I totally need to jump on the bandwagon and pick up one of these stunners! I love the enhance and smoke shade best...oh god, I can imagine a look with nothing but the prime shade on the inner half and then the smoke on the outer v and crease! Love the quality and texture of these, the brand in all just seems so luxurious and I'd love to own a shadow palette from them!

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  12. You're making me really want this palette, even though I already have the Tom Ford Cognac Sable palette. I like how small and minimal the packaging is compared to the larger size of the Tom Ford quad.

    blush and simplicity

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  13. I love this palette too! Worth every penny :) xx

    Magpie Jasmine

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  14. The shades look beautiful! I can get rid of all my palettes (well not ALL) and use this everyday! x

    Annie | www.drugstoredreamer.blogspot.com

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  15. Dolce Vita is high up on my wish list..but I can't seem to bring myself to buy it. x

    FARFROMPERFECTIONXO

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  16. This palette is just gorgeous. I have yet to try out CT products but I really want to get my hands onto one of these palettes and on one of her matte lipsticks.
    I finally understood how nice it is to have a few quads :3

    Take care*

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  17. This reminds me so much of the Kiko Daring Game eyeshadow palette in 01 Essential Brown! It has amazing shades :) xx

    Mary Bloomy

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  18. It's such a beautiful palette, and even just swatched they look like really good quality, so definitely worth a little splurge!

    Catherine, xo || Lady Liquor

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  19. Girl I feel your pain, Australian prices need to calm the hell down. But WOOZA this palette makes your brown eyes pop, owed to those gold-y tones. Definitely worth the purchase!

    www.under80s.blogspot.com.au

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  20. That's such a pretty palette though I still wouldn't spend my money on such a high end brand but maybe one day or maybe as a gift. Plus there are so many other eyeshadow quads I really want myself. Lovely review though and the swatches are great.

    Jackie | fashionxfairytale | bloglovin' |

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  21. I bought this a few months back and I love it so much! I reach for it everytime I go and that glitter shade is just too gorgeous for words! I love how you've applied it, it looks great! :)

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  22. I desperately want to try some Charlotte Tilbury... like you I've resisted for so long and don't have a local counter, but will have to treat myself soon!

    Nic x

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  23. I mean everyone I follow absolutely RAVES about these eye shadow quads and seemingly for good reason too. :)

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  24. These colors are right up your alley! Awh man though, all these raving CT posts are really starting to test my self control. There are just too many things I want to try from the brand! The quads, the blushes, the lipstick/liners, the magic cream...

    Chloé⎪ status.chlo (previously à la foliee)

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  25. Great colors for a daily basis makeup :)

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