Happy Friday (or Saturday depending on which time zone you are in), everyone! I wanted to actually do a tutorial today but the Sun is hiding behind the cloud, so I decided to fulfill my promise from my last post to put up my Kat Von D Esperanza Palette review. I hope when the Sun decides to come out again, I can do a fun tutorial for the upcoming week! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to find out what I’m up to daily, and also like my Facebook page so you can get notification on facebook whenever I upload a new post (or subscribe if you prefer email notification!).

Anyways, let’s get down to the review!

What is the Kat Von D Esperanza palette?

“A fresh palette of eight long-wear, full coverage shadows that deliver matte, pearl, and high-glitter finishes, plus one transformative color veil.

Inspired by the transformative spirit of spring, this luxurious eye shadow palette contains a variety of shades ranging from subtle mattes to bold shimmers and pearls. The transformer shade, Dayglo, can layer on to each color to add a unique dimension. A built-in mirror helps you create an abundance of on-the-go eye looks.

Palette is infused with rose extract to moisturize delicate eyelid area.”

(Sephora, 2014)

First impression – what a gorgeous coveeeer! I want it! I have to have iiiit! *while standing in front of the cashier, and without any shame asking her if she can get the palette from behind her*. Pretty much that sums up how I felt about the palette when I first saw it at Sephora…hahahaha…So, yeeep! There you go, I’m a sucker for any pretty packaging!

I actually have owned several Kat Von D products before – liquid eyeliner (Trooper), and Beethoven palette. I’ve loved those products, and have re-bought them several times, especially the Trooper liquid eyeliner. So, I expected quite a few things from this palette – great pigments, long-lasting, easily blendable etc. I’m pretty happy to see that Kat Von D finally released a palette with pastels and colors for Spring. However, this palette is just OK. I think you’ll be better off buying her True Romance palettes than this one, unless you like the pastels in this palette.

Keep reading to see why this palette didn’t make it to my Product of the Week!

Packaging

The Esperanza palette comes in a carton box. As you can see, there’s a beautiful art work in the cover, very reminiscent of the Sugar Skull. Inside, you get a mirror on one side, and 8 eyeshadows on the other side.

To be honest, I’m quite disappointed with the packaging, since I find it quite flimsy, considering the other True Romance palettes come in a hard plastic package with a clasp.

Longevity/Blendability/Pigmentation

As with most of the other Kat Von D palettes, the shadows in this palette last really well. I’ve worn it with UD Primer Potion for 6-hour with no creasing.

The eyeshadows are so soft and buttery; it blends so easily. I do have to say that if you have a skin tone like me (or darker), Archangel might look a little chalky (although I love this shade so much!). I find that Santeria and Dog Roses have the most pigment pay-off out of all the 8. I also love Dayglo, which can work really well as a transition color on the eyelid if you have 2 or more shades on the lid. It also gives a nice iridescent finish whether you wear it alone or on top of any shadow.

I do have to mention that there’s a significantly more fall-out from this palette compared to the other Kat Von D palettes.

Shades & Finish

Top (L-R)

• Selena (glitter purple)
• Dayglo (transformer shade, iridescent white)
• Galore (pearl peach)
• Placebo (matte peony pink)

Bottom (L-R)

• Santeria (glitter greenish grey)
• Archangel (sparkle seafoam green)
• South (matte beige)
• Dog Roses (sparkle bronze)

*shades description taken from Sephora*

Price

CA$43 for 0.035 oz x 8 eyeshadows. It is a limited edition palette, so I’ve expected it to be a bit more expensive. The other Kat Von D palettes (the True Romance) are also $43/each, but you get 0.05 oz x 8 shades (with better packaging). I think this palette is slightly more expensive, but if you love pastels and light colors then this would be a great palette for you.

Pros

• What is so great about this palette is that the colors work with each other very well in any combination!
• Love all the soft, spring colors.
• Easily blended and great pigment pay-off.
• Beautiful cover.
• Paraben free.

Cons

• Flimsy packaging.
• Some of the lighter shades might look chalky on medium to dark skin tone.
• Quite a few fall-out.
• Pricy considering you pay the same price as the other Kat Von D palettes, but you get less product and flimsier packaging.

 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated nor sponsored to do this review. I bought this palette out of my own pocket, and I do not gain any monetary profit out of it.