Kat Von D Esperanza Palette Review

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!

Kat Von D Esperanza palette 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!

Kat Von D Esperanza palette review

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.

Kat Von D Esperanza palette swatches

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*

Kat Von D Esperanza palette review

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.

Kat Von D Esperanza Tutorial #1

If you guys follow me on Instagram (you should, btw!), you would know that I’ve posted a little sneak peek on today’s tutorial there. Today, I wanted to do my first Kat Von D Esperanza tutorial, using the mint eyeshadow as the main focus. If you are wondering why the pictures on the step-by-step is a bit off in terms of the color, it’s because the Sun was playing hide and seek with me today. Luckily, the sky cleared up, and I managed to get good shots for the final looks!

I’ll try to post a review for this palette some time this week. I prepped my eyelids using UD Primer Potion, which I think didn’t work too well for this look. May be for future tutorial, I might use a white-colored base (i.e. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk) OR a mint-colored base for the lid. I feel that the mint eyeshadow that I used doesn’t have much color on it, and look slightly chalky.

All eyeshadows mention are from Kat Von D Esperanza palette. If you want to find out the product I used and skip the how-to, scroll all the way down.

How-to:

1. After prepping my lid using UD Primer Potion, I applied Archangel using a flat eyeshadow brush.

2. Using Sigma E25 Blending Brush, I applied Placebo slightly above the crease.

3. Using the tip of a flat eyeshadow brush (like the Sigma E54 Medium Shader brush), I applied Santeria on the crease and outer V.

4. Using the same Sigma E25 blending brush that I used on step 2, I blended out Santeria.

5. Using a fluffy blending brush (like the Sigma E38 Diffused Crease brush), I applied South under the brow. I also buffed South slightly on to my crease.

6. Using a small shader brush, I applied Archangel on the inner corner of the lower lid, and Selena on the outer corner.

7. (not in picture), I applied Danglo on top of Archangel using a flat eyeshadow brush.

8. I created a winged eyeliner using Kanebo Kate Super Sharp eyeliner, and lined my waterline using L’oreal Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner.

9. I curled my lashes and applied Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara.

10. I filled my brows using Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde, and then I set it using Faint eyeshadow from the Naked Basic palette.

Kat Von D Esperanza makeup tutorial

11. On my face, I applied UD Naked Skin foundation using a damped makeup sponge.

12. I set my face using NARS Setting Powder.

13. I lightly contoured my face and nose using MAC Blunt.

14. On my cheeks, I applied Chanel Blush de Horizon.

15. Lastly, on my lips, I applied L’oreal Color Riche lipliner in Beyond Pink, top it off with Revlon Socialite suede lipstick and a little tiny bit of clear lip balm from L’occitane.Kat Von D Esperanza eye makeup

I took the pictures above in a room with big windows and natural day light. For the pictures below, I actually stepped out of the house and took the pictures outdoor with the Sun somewhat behind me. As you can see, in both pictures, my makeup is not heavy at all, esp. for the face. The focus is still on the eyes, while the skin is left pretty natural looking.

If you are curious about my hair, please check my post on Highlights for Brunette.

Kat Von D Esperanza tutorial

Products used:

Eyes – Kat Von D Esperanza palette; Kanebo Kate Super Sharp eyeliner; L’oreal Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner; Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara; Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ash Blonde; Faint eyeshadow (Naked Basic palette).

FaceUD Naked Skin foundation; NARS Setting Powder; MAC Blunt; Chanel Blush de Horizon.

Lips – L’oreal Color Riche lipliner in Beyond Pink; Revlon Socialite suede lipstick; clear lip balm from L’occitane.

Recommended Sigma brushes – Sigma E25 Blending Brush; E54 Medium Shader brush; Sigma E38 Diffused Crease brush.

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