Review and Swatches: The Queen of Hearts Eyeshadow Palette

Well, this is long overdue. This palette by Coloured Raine was certainly the palette of the summer, maybe even the past year. It was first limited edition, then became permanent, which was cool of Coloured Raine. I bought this during a flash sale, for $40. Shipping was $6.00. Full price, the palette costs $50.00.

So, let's talk about it, shall we? I have blogged about this palette often. I have featured it in many TMO's, and have compared it to other palettes in my collection, specifically the Tarte Pro to Go, as well as the Modern Renaissance.

I am happy to report that this palette has a unique place in my collection, but I do not think it is worth the full price of $50. Let's talk about this palette. I'll start with pictures:

Over top of the mirror, I've placed the sleeve. I am in the camp that believes the sleeve should have just been the packaging itself, but whatever. The mirror is on the smaller side, but it is covered in the picture. The packaging is sleek hard cardboard, a black outer covering, and gold foil inside. It's really lovely.

Some specs below. Each shadow is 1.5 g.

So the way I have them swatched is the order of the palette, from left to right. The first shade is the bottom one on my arm, Crown, and so on. The metallic/shimmer shades were swatched with my finger, as that is how I apply them to my eye. The mattes were applied with a shader brush. 

1. Crown: An opaque metallic white duochrome, with a pink shift. This is a really impressive shadow because of its opacity and staying powder. I've found that shades like this don't last long, especially in the area of the inner corner, but this one sticks around. It is also really easy to mix this shade with others.

2. Royal Highness: A taupe metallic shade. This has been my favorite so far. But for this and the other shades of the same formulation, glitter glue is necessary for my eye shape, to avoid transfer. This also is a very creamy shadow. 

3. Your Majesty: An orange leaning metallic gold. The only bummer about this is that it inexplicably contains bits of silver glitter. It also requires glitter glue for me, but it is of the same excellent quality as Royal Highness.

4. Princess: A brown leaning dusty rose matte. A beautiful, creamy shade, perfect for me as a transition shade. The mattes are not as soft and delicate as ABH's, which I am grateful for. I can build, and the mattes last a while.

5. Empress: A bright orange, also of excellent quality and pigmentation. 

6. Queen Mother: This one reminds me of Rosette from ABH, but not as red-toned. Queen Mother has a strong brown base, and though it swatches beautiful and applies on the eye just as nicely, I am afraid that it looks like its sealing up in the pan, as Rosette once did. 

7. Heir: I already own this shade, actually. It is called Angel Face, also by Coloured Raine. Actually, Angel Face is softer and a tad more pigmented than Heir. 

8. Royal Perogative: A soft, blendable, mid-toned brown. 

Beginning with the shade on the bottom, we have, 

9. Noblewoman: A creamy, metallic shimmery burgundy leaning red. This is very intense, and I still have to get a handle on it. 

10. Ladyship: If I were to do a finger swatch of this particular shade, you would be disappointed. On the brush, however, it works fine. It lasts a long time. I did even experience some staining. 

11. Duchess: A dark matte brown. 

12. Dethrone: This is a gorgeous shade. It is a bit dark for me, but I love to use it patted on the outer corner- it is very shimmery.

Here is an example of a look I did with this. Also posted on my instagram (@beldamsansmerci). 

For this look, we have Princess in the crease, Ladyship also blended in the crease, and Queen Mother patted on the outer corner. Royal Highness is on the lid.

Overall, I am glad that I also have the Modern Renaissance palette to work with this. On its own, I do feel I am a bit limited with the amount of transition colors. The shimmers are really beautiful, and the palette presents a lot of options. Glitter glue is an absolute must for me, however, because of my particular eyeshape, to prevent transfer of shimmer shades.

When I first got this palette, I was a little intimidated, but once I delved in I found that this palette has a welcome place in my stash, and is perfect for the fall and winter.

I highly recommend it, but only if the colors are up your alley. Personally, I would not pay the full price for it, which is $50. Forty, however, is a good deal.

Let me know if you have this palette. I am always looking for new ways to use this!

My final rating is four and a half stars.