Of course I ordered the highly anticipated Anastasia Beverly Hills x Alyssa Edwards palette: as a longtime fan of the drag queen and an occasional performer myself, I couldn’t resist Edward’s perfectly curated palette of neutrals and unapologetic brights. For years I stuck with soft, sophisticated browns, even for nights out or stage wear—but a recent desire for something bigger, something bolder was satiated with this launch. I didn’t even hesitate to think how I would wear these colors, just that I would commit to them.
The quality is everything you’d expect from an ABH eyeshadow palette. The pigment is vibrant, creamy, and soft to a fault—but I don’t mind the kickback of powder if it means seamless application and ease of blendability. The actual assortment of shades, however, is the true superstar: it’s executed with intention. There’s a perfect balance between showmanship and wearability, and more importantly, every shade is flattering. The browns are versatile, sexy, sensual; the blend of blues, purples, and pinks range in a perfect set of mattes and metallics.
Truly, the looks are endless because every shade is wearable no matter how you mix it:
- SMOKE IT OUT: H.O.E. all over with a gradient of The Supreme in the crease takes basic brown to 70s smoky. Add a touch of Beast—which is a faultless black shadow, if ever there was one made—to the lashline and voilà! A simple look for a date night out.
- A BEYHIVE VIBE: An ode to Beyonce’s “Lemonade,” anyone? Mix Headliner and H.O.E. for a light wash of brown just to neutralize (and add depth) to the lid. Start off with a layer of Headliner to prime the inner corners, then pack on Brick Road in a V-shape to give the inner corner a highlight. Blend H.O.E. in the outer corners for a catlike shadow, and add a black liner to create a sleek cat-eye. Meow.
- PURPLE REIGN: Purple is a neutral, if you ask me; it’s always a treat to wear because it adds more dimension than your box-standard brown. Make Believe your main shade, and using a light touch, blend it out into the crease with a mix of B.B.D.C. and Unicorn Tribe. The best part? Pressing D.D.C. onto the center of the lid (right about the iris) for a flash of rich decadence.
- PINK ABOUT IT: Good pinks are hard to come by, and this palette reigns supreme when it comes to them. Unicorn Tribe on its own is just gorgeous and a great first foray in pinks without fear of looking sickly. If you’re ready for more, play with Texas Made as your base, Beyond as your topper, and Unicorn Tribe as your blendable pink before fading it into the skin with a touch of The Supreme. Truly, it’s stunning; I’m no makeup artist but this is the look I’ve gotten the most compliments on.
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xx
Your turn. Thoughts?