May 11, 2012

NYX The Crimson Amulet Collection Palette Review and Swatches

Oh yo is today not the perfect day for reviewing my NYX The Crimson Amulet Collection Palette inspired by the Dark Shadows movie?

I’m away for the weekend so I won’t be seeing the flick but I’m not entirely sure I’m missing much. Love me some Johnny but not sure I’m loving me some Johnny in a Dark Shadows comedy rendition. I think Burton dropped the ball with this, it had the potential to be so incredibly dark and goth…!

But about this new NYX Crimson Amulet Palette.

Take a peek!

For collectibility purposes alone you might want to haul this. Maybe you’re a Dark Shadows fan, maybe just a Depp or a Burton one…whatever your bag I think the palette is a treasure for that reason alone.

It comes in a cute Collinwood inspired box with the artwork branching out throughout the palette itself. It’s creepy, it’s gothy, perhaps a little campy too once you open it up and are presented with the characters inside.

This opens like a book and features a snap closure. The front “pages” feature 24 eyeshadows and a full side mirror while the back ones have character photos, bios, their look ideas and the remaining makeup products which include NYX Eyeshadow Primer and Eyeliner minis plus a highlighter, five blushes, and four lip creams.

Technically the character bios are cute but a little useless as they don’t really offer you any clues of how to actually get these looks, you have to use a little imagination.

I think the packaging is really fun on a whole.

The eyeshadows and pretty much everything else in the palette is a step above an E.L.F. Cosmetic one. I don’t think NYX’s palettes are a reflection on their primary makeup line. NYX has some mighty fine offerings but there palettes aren’t as up to par as the master collection.

That being said….

I think the palette is pretty good.

The shadows all have excellent color payoff, blend easily, have a velvety smooth formula, and work well together. I didn’t find any issue here and wasn’t disappointed in the least. No chalkiness at all either. I wasn’t really Dark Shadows inspired by the shades featured here and neither are any of the looks I created using it to be honest but perhaps I lack imagination. All in all it’s a mix of a ton of natural shades with a few colored ones thrown in…mostly though you’ll find the colors are all warm and natural with a ton of various browns, golds, etc…

They included two blush duos and a single blush shade. I love the single color which is very NARS Orgasm-like. I’m wearing this shade in both my photos below. They also have two duos that feature a darker rose red, peachy, and dusty pinks. These will probably wear best together since the wells are to tiny to fit your brush into. Pigment is great here but I felt the single shade proved the best quality of the five colors of blush features. I actually would have preferred if they just gave me three single shades rather than the duos.

The highlighter shade is a soft creamy white. You can dust it on cheek bones, brow bones, etc…

They also include a mini NYX Primer (I’ve reviewed this before and loved it) and also a liquid eyeliner.

The worst part of the palette, in my opinion, are the lip creams. They are hard and have a rather unflattering formula on a whole.

Overall, I think the palette is very fun. It isn’t the best quality makeup in the world and as I said not really a reflection of some of the amazing products that NYX puts out. But I think it’s novel and has a ton of collectible potential. Plus you can create some really nifty looks from it.

Likey!

This is $25 and available now at Ulta as well as online at www.nyxcosmetics.com

Purchased it?

What did you love about it?

Didn’t like it?

Why not?

Do share!

Note: I didn’t swatch all the shades in the palette, I’ll update shortly with the remaining shades.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Majick

    Lookin’ good cutie pie! I sure wish my photos turned out even a quarter as good as yours. In mine, I can never even tell what colors I’m wearing. ugh…

    the palette is fun and I like it.

    • the Muse

      mine are crap too majick…I’m a complete geek but when it comes to digital cameras it’s utter suckage :-/ I get a ton of grief for how badly my cam pics up glitter, how the swatches aren’t good, etc…but sadly, I’m not a whiz with a camera ;-D me too! I didn’t like the lip creams though, those were awful! but the rest is a win! plus it’s gothy, campy fun ;D

      • Majick

        I going to see the movie on tues with my work friend. We both used to watch as kids. Bummer it’s comedy but I will enjoy Mr. Drop all the same😘

        • Majick

          Just noticed my typo – I think that was short for “Mr. Drop Dead Gorgeous” LOL

  • Miss D

    You look perfect as always Muse! I too think Burton is way off with this movie, even if it does have the delicious Johnny Depp in it. Come on- the chance to redo a goth soap opera and you make a comedy out of it?! And I so need a goth fix right now! 😛

    • the Muse

      AGREED miss d! agreed! aw and thanks far from perfect but love ya ;-D

  • Quinctia

    I think the palette is overpriced and I think the movie is stupid. I say this both as a fan of Nyx and of Dark Shadows (including that…was it 80s or 90s remake?).

  • Mia

    If Johnny Depp’s face was all over the packaging, I’d have purchased it. The looks you did came out nice but the colors from the swatches don’t seem unique enough for me. I’ve noticed you REALLY love Nars Orgasm blush 🙂 You reference to it in quite a few posts.

    • the Muse

      ditto mia ;-D ditto! haha! I do indeed, great shade isn’t it? 🙂

  • zang

    nice shadows, but as for the movie, you’re not missing much. just wait til the redbox.

    • the Muse

      I thought as much zang ;-D might check it out tonight ;D!

  • ruthless

    I got this for about 24 bucks at London Drugs (Canuck store) and I was very pleased with it. For me the least useful part was the duos, the red shade is VERY VIBRANT.