NEW Makeup from Wet n Wild: 2016 Collection Review

In January I was invited to The Spoke Club to sip drinks, indulge in tasty treats and peruse the incredible new beauty collection from Wet n Wild as the DJ spun popular beats. My fellow Beauty Editors and Bloggers all gathered around to get our nails done and chat about the impressive variety of new makeup in the 2016 collection. 

Like many of you I’ve been a fan of the brand for years, in fact when I was a teen I used Wet n Wild products to experiment and explore my creativity. Since then they have come a long way in terms of formulation, pigmentation and quality so I am excited to share some of the new products before I jet off to Florence with my sister.

The Color Icon 8 shade eye shadow palettes have been cult faves for years. They only cost a few dollars and the quality is fabulous so when I saw the new Studio Eye Shadow Palettes I just had to test them out. There are two color collections: gold with neutral hues and purple jewel tones with deep green. The finishes range from sheer highlights, subtle mattes, metallic shimmers and glitter to create a variety of day and evening looks from tame and neutral to bold and sexy.

Both palettes look gorgeous! I wear gold shades on a daily basis because they compliment all outfits and the deep, sultry purples are perfect for smokey eyes and party looks.

The gold palette - (Coming in Latte) has a beautiful assortment of colors including sliver, beige, champagne, taupe, brown and black. It provides everything you need to create many flattering looks with soft shimmer on the lids and deep contour shades for the crease. The color pay-off isn’t as intense as I expected from Wet n Wild, some pigments are quite translucent and soft while others offer a bit more saturation. With a good primer I was able to enhance them all for the vibrancy and effect I desired but it took a bit of layering. The texture isn’t as silky or soft as I prefer but it isn’t gritty or flaky either so I have no issues with application or fall-out. If you are looking for a simple yet affordable gold palette with pretty hues then this one gets the job done.

The purple-green palette called Quartz Center packs more of a punch when it comes to pigmentation and there are no matte shades. The finishes are shimmer and glitter although the glitter is more concentrated on the top layer and becomes less evident as you dig past. The great thing about this palette is that you still get a bit of gold and silver plus the shades all compliment each other beautifully. The darker shadows (especially the rich, creamy greens) seem to have a lot more color pay-off than the lighter hues but with primer and a bit of layering you can enhance them all for deep, smoldering looks! (The Studio Palettes are not currently available in Canada).

Since highlighting and contouring has been all the rage the new collection includes radiant compacts to help you get your glam on! The To Reflect Shimmer Palettes are quite large and available in 3 pretty color combos. Sand-Gria-Castles is my favorite because the golden-champagne produces a warm, iridescent glow that looks great on all skin tones. Although the texture of these aren’t as smooth or silky as expected you can use them wet or dry which is quite unique for a highlight. The compact has a wild animal print reminiscent of the brand’s edgy style and the finish is quite subtle and soft with no large glittery chunks. A light sweep over the cheekbones revives dull complexions for that dewy, light reflecting sheen that is so trendy right now!

If you prefer more of a silvery-pink highlight then the - I’ll Have a Cosmo Palette may be more your style. The sheer color puts the finishing touch on all your looks for that healthy luminous effect we all crave. (Not available in Canada)

Sticking with the topic of strobing, the Mega Glo Illuminating Palette has 4 strips of pretty pigment for versatility. These shades have more glitter compared to the palettes above but they are quite sheer, light and pretty. If you don’t know what type of glow you prefer or you want to travel with a selection of highlights then this compact is a great option. It includes: light yellow-gold, silver, bronzy-pink and golden for a fresh faced effect. You can also sweep your brush over the entire palette and lightly dust the powder over the face and body. The compact retails for $5.99.

Highlighting and sculpting go hand-in-hand so the brand also released the MegaGlo Contouring Palette in two shade duos. The compact I have – Caramel Toffee is the deeper of the two with a nice rich brown hue. Initially I thought these shades were going to have more of a flaky, powder finish but they don’t! I really like the quality of the cream-powder texture because the smoothness of the pigments blend and build-up very well so you can shape and define as little or as much as you like! The highlight shade also has a nice creamy texture and the matte finish enhances your best features and brightens the under eye and cheekbone area. This is a definite hit and it retails for just $5.99.

Let’s take a break from the face and move on to the lips! The Wet n Wild Mega Slicks Lip Gloss is now available in 15 new shades and I love the juicy vividness! Of course I chose bold colors but they do have a selection of neutral tones if you prefer. I have the shades: My Cherry Amour which is a bright red with a tinge of orange, Berried Treasure - basic pink and That’s My Jam - a deep, purple berry hue. If you are looking for affordable, simple, sheer gloss these are decent. The formula is creamy, non-sticky, fruity and enriched with aloe and vitamins to hydrate and nourish. Even though they are quite sheer they still provide a nice pop of shiny color especially the deeper shades which can be enhanced and applied over lipsticks. The gloss retails for $3.59 each.

The Velvet Matte Lip Color Pencils are available in 9 shades and are a bit tamer if you prefer a soft finish. I picked up - Turn Orange and Berry Tales which are light, non-drying and creamy with very subtle, sheer color. Charred Cherry however is deep and rich with vivid pigmentation so not surprisingly it is my favorite of the three. It has a pretty mauve-pink finish and I like that the pencils twist up (no sharpening required) for easy access. (Not currently available in Canada)

The blushes from Wet n Wild have always been some of my faves because they are long lasting and usually have amazing pigmentation! The two new shades I have are Mellow Wine and Fantastic Plastic Pink which needs no explanation. The Wine shade has a cream-powder velvety texture that is easy to blend and suitable for all complexions. It also has good pigmentation to add shape and dimension to the face. The light pink isn't really my cup of tea and has a few chunky glitter particles. It may be better suited for fair complexions. The blush retails for $4.99 each.

To help set your makeup and keep everything intact the Photo Focus De Fixation Spray provides a refreshing mist to seal the deal. The spray comes in a mini bottle which is great for travel and although the formula takes a few minutes to dry it does provide some moisture for dry skin without a greasy residue or film. I tested it out for a few days and found that it prevents colors from fading and really does keep makeup fresher for longer! It also has a nice light scent and retails for $5.99.

The Mattifying Powder is something many of us need on long days spent in makeup and when the weather heats up. The formula is infused with light reflecting silica beads that absorb oil and minimize shine to keep you non-greasy and matte. The compact comes with a powder puff for application or touch ups on-the-go and although it is lightweight and translucent for all skin tones the drier texture makes it a bit tedious to blend seamlessly so I prefer to pat it on with a flat top kabuki brush. If you do have oily skin or wear oil based foundation then this is an affordable, quick fix. (Not currently available in Canada)

The Long Lasting Eye Shadow Primer ($5.99) is formulated to prep and brighten the lids, lock down and enhance color and prolong the wear of eye makeup. It provides a crease-free, matte base that dries invisible and it does help intensify colors especially sheer shadows and lighter hues. It doesn’t give me the same results as my higher-end primers but if you are looking for an affordable option it does help improve application.

The Lash Primer ($5.99) is designed to help create the perfect base for mascara by adding volume and length. It is also infused with vitamins to help strengthen, condition, promote lash health and nourish hair which is a nice bonus! Like most lash primers the formula is white and although I don’t usually prep my lashes with a base it does seem to give me a little extra length. 

Wet n Wild can be found at Walmart, Loblaws, Rexall, and Lawtons. Although this post was a bit lengthy there is still more in the collection so stay tuned to see the new nail polishes and cute makeup brushes!