Annabelle Cosmetics 2017 Spring Collection Review

On January 6 (two days from now) Annabelle’s spring line is about to hit drugstore shelves and I’ve been busy testing some of the fabulous new releases!

The All-In-One Eye & Brow Palette contains: 2 eyebrow powders, 2 highlight shades, 6 shadows (matte & metallic) and 1 double-ended applicator. I love the idea of creating a complete eye look with one small palette and although the brow pigments are a tad ashy for my dark hair, the deepest hue works well for filling in sparse areas and the Annabelle eye pencils are my go-to brow liners.

The eye shadows are silky and soft with sheer to medium color-payoff that can be intensified and deepened when layered over primer. Although the colors aren’t very bold, they are smoky enough to create contrast and depth for simple everyday looks that flatter all complexions. The glitter is also quite mild if you prefer your pigments less flashy and more refined. The palette retails for just $12.95.

The Skinny Palette is great for travel and contains 5 appealing hues in warm neutral tones ranging from brown, bronze, silver and gold. These shadows seem to be a bit less saturated than the pigments above with sheer shimmer finishes and slightly buildable coverage. I would have liked a bit more richness and vibrancy but the smooth, velvety texture is easy to apply and the shades are very wearable. The palette retails for $9.95.

Since I prefer bold color, the Chrome Eye Shadows are more my style. These creamy, brilliant pigments are available in 5 hues and the Rose Gold shade below is very trendy! The texture is soft, moist and cushiony with vivid, high-impact metallic color. This smooth, cream formula isn’t flaky or loose and once applied it stays put without much transfer into the crease. To achieve such fabulous coverage with this particular finish I usually have to dampen my brush but this pigment adheres well (even without a base) and looks very similar to Stila's popular Metal Foil Shadows which I also love! They retail for just $8.95 each.

To make sure all those pretty shadows show up true to color the Annabelle Eye Shadow Primer is a must! It comes in a neutral peachy hue (which won’t show through when covered with pigment) and the creamy texture enhances color pay-off, prevents creasing and prolongs wear. I do have to dig into the jar a bit to extract the product but it works like a charm and when tested beside a swatch with no base, it amplified the shadow up to 3x more. The primer retails for $8.95.

The new Matte Single Eye Shadows ($8.95) come in 10 shades. Pink Lemonade (seen below with the primer) is sheer and soft which makes a great base and brow bone highlight.

The Full Blast Mascara ($6.95) has a traditional wand that is designed to thicken, define and separate for voluptuous lashes. I was able to achieve nice length and definition for daily wear and when layered with other mascaras the effect is more dramatic.

When it comes to eye pencils Annabelle has one of my favorite formulas and I like that many of them are twist-up. The Gel Eyeliner glides on effortlessly with rich black, waterproof pigment that accentuates the eyes and lasts all day. I also use this under my liquid eyeliner for even more definition and line reinforcement. It retails for $8.95.

Annabelle Cosmetics can be found in major drugstores across Canada and on annabelle.com with shipping to the U.S.