Avon Makeup Artist Palette Review

Over the years Avon has released many beautiful pigments but when you name a color collection the “Makeup Artist Palette” expectations are high. 

Although the packaging is unassuming and simple, the spectrum of color inside is very impressive!

The palette includes 30 eye shadows, 1 contour, 2 highlights, 3 blushes, 5 lip glosses, applicators and a large mirror. The shade selection is stunning with a beautiful range of deep smoky blues, vivid greens, bronze, copper, black, grey, purple, brown, nude, gold, silver, cream and more! There isn’t one shade in here that I don’t like and the contrast of solid mattes and dazzling shimmer allows you to create countless looks.

In terms of basic artistry you get fabulous lid colors, transition hues, crease contours and highlights with the versatility to go deep and smoldering or bright, bold and neutral. Overall the pigmentation varies slightly by shade and finish but for the most part the shadows are highly saturated and buildable. The shimmers have amazing color pay-off with a silky smooth texture that glides on effortlessly and appears radiant. The mattes are creamy, soft and easy to blend while the few glittery hues are soft and sheer. (To intensify the shadows apply over primer)

The quality of the formula is very good and if you ask me these are some of the best eye shadows Avon has released to date (excluding the mark brand) which is still my fave!

Below I've swatched a few shadows to demonstrate vibrancy. Compared to some of the higher-end palettes Iv'e tested recently, many of these pigments are comparable, especially the gold and champagne hues.

I wish the color palette above had the same formula as the shadows but they aren't as impressive. The matte bronzer is not really deep enough for contouring but with only one shade to handle this task catering to every skin tone is impossible. The silver and pink highlights are mild, shimmery and sheer but they still provide a faint natural glow. The blushes are probably the only downside to this collection because they are sheer to the point of non-existence. I was not able to generate any color from them which is unfortunate since the shades are nice. Despite this shortcoming I still think the palette is totally worth it for the eye shadows alone!

The glosses are very creamy and hydrating with luminous finishes and just enough sheer pigmentation to produce a pretty tint.

Although I don’t think the gloss, blush and bronzer is a high selling point, the eye shadows are beautiful and ideal for professional or personal use. The palette retails for $30.00 and is currently on sale for $24.00 at avon.ca.

Avon True Color 8-in-1 Eye Shadow Palette Review

I love eye shadow palettes that are great for travel with enough shades to create several trendy looks. I’ve been considering Avon's 8-in-1 compacts for a while now because the color selection is well rounded and highly wearable plus the range includes pigments that are soft and subtle, warm, cool, deep and smokey for the versatility to go from day to night.

The first color collection called Not So Neutral includes my favorite go-to shades for everyday wear. It has a nice range of bright hues, mid tones and champagne gold (which looks great on everyone), paired with a matte cream, beige (great for transitioning color in the crease), warm brown, black and silver.

I wasn’t sure if the pigmentation would be top-notch but surprisingly most of the shadows are quite vivid with the exception of a few faint hues.They can easily go from sheer to medium and in some cases full-coverage with a little layering. There is also a nice mix of shimmer and matte, although the shimmer isn’t very sparkly or bold which is good if you want to explore the milder side of this particular effect. Overall the colors aren't as velvety or rich as I usually prefer but they blend well and tend to stay put.

Although the texture isn’t ultra silky it is smooth enough for easy application without chalkiness or fall-out. I recommend using a good primer underneath to enhance the sheer pigments, increase overall intensity and prolong wear but they standout, match well and look good.

The Plum Essentials Palette is great for those who prefer cool, subtle tones. There is a pastel pink, light lilac, silver, cream, matte brown and two deep hues - purple and slivery-green.

Starry Nights is great when you want to amp up the glam for a night out and create deep smokey looks. I love the combination of matte and shimmery navy plus you also get a nice bronze, grey-blue, lilac, silver, beige and a frosty hue that makes a nice highlight.

To demonstrate the color pay-off, I swatched some of my favorite shades over primer.

The compacts are simple yet efficient so if you are looking for a few affordable quick-look, travel palettes these definitely come in handy and retail for $15.00 ea.

Avon has also released a cute tool to help keep your brushes spick and span. Simply slip your fingers into the little silicone sleeve and use the bristles and ridges to work up a disinfecting lather to loosen and abolish product residue. The brush cleaner retails for just $8.00 and is small enough to fit in a makeup bag.

You can find these great products at avon.ca or order through an independent consultant 

Avon True Color Matte Eye Shadow Quads Review

The matte trend has been all the rage recently as the surge of shine-free, solid color and vibrancy continues to dominate the beauty industry. If you are totally obsessed with Avon’s Matte Lipsticks (like I am) then the Matte Eye Shadow Quads may be just what your makeup bag needs. The compacts are available in 5 unique color combos, designed to create a range of flattering looks that can take you from day to night and whatever you have planned in-between.

I had previously tested one of the Quads when I received it in a gift bag from a TV show but that was a few years ago and I wasn’t very impressed with the pigmentation. This time around I noticed a big improvement in the color pay-off and the shadows are vivid, easy to blend, well matched and silky.

The packaging itself is not very cute but it is lightweight and comes with a large mirror which is handy for touch-ups on-the-go.

Desert Sunset (camel, coral/orange, deep eggplant and cocoa)

I like the variety of warm hues and cool tones throughout the collection and aside from a very subtle, (almost undetectable) dusting of shimmer particles seen in a few shades, the majority have a solid matte finish. For the most part the colors apply smoothly but a few of the lighter shades (usually #1 in the palettes) are quite sheer and soft since they are meant to be used as highlight. Initially I found some of the white hues a tad chalky but once blended they do even out.

Smoke & Fog (soft vanilla, cocoa, blue grey and black) 

The deeper hues (labeled 2,3 & 4) are more concentrated and deliver full coverage, intense color. They work well for defining the crease and accentuating the lids plus they can be layered and enhanced for incredible boldness and smokey effects. If you require a little application guidance, the shadows are conveniently numbered to help you create a complete look.

Tranquility (snow, mystic, pool blue and midnight navy)

Admittedly when I first saw the palettes the colors didn't impress or appeal to me much but once swatched I saw how gorgeous they actually are and I love the deep burgundy, browns and rich blues! The quality is not quite on par with the mark eye shadows, which in my opinion are Avon’s best but with a good primer they apply beautifully and I didn’t have any issue with fading or creasing. The quads retail for just $12.00 each and if you haven't tried the matte formula, it is definitely an improvement on the previous compacts plus you can mix and match!

I've also been testing Avon’s MagiX Face Perfector and I absolutely love it. If you need a good base that smooths uneven texture and harmonizes skin tone then this is for you! The pearlized gel glides on ultra silky and transforms to a powder for invisible coverage and high definition results. It also counteracts shine, blurs blemishes and reduces the look of fine lines and enlarged pores with a blend of fleece flower and rose extract. For protection against the elements it contains SPF 20 and the formula is lightweight, non-greasy and suitable for every complexion! MagiX retails for $15.00.

You can get these products at avon.ca or through independent consultants

Avon Makeup Design Palette Review

If you have a lot of people to shop for and you don’t want to break the bank this holiday then Avon has a great selection of affordable gifts to choose from. For the beauty lovers on your list who want to dapple in pretty color the Makeup Design Eye Shadow Palette contains almost everything you need to create a range of awesome looks including 21 eye shadows, 6 lip glosses, 3 blushes, 1 bronzer and 1 instruction booklet.

The versatile shades are very trendy and ideal for many complexions from light to dark and everything in-between. I love the beautiful jewel tones and the flattering everyday shades which includes nude, bronze, earth, gold, peach and petal- a pretty purple-pink. You also have the option of creating deep smokey looks with the ebony, midnight and navy hues as well as shimmery party looks with aluminum silver, grape, glittery teal and copper.

The pigmentation is not as intense or bold as the shadows from mark which you can also find on Avon’s website but they can be enhanced with layering and a good primer. There are also a few matte hues which is always more versatile and although the shadows aren’t fierce the texture is silky smooth with very little fallout despite some shades being embedded with glittery particles.

The blush is actually my favorite thing about the palette, the bronze and plum hues warm up the skin and highlight with a hint of shimmer while the rose and peach hues add radiant color to brighten the complexion and they are't too loud so you won't end up with that clown effect.

The lip glosses have a nice creamy texture for juicy color and a hint of plumping shine. The formula is also quite moisturizing although the palette didn’t come with any applicators which makes it difficult to re-apply on the go.

The instruction manual is a good idea for beginners but it isn’t extensive so you will have to look elsewhere for most of your inspiration. Overall this is a decent palette if you want to experiment with color but the quality isn’t quite there for professional, high-impact results. If you are looking for beautiful shadows with great pigmentation on Avon's website check out my last review on mark's Dream Sequins Palette by clicking HERE.

The palette retails for $30.00 and you can pick it up at avon.ca or through independent consultants.