Quo 2016 Holiday Collection: True Artist Lip & Cheek Palette Review

Quo has so many gift sets to choose from it can be difficult to pick favorites. Today I’m featuring another rather large palette from the holiday collection which includes eye shadow, lip color, bronzer, highlighter and blush.

If you like neutral tones, the True Artist Palette has a lot of them! There are 24 shades ranging from taupe, gold, brown, silver and cream plus a few greys, blue and black for contrast. I also like that the outside of the palette has sticker swatches displaying all the colors.

The texture of the shadow is smooth and slightly creamy but the pigmentation varies throughout. Some of the rich browns, nude tones and bright baby blue apply medium coverage and can be enhanced while a few others are sheer with very little color. There are some flattering shimmers, rich crease contours, mild transition hues and nice highlights but you may have to layer heavier to achieve maximum intensity and I highly recommend a good primer to prolong wear.

For everyday use, the shadows provide soft day looks and you can deepen things up with the smoky shades. The top row has too many white tones for my taste and there is also a lot of beige. I would have liked more color variation and pigmentation but I am still able to create some nice effects. I wouldn’t really classify this as an “artist palette” because the formula isn’t quite there but for beginners and those who prefer simple looks it gets the job done.  

The lip glosses are my favorite thing about the palette. There are 3 nude shades and 3 berry-red tints that are quite flattering. The deeper tones are light, sheer and moisturizing with a bright pop of color and you can amp-up the pigmentation a little for more saturation. The nude hues are also quite nice with gold, clear and pink undertones that add luminous shine. The only downside to having lip gloss in a large palette is that you can’t reapply on-the-go.  

The last row consists of blush, bronzer and a highlight but overall they didn’t have the color pay-off I hoped for. The last blush applies quite light even though it looks deeper and the browns are too sheer for contouring so I use them as eye shadow.

This palette retails for $45.00 exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart and although not every pigment is a winner, there are definitely some pretty hues. If you are looking for a multi-purpose palette from this collection I’d go with the Color Wonderland set which you can read about HERE.  

Quo 2016 Holiday Gifts: Colour Wonderland Eye, Lip & Cheek Collection Review

If you really want to impress the makeup lovers on your holiday list, surprise them with an all-inclusive, multi-purpose palette that will knock their socks off. The Color Wonderland Set is impressive! There are a whopping 52 eye shadows, 6 cream liners, 18 lip glosses, 2 blushes, 1 bronzer, a face powder, liquid eyeliner, mascara and applicators – everything you need to create a wide variety of amazing looks!

At first glance the palette looks like a simple black box but as you lift the lid, three large trays of makeup slide out one after the other revealing a wide array of pretty pigments in complexion flattering hues.

The first layer contains 26 eye shadows in neutral tones, gold, purple and pink with both shimmer and matte finishes. Usually I’m attracted to sets like this because of the amazing variety but from experience I know that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. In this case I was pleasantly surprised by the pigmentation. Overall the shadows aren’t super saturated but they do have decent color pay-off when layered over primer. Some start off sheer to medium with the ability to be intensified nicely when applied heavier and the deeper hues reach full-coverage for pretty contrast against the softer shades.

The silky, soft texture blends nicely so you can contour, define or fade them out for a beautiful gradient. Although the palette comes with old-school sponge tip applicators that loosely sit in their slots, they are actually quite effective for grabbing loads of pigment at once. The small, flimsy blush brush didn’t fare so well but I have a ton of other options in my collection and to be fair there isn’t much room for anything larger.

The blushes are very sheer and the colors didn’t work for my complexion. I would have liked at least one rich shade and a lot more pigmentation. The bronzer is way to light for any type of sculpting and actually works as very subtle highlight.

The second tray slides out from underneath the first to reveal another 26 eye shadows. The blue row (as I like to call it) contains a gorgeous navy and pretty grey tones for a fabulous smoky eye. In the adjacent row I love the cranberry, deep brown and light rose but the shades are quite neutral and there are a few that seem to repeat including a couple creams, gold, pink and shimmery grey. It would have been nice to see a bit more color variation but there are a lot of usable basics and everyday hues.

The third tray at the front of the palette slides out to display a pretty selection of lip colors. I expected these shades to be very sheer but to my surprise they are vivid and beautiful! There is a great range of deep berry, bright red, orange and nude plus a unique selection of gold, soft pink, bronzy-pink and a stunning rosy-bronze-mauve that I can’t get enough of! The finishes are not as glossy as anticipated (which is great) and most have a creamy, comfortable formula with a hint of shine. Some shades show up metallic, shimmery or satiny and most have good color pay-off from medium to full with just one or two sheers. I should also mention that most of these look much better applied and some don’t show up on the skin like they appear in the palette.

Once all the trays are open there is a sunken compartment in the middle containing 6 gel liners in grey, blue and black. The cream applies smoothly to create fluid, lines but the formula isn’t water-resistant or smudge-proof which have been ideal.

Overall I think this set makes a wonderful gift for any beauty junkie starting out with makeup or anyone who craves a large variety of pigment to experiment with. I like the eye shadow and love the lip color so I will definitely be using this to create fun looks for the season. The collection retails for $65.00 exclusively available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Quo 2016 Holiday Collection: Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe and Cosmetics Pull-Crackers!

It's November! Which means its time to get an early start on your Christmas shopping and this year Quo has a beautiful array of gifts to make gift giving easy. Since the holiday collection is very extensive, I will be showcasing a few sets over the next several weeks to help you choose the perfect items for friends and family.

There is something traditional and exciting about seeing a pull-cracker sticking out of your stocking on Christmas morning and the simple joy of popping it open to reveal the surprise brings out the kid in all of us. The Hidden treasures Cosmetics Crackers come three per box for $18.00 (just $6 per gift!). Each cute little package contains an eye shadow duo and mini lip gloss.

The eye shadow compacts include a light shade paired with a deeper hue and both have sheer, subtle finishes. With a good primer I was able to achieve coverage bordering on medium saturation but the effect can be soft and pretty when applied well. The pigments aren't rich or intense but they are usable for quick looks and the texture is light and smooth. 

The other crackers include deep brown and champagne + brown and cream duos. Without some sort of base or primer for adhesion, the colors are susceptible to transfer or fading and heavier layering may be required. 

The glosses are simple, sheer and neutral which anyone can wear. I would have liked a bit more color for the season but for shine and moisture they work. The great thing about these cute pull-crackers is that you can add a few more goodies to them before gifting and I think there is just enough space for a couple small makeup items and a candy treat!

For the lipstick lovers on your list, the Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe includes 4 matte shades ranging from nude, soft pink, plum and bright red. The packaging is very elegant and the color pay-off varies from sheer, medium and full coverage with the bright red and plum appearing most vivid.

The lightweight, creamy formula enriched with mango butter is smooth and conditioning for supple comfort and no feathering. Although I may not get much wear from the sheer nude, the shades are quite pretty and using a lipstick primer helps minimize transfer. This set retails for $30.00.

The Quo Holiday Collection is available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart