As I am writing this blog post, I am aware that makeup is not the first thing on anybody’s mind, thanks to the second wave of Covid in India. However, I am hoping that you are reading this blog post in a Covid-free future, where eyeshadows are exciting again! Without casting more gloom over this article, let me begin by saying that I am happy to see Kay by Katrina marching forward into the makeup space with bigger and better products. First with their Hydrating Foundations and now with the Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes, the brand is taking more risks with their new launches and it seems to be paying off! They are not just playing it safe anymore with lipsticks and I am digging this change. So without much ado, here is my review of the recently launched Kay By Katrina Eyeshadow Palettes along with swatches!
The Packaging
As always, Kay Beauty has ticked all the right boxes with the packaging of their eyeshadow palettes. These palettes come in an outer peach cardboard packaging with gorgeous artwork by an Indian artist. Inside their is a full size mirror along with 9 shades. The inside of the palette is definitely Colourpop-esque, but the outer packaging is truly unique and beautiful. The 4 different variants of the palette have different cover art on the lid, which makes them easy to identify too.
These palettes come inside a padded cardboard box with the same artwork, which ensures that they do not break during shipping. Overall, I am quite happy with the packaging of the palette and am glad that there is no cheap and breakable plastic in sight for once!
The Shade Range And Colour Stories
The Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes are currently available in 4 variants with extremely wearable and cohesive colour stories –
- Wild And Free – Warm and Neutral Shades
- Self Love – Rosy and Wine Shades
- Pure Bloom – Peachy Shades
- Bare Soul – Nude and Smoky Shades
One thing that I have to admit is that if you are an eyeshadow palette lover, you probably own similar shades already. I truly wish that the brand had included at least one palette with vibrant shades that were different from other eyeshadow palettes. However, they decided to stick with neutral and everyday shades for now, which are more wearable and can satisfy a wider range of customers.
These colour stories are excellent for creating everyday and even a few bolder yet wearable looks. So, if you don’t have similar shades in your collection yet, you can definitely go for these. Also, I would like to mention that the shade Olive and Caramel from the Wild and Free Palette are quite unique and the shade Ebony is an excellent black eyeshadow that is smooth and pigmented! This makes the Wild and Free Palette the winner for me out of the two palettes that the brand sent me.
The Formula Of Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes
Most of the shades in the Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes have a smooth consistency, good colour payoff, and blend effortlessly. Some of the lighter shades may not show up much on skin tones deeper than mine (NC35+), but the pigmentation of the darker shades (both the mattes and the shimmers) is excellent. The shimmers are smoother and richer than the mattes, as is usually the case, but the mattes don’t have much powdery fallout either.
Also, I appreciate that the shades are pigmented but not so pigmented that you cannot blend out some mistakes. Hence, these are perfect for beginners too, not just for eyeshadow pros.
Last, but not the least, true to their ideology of “Makeup that Kares”, the Kay Beauty Eyeshadows contain nourishing Macadamia oil and Aloe Vera, which makes the formula smooth and hydrating too. The formula is also cruelty-free, which is always a plus!
My Verdict On The Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes
The Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes are priced at INR 1100 each, which is quite a price to pay if you already own these shades. However, if you don’t own these shades and are looking for a diverse eyeshadow palette for everyday looks, you can pick up one of these for sure. The formula and pigmentation is good, and the packaging makes these palettes a bit of a collector’s piece.
Also, you will easily get a 20% discount on these eyeshadow palettes during the sale season, which makes them a good investment. So, I will recommend picking up the colour story of your choice when they go on sale! The formula is definitely one of the better ones from Indian brands, which is why I give these eyeshadow palettes a thumbs up 🙂
Click here to buy the Kay Beauty Eyeshadow Palettes.
*PR sample
Oooh this is so pretty 💕