Rave: Beautilicious Victoria Palette - love at first sight!

From the moment I laid eyes on the pretty pink, and brown stripey palette, cooed over its adorable pink handbag charm and gasped at the pretty colours inside, it was obvious to all (Paris B, Pink Elle & Beetrice) I was completely smitten. If the wonderful Julie of Beautilicious had not given me this palette to review, I would have walked straight into Watsons, plonked down RM49.90 and bought one! My lips are also sporting Beautilicious' Glossy Jam in Pureberry Jam (RM25.90) layered over Benetint. But that's another review!

Read on to feast your eyes on the delectable palette, and for a breakdown of the shades.

Packaging
As you can see the packaging really is something special. Reminiscent of Stila Palettes, it's very solidly made of cardboard and has magnetic closures. The design has the loveliest ornate look - redolent of old fashioned victorian sweet shops.

The pink and gold handbag charm is just ducky, and the Instructions printed on the inside ensure that you won't have to go looking for that piece of paper you just KNEW you had with you somewhere...

Eyeshadows

The three eyeshadow shades in a dark brown, shimmering copper, and shimmering beige complement each other perfectly. The dark brown is flecked with gold shimmer and looks a lot warmer in the pan than it is going on. I was a little worried and disappointed when I saw how cool and almost greyish it was.

Then I swept on the rusty copper adn got worried that it would be TOO red and rusty. But guess what? Layered over the cooler dark brown and blended they balance out and suit each other so well! The beige is a lovely highlight wash in the inner corner of the eyes and under the brow bone.

The copper and dark brown eyeshadows are very pigmented, and in fact when I tried to layer the dark brown over the copper I experienced fall out throughout the day. Some particles even got into my eyes and I could feel it. However, I found that packing the dark brown straight onto my MAC paint pot (primer) held the brown shadow in place all day. And I could then wash the copper shimmer over it. So, this way works better girls! With the primer, the shadows lasted easily all day with little fading and no creasing.

Also on my eyes: Coastal Scents Gel Liner in Blackest Black, and Stage Standing Ovation Mascara.

Blush
The blush may appear small but ladies it packs a punch! I underestimated it the first time and swiped it like I do any drugstore blush. Fortunately I tested it on my wrist before slapping it on my face. Whoa mama, is this baby pigmented! So remember ladies, the merest touch of the blush brush to this will do you fine!

I'm wearing it in the above vanity shot, and as you can see it imparts a lovely apricot glow that coordinates beautifully with the shadows. The blush shade looks in the pan like punched up version of Bobbi Brown's Nectar, and it goes on quite similarly. If I had to compare, I'd say that Victoria's blush is a more intense, brighter version of Nectar.

Verdict
There are few palettes that I believe I can survive an entire trip with, and this is one of them. From day time glow to night time glamour I believe this gorgeous 'lil thing will more than do the trick. In fact, the colours in this palette are eerily close to my "dream" Bobbi Brown customised palette.

Now, the only problem is to figure out how to stop using it so I can try out its sister - Alyssa (right)!

ps. Maybe ParisB will beat me to it. As I was reaching for Victoria, she was cooing over Alyssa!