During the 2014 holiday season, makeup artist Tamanna Roashan (instagram.com/dressyourface) teamed up with brow wiz and makeup empire Anastasia Beverly Hills to launch a 10-color eyeshadow palette targeted toward darker skin tones and glimmery, fall and winter looks.
I used this palette a few times during the season, and it’s so versatile that I imagine I’ll use it even in the spring and summer. Here are my thoughts on the texture, color, wear, and styles from the fabulous Tamanna palette:
Texture
The 10 eyeshadows included are all powder, but they slide on to your eyelids easily with the included tapered brush for application. The texture is smooth, almost creamy, despite being a powder eyeshadow. Unlike many other brands, the eyeshadows are easily picked up by the brush, so you don’t have to press hard to transfer color from pot to brush and then again from brush to eyelid. The application is easy, and the texture makes blending almost a given. I’m impressed with the high-quality of the ingredients that contribute to this effortless formula.
Colors
Most important to any evaluation of an eyeshadow palette are, of course, the colors. The Tamanna palette features rich neutrals and jewel tones – which are very reminiscent of the color scheme a Middle Eastern princess (think Jasmine from Aladdin) might wear.
The colors are perfect for Arabic looks such as the cut crease, which outlines a winged shape of eyeshadow over the eyelid.
From top to bottom, there’s Fresh (a nude, white); Blush (a shimmery champagne); Venezia (a bright turquoise); Gilded (a shimmery medium brown); Custom (a glittery taupe); Sangria (a bold wine); Bengal (a deep tan); Chocolate (a deep, dark brown); China Rose (a glittery, rosy pink); and Noir (a matte black).
I’ve also included arm swatches of the colors in order.
Wear
If you use a primer, these pigmented eyeshadows will last through anything – sweat, rain, whatever. The colors are high-intensity pigments, so they will show up on darker skin tones. Despite having glitter in them, the eyeshadows don’t flake off and fall over the rest of your face. The makeup stays put for hours and hours – which makes this palette an excellent purchase for a South Asian bride (or wedding guest).
Styles
The Tamanna palette comes with a set of Get The Look cards, which feature step-by-step guides on how to apply different colors to get various looks. These are very handy since I often don’t know where to start when blending or which colors will actually look good when applied next to others. The looks include bolder styles, but also feature bright neutrals that are perfect for date nights or holiday parties. You can even leave out steps to customize the looks to your desire.
Overall, I loved the Tamanna palette – it’s bright, bold, but not over the top in terms of color. I trust Tamanna Roashan really knows her darker-skinned women, because these eyeshadows are so powerfully pigmented for olive/tan/beige skin. The Get The Look cards were a pleasant touch to encourage more DIY makeup styles while getting the best of the kit.
The Tamanna palette sells for $29 on Anastasia Beverly Hills online.
Check out more of our reviews, such as ColourPop LippieStix and Saleha Abbasi Lipsticks.