Friday, September 16, 2011

Too Faced Sweet Dreams Makeup Collection Review & Swatches

Repurchase: Yes
Price: $52.00 (eyeshadows: 15 x 0.03 oz) (bronzer/highlighter: 2 x 0.14 oz) (blush: 2 x 0.08 oz) (primer: 0.35 oz)
Overall Grade: A-

I've been yearning for this baby (along with all the other Too Faced holiday products) since the promotional images came out. When I saw it available on Sephora.com (early isn't it?!), I promptly placed an order and paid extra for faster shipping. Was it worth the extra three bucks (for shipping)? Heck yes.

The Packaging: The palette is made of durable, thick cardboard. This year's theme features a gorgeous trapeze artist sitting on top of a pretty pink swan. There are also plenty of butterflies, flowers, and glitter. The edges of the palette remind me of a fancy picture frame and while I thought they'd be easily bent out of shape -the cardboard is again quite thick -you'd have to really force it to wreck anything.

The palette opens to reveal a nicely sized mirror and 15 eyeshadows. Underneath, a drawer holds the bronzer, highlighter, blushes, and instruction cards. The only bummer is that there is no compartment for the Shadow Insurance (primer) -when I opened up the box, it was just placed at the top of the palette.

While the packaging is undoubtedly beautiful, it's slightly unpractical. While there are no pop-ups or wasted space like last year's palette, the palette is still quite large huge gigantic. It's about the size of most of the novels on my bookshelf and would easily blend in with them. I'm running out of space for humongous palettes like this.

Instruction Cards
Ingredients

The Product: This palette offers a great value -you get more than you pay for. However, compared to Enchanted Glamourland (last year's palette), you're paying $52 versus $49. Also, instead of getting a full size lip gloss, you get an extra highlighter and blush.
Eyeshadows- They eyeshadows are fabulous. I always use a primer and with TFSI, I have no issues -they last all day without creasing. The color payoff is great and the texture of the eyeshadows is very smooth and soft. However, Lovey Dovey, Cut the Cake, and Cop A Teal seemed to be especially soft because I received some fallout from those three shades.
Prior to ordering, I was a little hesitant to purchase the palette because I was afraid of repeats. There are a total of six repeats (just from palettes I already own.) However, that's still nine new shades. I do have one problem with Too Faced and their repeats though -sometimes they're inconsistent. For instance, they'll use the same color name but it's a totally different color. Take Smolder (in this palette) and Smolder from the Eye Love palette -one is navy and one is black!
Chocolate Soleil Bronzer- This bronzer seems to be fairly neutral and I see it working with many skin tones. It's matte and isn't too deep or too light providing a very natural bronze shade. However, it is by no means "flat" -there's a nice natural sheen to it but no over the top glow or glitter. Also, the bronzer has the yummiest chocolate scent and surprisingly, it doesn't bother my sensitive skin. It lasts about 3-4 hours (on bare skin.) For me personally, I'd prefer something a little darker (because of my skin tone) but this is a great option for those who prefer a more natural bronze.
Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder- This highlighter gives off a sheer ivory champagne glow with lots of small golden shimmers. I'd call this, "natural without being totally natural" -does that make sense? This lasts about 2-3 hours (on bare skin.)
Cocoa Rose Blush- This is a very neutral pink and gives a natural wash of color. On my skin, I can barely see it (just because I have medium/tan skin.) So honestly, I can't tell you how long this lasts or doesn't last.
Sweet Pink Blush- Now this is a blush I like. It's gives cheeks a punch of color while remaining natural looking yet playful. It lasts about 4 hours (on bare skin.)
Shadow Insurance- TFSI is one of my absolute favorite beauty products. It prevents eyeshadows from creasing, enhances color, and locks down your eyeshadow all day (about 10 hours.) I also prefer this over UDPP when the skin area my eye area is extra dry -it works better and doesn't make the dryness worse.

The Color:
Eyeshadows
  1. In The Buff- Matte ivory
  2. Peach Fuzz- Very light peach with gold glitter
  3. Copper Peony- Tanned orangey peach with golden shimmer
  4. Teddy Bear- Matte chocolate milk brown
  5. Lovey Dovey- Rich sable brown with shimmer
  6. Satin Sheets- Shimmery pale golden champagne with a touch of rose gold
  7. Cut The Cake- Shimmery lavender mauve with slight hint of periwinkle
  8. Party Girl- Shimmery bright violet with blueish purple glitter
  9. Nice Ash- Smoky charcoal gray with shimmer
  10. Smolder- Matte deep grayish navy
  11. Honeymoon- Antique gold with olive
  12. Label Whore- Shimmery, slightly reddened rich brown with greenish teal reflects
  13. Nice Stems!- Shimmery clover green with a touch of lime
  14. Cop A Teal- Peacock blue with shimmer
  15. First Dance- Matte plum
Bronzer/Highlighter/Blushes
  1. Chocolate Soleil Bronzer- Matte natural neutral tan with sheen
  2. Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder- Sheer champagne ivory with golden shimmer
  3. Cocoa Rose Blush- Soft neutral pink brown with minor shimmer
  4. Sweet Pink Blush- Natural flushed pink with subtle golden shimmer
Swatches (I included both non-flash and flash swatches for this review because the sun was messing with my photos. I think the non-flash photos are more true to color BUT with a little more warmth -which is why I included the flash photos for comparison)..
Above (no flash) from left: In The Buff, Peach Fuzz, Copper Peony, Teddy Bear, Lovey Dovey
Above (with flash) from left: In The Buff, Peach Fuzz, Copper Peony, Teddy Bear, Lovey Dovey
Above (no flash) from left: Satin Sheets, Cut The Cake, Party Girl, Nice Ash, Smolder
Above (with flash) from left: Satin Sheets, Cut The Cake, Party Girl, Nice Ash, Smolder
Above (no flash) from left: Honeymoon, Label Whore, Nice Stems!, Cop A Teal, First Dance
Above (with flash) from left: Honeymoon, Label Whore, Nice Stems!, Cop A Teal, First Dance
Above (no flash) from left: Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Cocoa Rose Blush, Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder, Sweet Pink Blush
Above (with flash) from left: Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Cocoa Rose Blush, Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder, Sweet Pink Blush
 
Overall: The Too Faced Sweet Dreams Makeup Collection would make an excellent present (for you or some else). It can be an instant makeup collection for a beginner or fun addition to any makeup junkie's drawer. Because the palette does have a few eyeshadow repeats, I'd double check before adding it to your cart and hitting the checkout button. Is it the palette of the year? I don't think so (mainly because of the repeats) but it does house some amazing products and shades. But all in all, for $52, you get such a terrific value -it's definitely worth a second look.

Where To Buy: Sephora

More Photos..

What are your thoughts on the Too Faced Sweet Dreams palette? Have a lovely Friday everyone. <33

6 comments:

  1. oh wow great review and swatches..im pretty sure im going to break my no buy for this! It looks so pretty!! lol

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  2. omg, i want this! lol. i love that it has everything you need.

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  3. Wow! Great review! I'm sold! lol I actually really want this palettte, one cause I don't own any Too Faced palettes and two because It's super pretty! ^_^

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  4. Great review! Thanks! I love the palette already!

    katattack2000@wordpress.com

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  5. great review & swatches! I've never tried too faced but this might be my first, lol. Found your blog on google search. doing a little research on the palette. :)

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