The Palette that took my breath away

After so many months of back and forth and the questions and conversations that I had with Make Up lovers from around South Africa I finally. FINALLY got my hands on the Anastasia Beverly hills Modern Renaissance palette. Oh what a dream it is!

“As much as the cynical part of me thought that ABH just had a great influencer outreach program, I’m starting to learn that there is a lot of merit behind the hype.”

Now I must take this opportunity to note and mention that I did not buy this palette, no sir I did not, however I did get it in the most unexpected way. So a month a go my favorite South African Celebrity Make Up artist Ryno Mulder had put up a post on Instagram saying that he was holding a giveaway, and the prize was non other then the Modern Renaissance palette and I knew I had to enter, so I did and your know what? I entered like life depended on it, I entered so many times that instagram blocked me from commenting lol, I’m dead serious, but once the ban was lifted I continued my mission to tag people (as most instagram competitions state to do). The post said that a winner will be announced on the 18th of July and I was so scared to check my instagram to see if I won because so many people had entered and I felt that I ran out of luck. and then finally after buliding up my courage at the supper table I checked Rynos instagram story and it said winner is @RaeesaMOsman, I was Shook and wanted to scream but since my in-laws were around I couldn’t help but smile like a crazy women and then i lifted my phone and showed Hubby. I’m so excited!!!!!! Now while I maintain my love for Morphe Eyeshadow palettes, my heart was set on getting the Modern Renaissance

So most of you would want to know more about it, s here is my full on review on this amazing palette.

The Modern Renaissance Palette is an artistic, wearable spin taken on a traditional staple.

Modern Renaissance Palette: A First Look

If you’re new to makeup, you might pass up the Modern Renaissance Palette at first (like I did), eschewing it for something more traditional: more nude, muted, browns and some light shades with a black or grey, too.

That is what we call a Naked Palette, and you can pick one up any day any time at Urban decay (On a side note Urban Decay has opened up in Gateway Mall, Durban South Africa).

It’s a staple. No shame in that.

The Modern Renaissance Palette was inspired by the colors of the Renaissance. It is for someone looking for that next step in eyeshadow; they can apply a nude smokey eye with little effort, but without getting bored with it. The shades included aren’t for the faint of heart.

Here’s a quick rundown on the colors and their functions/my thoughts. Top row left to right, then bottom row left to right in order:

paletka-tenej-anastasia-beverly-hills-modern-renaissance-palette

Tempera: a very light peachy/nude color, meant for brow highlighting/inner corners and blending. Lightly mica pigmented for a slight shimmer

Golden Ochre: A matte, goldenrod color. It blends fabulously into the skin.

Vermeer: A fabulously high-mica (shimmer) take on rose quartz. This is my favorite color in the palette. It could easily double as a highlighter.

Buon Fresco: Another creamy pigmented matte shade, the color of mauve with the ever-so-slight hint of shimmer.

Antique Bronze: A surprisingly rusty, shimmery brown. It definitely applies more red-hued than you would expect. Simply gorgeous color.

Love Letter: A red wine-toned dark pink tone. My initial thought is “who the heck would wear this?!” but it looks like the sexiest version of a smokey eye you can imagine. This is a matte shade.

Cyprus Umber: a true umber (dark brown) in matte shade. The red-undertoned version of a dark shade in a Naked Palette.

Raw Sienna: I feel like I’m in painting class again. This is what it is. Matte, dark yellow-brown.

Burnt Orange: Roger that. Matte, slightly lighter and slightly more orange than Raw Sienna.

Primavera: My second favorite shade in the palette. This gold shimmer really kills it, and could double as a highlighter. It’s the perfect shade for the middle of the lid.

Red Ocher: A matte, dark burnt red shade. The color of dark rust. Mixes fabulously in a burnt orange/raw sienna ombre.

Venetian Red: A moderately shimmered dark red with blue undertones, that mixes perfectly with Love Letter.

Warm Taupe: A familiar shade, reminiscent of Naked palettes, but with yellow undertones. Matte and milky

Realgar: a yellow undertones rusty red shade, almost half-way between Burnt Orange and Red Ocher; Matte and creamy.

Courtesy of Anastasia Beverly Hill

Takeaways: Modern Renaissance Palette Review

All in all, I have to say that this palette is worth the hype

As much as the cynical part of me thought that ABH just had a great influencer outreach program, I’m starting to learn that there is a lot of merit behind the hype.

The shadows are highly pigmented, perfectly shimmered, creamy, and blend like a dream. This palette is on the edge of my comfort zone, which is where I am learning to live. I love the way that the Modern Renaissance Palette pushes me artistically, and I want to keep moving in that direction.

I think I’m a believer.