Annabelle Painted Love: Spring is Coming!

It’s warming up in Toronto, and that could only mean one thing: Spring is right around the corner!  Spring means goodbye salty boots, hello flowy skirts!  I was so excited when Isabel (PR rep) offered to send me the new eyeshadows by Annabelle.  What better way to start the season than some new makeup to play with.  Yay!

Clockwise from top left: Helium, Pinked, Nymphet, Toxic Garden

Note: the eyeshadows were swatched heavily so that you can see each eyeshadow’s full potential.  I will talk about pigmentation of the eyeshadows separately below.

I first read about these eyeshadows from Rae of theNotice and was definitely intrigued.  It was also when I described Toxic Garden as “booger green.”  (Isabel, I’m still both impressed and embarrassed that you caught that comment.)

Helium

Helium is a light shimmery neutral.  This one actually contains some peachy pink glitter and not that finely milled.  At first glance it looked a little bit like MAC All That Glitters, but Helium is lighter and more glittery.  If you’re like me and not a fan of the glitter, you can blow or tap it off.  You’ll still be left with plenty of pigment and sheen.

Pinked

Pinked is a bright pink with low shimmer.  It’s not something that I would usually use on my eyes, but I think it would be a fabulous bright blush.  It is very pigmented, but it’s easy to work with; you can definitely apply this with a light hand.

Nymphet

Nymphet is a light shimmery turquoise.  This is so finely milled and pigmented; definitely the best of the four.  Its texture feels like the MAC’s Veluxe Pearl eyeshadows, which I LOVE!  Because it’s cool-toned, I don’t usually wear colours like it, but of course I have to try!  I think it would look awesome paired with a bright purple.

Toxic Garden

Last but not least, Toxic Garden is booger green.  LOL, just kidding.  Well, sort of.  Yucky in the pan, this colour applies sheer and appears more of a golden green on me.  I’ve paired it with a dark green and a greenish taupe, and it didn’t look at all like booger green!  You might even describe it as pretty.  *gasp*

All in all, I think Annabelle did a great job with these eyeshadows.  My least favourite of the bunch is Helium because of the glitter.  If I were to recommend just one, it would have to be Nymphet.  It’ll be perfect for Spring!