Catrice Crystallized Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette

As I am going through the new Catrice products for fall/ winter 2019, I am slowly but surely realizing that they really did some great stuff. Case in point? The Crystallized Rose Quartz eyeshadow palette. This eyeshadow palette was one of THE surprises for me of the new launch. I mostly think Catrice eyeshadow is okay. Meet the first Catrice eyeshadow palette that I think is truly worth the money.

Catrice Crystallized Rose Quartz Eyeshadow Palette // Review

If I say it’s worth the money then you of course would like to know how much it costs. It is €9.89. For a Catrice eyeshadow palette that is bit more than the usual. Most of their palettes retail for €5, but those also contain fewer shades. This is the first palette by the German drugstore brand that I have truly liked and that I was wowed by straight away. It comes in two different shades: 010 Raise up Your Voice and 010 Sister of my Soul. I am reviewing the latter.

The Packaging

Catrice is the drugstore brand that pays a bit more attention to packaging than most. Their packaging is simple and easy to use but always very tastefully done. Many of their products look more expensive than they. This eyeshadow palette is made of cardboard, comes with a mirror in the lid and is not too big to use comfortably. It feels sturdy enough and is just overall very practical.

The Palette

Of the two palettes on offer, this is the more muted one of the two. I also thought it looked to be a bit more neutral in undertone. The other has more purples but also some warm toned roses and I felt Sister of my Soul was more up my street than the other one. Inside are 10 different shades. You get 5 mattes and 5 shimmers of varying degrees.

The bright purple was a surprise to me. Not only for the inclusion of such a shade in this palette, but also because matte purples are difficult to do. A brave choice by Catrice! And if it works well, then it may very well be a good one.

That purple is the only true standout shade in the palette in terms of color though. Everything else are different variations of browns, a bit of taupe, a champagne and a rose gold. Pretty, but nothing we haven’t seen before. However, if it works well it could be a good affordable neutral palette that will appeal to many people.

The Swatch

Can we just pause for a second there? Look at that again: is that not teh best pigmentation you have seen Catrice done in their long existence? The mattes, the shimmers: they all perform equally well. Even the purple, even though seemingly a touch sheer looks like it could be build up in intensity and worked into a look quite easily.

As usually is the case with Catrice eyeshadow palettes these are soft and powdery shadows. The texture can therefore be a bit difficult to work with. They don’t blend away as easily as some other Catrice palettes I’ve tried, but they definitely need to be worked and you need a light hand to prevent fallout.

Blendability is great though. It is easy to diffuse the shades and create good gradients of color. The shimmers pack a true punch, but go best on when using a finger. These are intense enough on their own, but I have tried foiling that rose gold as well and that worked great too.

The Application

Look 1: The left side of the palette

As usual I like to include multiple looks when I review a palette. This first look I created on camera for you before so if it looks familiar: that is why. To create this look I built up the matte purple in the crease and focused mainly on the rose gold and other shades on the left hand side of the palette. I did pull in the dark matte to create a bit of a lined effect. Overall this is my favorite of the two looks. It is still wearable and neutral enough for everyday, but has an unexpected twist that gives it something extra.

Look 2: The right side of the palette

For the second look I focused on the shades I had not yet used. Those all happened to be bronzes, browns and golds. Pretty but this is a look I feel you can do with many different palette. Great for everyday situation such as work or school and it pairs well with a bold lip. That said though, this is not the reason for buying this palette. Yes it is stunning and the shades work really well, but this half of the palette doesn’t make it stand out.

The Conclusion

I am pleasantly surprised by the Catrice Crystallized Rose Quartz eyeshadow palette. This is the first palette that I have truly enjoyed working with and that I can see myself reaching for more often. I hope they keep this formula and create other, more daring color stories with it, because this is one of the best shadow formulas Catrice has created as of yet. If you are still looking for a neutral palette with a bit of a twist or if you simply love your neutrals, then definitely go and see if you can find this.

What is your favorite Catrice eyeshadow palette?