Anastasia – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette Review

I purchased this palette for myself on Christmas Eve. Ulta had it on sale for $33 and it was 20% off on top of that. I know I’m probably the last blogger on earth to own this, but I just had to see what all of the hype was about!

This palette normally sell for $42 at Ulta and other beauty stores. I first want to say I was looking forward to quality in the packaging as well as the shadows, and I wan’t let down. It’s a heave palette. I love the velvet dusty pink cover. I also love that there is a mirror and brush included. I also want to mention the formula. It’s really pigmented and rich. A little goes a long way. There is kick up in the pan, but I was expecting that from reviews I have read about this brand. It’s not too bad, though.

The shades are:

Tempera (velvety beige w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Golden Ochre (earthy yellow w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Vermeer (iridescent shell w/ a metallic finish)
Buon Fresco (antique lavender w/ an ultra- matte finish)
Antique Bronze (metallic sable w/ a satin finish)
Love Letter (raspberry w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Cyprus Umber (dark coffee w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Raw Sienna (neutral amber w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Burnt Orange (deep orange w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Primavera (shimmery gold dust w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Red Ochre (sienna w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Venetian Red (crimson w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Warm Taupe (earthy gray w/ an ultra-matte finish)
Realgar (brick w/ an ultra-matte finish)

Here are my swatches:

This is the top row — Tempera, Golden Ochre, Vermeer, Buon Fresco, Antique Bronze, Love Letter, and Cyprus Umber. Our of these, I love Tempera, to use as a base, Vermeer because it’s shimmery and perfect, and Buon Fresco because it’s so different. I am still playing with all of these, so will probably have more faves soon!

The bottom row is Raw Sienna, Burnt Orange, Primavera, Red Ochre, Venetian Red, Warm Taup and Realgar. Both Raw Sienna and Burnt Orange are gorgeous lid colors and Red Ochre is amazing in my crease. I love Primavera because shimmers are my favorites and I used Warm Taupe on my lid today and it looked really warm and chocolatey!

I love the different tones in this. I’m not the biggest fan of warm colors all the time, so I love that there are reds and a pretty lavender in this, plus the wonderful shimmers. There are so many looks that I can get out of this one palette. I have a prediction that it may be my go-to palette in 2018.

Have you tried this palette? What do you think?

Anastasia Illumin8 Eye Shadow Palette

Anastasia Soare is an eye brow genius who has lately been branching out to skincare as well as cosmetics. She has recently launched Anastasia’s Illumin8 Eye Shadow Palette ($40.00 USD) makeup and anti-aging skincare in one great compact!

This palette is clinically tested to lift the appearance of skin, hydrate and refresh the sensitive skin of your eyelids with Youthful Synergy Complex. This essential complex is created from vitamins A, B, C, E and F, as well as naturally rich Brown Algae, Sea Whip and Macadamia. Featuring Anastasia’s exclusive antioxidant-rich Balkan Botanical™ Infusion of rare plant and herbal extracts, these powders have added power to soothe and soften. It is also paraben and fragrance free.

The shadows in the palette contain diamond core powder to diffuse light, minimizing the appearance of pores and wrinkles and make the eyelids luminous. There are 8 subtle colors in the palette ranging from bronzes, pinks and purples. It also contains a Mini Professional Brush with a broad end for sweeping shadows across the lid and on the brow bone and a tapered end for the crease and lining the lids.

The clinicals studies for this product showed reduced lines and wrinkles after an hour of wear. After 4 weeks 100% of women reported an improvement in overall eye beauty.

What I think: These shadows are soft and pretty, but not extremely pigmented. They are appropriate for daytime and the office. I do notice that my eyelids look smoother when I am wearing the shadow, but if I don’t apply an eye base or concealer, they wear off very quickly. I recommend this for the way it makes the eyes look.

Visit www.anastasia.net to purchase and to learn more about the palette.

Skincare by Anastasia Beverly Hills

I love Anastasia Soare’s eyebrow product. The stencils, tweezers, powders and gels make it easy to have professional looking brows by doing them yourself. After making brows a priority (they do frame the face), Anastasia is launching a skincare line on December 26, 2009.

Anastasia returned to her native Romanian roots to discover healthy products that naturally improve the texture, tone and appearance of skin. She developed Balkan Botanical™ Infusion, a blend of rare plant and herb extracts found only in the rich soils of Romania. A few of these ingredients are Marshmallow Leaf, Lemon Balm Leaf, Bilberry, and Green Tea, which combine to soothe and restore the skin’s natural radiance. The result is a long-lasting and more youthful appearance!

The three “hero” products from the new skincare line are:

Line Erasing Serum ($45.00 USD) – This is a product I have reviewed a couple of months ago. This refreshing serum claims to help crows feet and lift the eyes. This lightweight serum contains a unique blend of natural hydrators, Instalift Goji, and Anastasia’s exclusive Balkan Botanical™ Infusion. Check out my full review at https://fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/anastasia-line-erasing-serum/.

Sheer Moisture Crème SPF 30 ($40.00) – I love this very light SPF 30 day cream. It is fragrance-free and designed to soften the skin while providing protection against broad-spectrum UVA/UVB rays and free radicals that can cause signs of aging. The cream contains hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and natural oils. I used it morning and night and it smooths and soaks into the skin; it is never greasy, which is a plus in the morning before makeup application. I have noticed that my skin is very smooth and radiant while using these products.

Hydrating Oil ($40.00) — is an unusual product; an aromatic and hydrating oil that soothes the skin and the senses! This product is specifically designed for absorption and hydration. It claims to soften and brighten the skin. The silicone and oils are infused together so there is no separation, allowing the oil to completely absorb into the skin. I love the herbal scent, but it is a bit too oily for my combination skin. For someone with dry, winter skin, this is a perfect treatment to keep skin hydrated.

Remember this fab line is launching December 26, 2009. Visit www.anastasia.net to find out more when the time comes.

Anastasia Line Erasing Serum

Anastasia creates some of the best brow products on the market today. She is now creating skincare with the same quality as in her other beauty products.

The Line Erasing Serum ($45.00 USD) contains “a unique blend of natural hydrators, Instalift™ Goji, and an exclusive Balkan Botanical™ Infusion to improve the appearance of skin and help reduce signs of aging. Designed for all skin types, it soothes, softens, and hydrates—leaving skin brighter and smoother. Fine lines and wrinkles don’t stand a chance!

The claim is that daily use of the serum gives the appearance of diminishing fine lines and wrinkles while maximizing moisture retention. This formula absorbs instantly and delivers long-lasting results.

I use this light serum at night before moisturizer. Just a little is needed to instantly hydrates the skin. I have noticed that after a few weeks, my skin does look smoother. I don’t have wrinkles around my eyes, but my mouth lines (nasal-labial folds) seem less deep.

I recommend trying this product. I think the price is reasonable for a high quality serum. It is now for sale at www.sephora.com and should be available soon on the Anastasia website www.anastasia.net.