Becca The Lost Weekend Palette

Some time ago I blogged about my latest haul from Becca's Autumn line. I haven't featured the palette, and I think there are some people out there that might be interested in it, so here goes my two cents.

I always like the simplicity and originality of the Becca box. Ok, it's not super-original because NARS has a matte exterior as well, but in contrast to NARS this one stays rather clean: NARS matte exterior boxes turn really groggy if you carry your little palette around, and I never had experienced that with Becca.

The descriptions of the colours: two mattes and one sparkly one:

Here is the first image of the colours:

You might be surprised or underwhelmed by the colour palette of this palette. So why did I buy this one?

Well, Last year I purchased Becca's Prairie Moon palette: a set of 3 eyeshadows, 1 eyeliner and a lipgloss. The eyecolours were in a similar formula of muted mattes, only in a cooler colour composition. I have been really surprised the amount I reached for these colours when I wanted to fake real beauty.

So it is the idea of faking real beauty instead of being beautifully made up that made me go for a similar palette again:

Let's take a better look at the colours:

Moleskin is a light brown colour with a slight mauve undertone. It looks really flattering as a base colour on the moving eyelids. It brings out a different colour in hazel eyes and green eyes as well. For brown eyes it can give it a different dimension as well, but that depends on the type of brown eyes you have (that differences for each person). It is a matte colour.

Chino is a milk-chocolate brown that is a neutral to somewhat cool. So, if you normally shy away from warmer colours because they don't flatter your complexion, do not shy away from this palette because it is not really a warm palette, even though it features brown shades. These browns I can typefy as neutral to even somewhat cool.

I believe Becca makes the best mattes, even better than MAC. It stays on quite long without a base, longer with a base, and the fading is not crepey or hindering, just a soft fading.

Normally, I am not a fan of everything glittery, but I always trust BECCA for not making it over the top, so here is the only sparkly one of the 'Lost Weekend': Moiré

Moiré is one of the  most interesting colours I have in my stash. I don't really know how to describe it as a muted pink, a pinked mauve or a dusty rose. Perhaps it is all of that. But what it does is that it gives such a cute sparkle to my eyes that is so flattering. I apply this number in the middle of my moving eyelid and it almost brings out the light in my eyes.

To see some of the colours for yourself I have made some swatches:

[Swatches made without base]

A. the first picture is made in cool, natural daylight:

Moleskin somewhat dissappears on that pale arm of mine. I do have some pigmentation on my eyelids, so it actually is brighter than the skin on my eyelids, which fakes my eyes to be a bit younger...haha, bonus.

Chino, as earlier described, is a cool chocolate-milk. In this picture it looks slightly mauve.

Moiré, the cutest colour of all is not glittery but a fun sparkle.

A. Picture 2 in warmer light, direct sunlight:

Moleskin still dissapears against the colouring of my arms.

Chino looks slightly warmer in this shade. It is still on the neutral/cool side of the colour spectrum.

Moiré hardly seems to have any shimmer in this picture but a wash of colour.

The final verdict is that I like the palette. I should be because Becca's Lost Weekend might be lost but it isn't cheap, :D

If it is going to be a hit like the Prairie Palette? Not sure yet. I like the fact that three colours are set up together and work well with eachother. I can use Chino with a light hand as a shader, perhaps. I haven't used it like that.

As far for Moiré-> adore that colour and I think I might use that one every now and then.

I've bought my palette at Zuneta and I am quite happy about their service. Becca is available at other places as well.

Becca Mineral Blush in Sweet Pea (Autumn 2011 Lost Weekend Collection)

After this elaborate title to tell you what this post is about, I kind of forgot to mention that it is a review with swatches. Well, I hope this first sentence made that clear ;D

I am a huge sucker for natural-looking blushes. If you think that puts me into a danger zone, than you are partly right, because I have a huge collection of natural looking blush-colours. On the other hand, there are so many colours around with obvious glitter specks (cough NARS orgasm) that sets me on a slighter safer ground for sure.

And, I kind of realise that I have a lot of colours so I rarely buy any blush these days. Also, thanks to the gorgeous girls on other blogs posting elaborate reviews/pictures/comparisions that makes me wanna say "ok, I have such a (similar) colour in my collection too, so I don't need this one".

I have a weak spot for Becca. Because when it comes to natural colours and well-made textures this Australian brand seldom dissapoints.

In their latest collection called "the lost weekend" I expected the colours to be even more natural than usual, as Becca refers to the naturalness of the 'Australian Rite of passage'.

Wow, looking at the models and their perfectly tawny made-up skin I had the right idea about the 'Lost Weekend'. The model on the right actually looks like she has some mixed Asian heritage, but these days almost everyone is from mixed heritage. At least they both have enviously beautiful skin and features...Lucky gene-pole!

Before seeing this collection I was looking for a sort of neutral brown blush with a hint of rosiness in it to look convincingly natural. Brown on my skin alones simply looks flat. I have been having a close eye to Autumns fashion collections, and the 60s seem to be coming back. Only, when reading makeup instructions with 60s-faces they always say 'NO BLUSH'. Ehm, sorry but foundation with no blush means a one-dimensional face to me! I need some blush to make it more-dimensional! So I've been looking for the most natural kind there is.

Sweet Pea is described as a Rosy plum nude. So is that true?

In the pan Sweet Pea looks like a soft nude brown with a hint of red and rose. Still, it is mostly a nude colour:

Close Up:

With flash you can see the specks quite clear. Don't worry too much about this: Becca is often quite subtle about the spects and they only function to make your skin look more glowy and alive, and not a semi-disco ball.

On my tiny stippling brush:

The first picture is the blush applied UNBLENDED:

It is already quite subtle against my skintone. I cannot see so much rosiness into it. I would qualify it more as a nude/brown with reddish undertones. The specks translate themselves into a lovely glow.

This picture is deliberately not sharp to see how the colour looks from a distance...it is still unblended:

As I said before, it looks like a reddish brown from that perspective.


How does it look when blended?

When blended, and Becca blush are so perfect for blending as they become so subtle! It becomes a barely noticable glow and a slightly deepening of my skintone that makes it look fresh and natural.

I think it makes it perfect for the purpose I bought it in the first place: for creating dimension/glow/a hint of colour in that oftenly stark 1960s look. After all the interpretation of a previous era should stay an interpretation and let the real models go for the theatresque looks, right?

Becca's lastablity is really good. The blush stays put on foundation for the whole day.

Even without foundation it stays put for at least 5 a 6 hours.

The Becca mineral blush doesn't come cheap for $32.00 or 25 euros.

I bought mine during a promotion on Zuneta, which actually was more about the Lost Weekend Palette I will review soon (buy the palette and get an illuminator for free, but that promotion is gone now).  Zuneta offers excellent service and all the time I've ordered from them they delivered within 4 or 5 days from the UK to the Netherlands. But you can buy them from the Becca site as well or other sites too.