Swatches and Thoughts: Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Palette
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Hello, all! I am excited to talk to you today about what has possibly been the most controversial cosmetic product released this summer: the Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Eye Shadow Palette.
The Drama
If you are very much up-to-date on the Subculture Palette rants and raves, skip this paragraph as I am going to review the drama. The Subculture Palette is meant to be a muted-color companion to the beloved Modern Renaissance palette. However, reviewers pointed out that this new palette in particular tends to have extraordinary amounts of kick-up, is difficult to blend well and was, in general, disappointing.
My Thoughts
Now that we have that out of the way, let me get to my thoughts on the Subculture Palette. First of all, I love the colors. This palette, with its tones ranging from deep teal to bright mustard, is a beautiful addition to one’s autumn makeup routine. Next, as expected, the shades are all pigmented and soft.
Speaking of soft, let’s talk about the main issue everyone is having: the kick-up. I will not deny that the majority of this palette is powdery as hell if you swirl your brush in it. I find that it helps to think about this palette as containing pressed pigments, rather than shadows. In other words, a little goes a long way. The exception to this rule are the two duo-chromes: Cube and Electric. These are not nearly as pigmented as the others and are best to use on top of other shades.
As for blending, yeah some of the shades will look muddy if you mix them together. What do you expect to happen if you combine dirt brown and moss green? I have had no issues with my color combinations, but I go in with the expectation that my look will be fairly grungy.
So, do I think you need the Subculture Palette? No, not if finicky shadows are going to frustrate you. It’s not worth it. However, if you can deal with a learning curve and care for the overall vibe of the palette, take a chance!
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