By now, you know that I don’t turn down anything purple. Unfortunately, my husband won’t let me turn our bedroom purple (can’t blame him), so I take my purple-crazed self to the cosmetic counters and get my fix there. NYX Cosmetics has a few brand-new smokey-look kits out right now, all of them containing 9 eyeshadow shades, and 2 lip colors. Since I recently purchased the Urban Decay Naked Palette, I went with the colorful one, which just to happens to also be my favorite color. NYX has not disappointed me in the past, so what did I think of this palette?

The NYX Purple Smokey Look Kit contains nine eyeshadows in various violet hues, including a statement blue, a plain black, and a black with purple shimmer. Whether you’re a purple lover like I am, or you simply want to update the classic smokey eye into something a little more unexpected, this kit is a great, inexpensive option. The kit also comes with a pull-out compartment that contains two lip colors which complement a purple eye. Of course, the question on everyone’s minds when it comes to eyeshadow is, “How pigmented are they?” So, let’s find out, shall we?

The first row contains a semi-sheer pinkish-purple shade, a bright turquoise blue, and a shimmering dark grape. I didn’t swatch these in order of how they are in the palette by accident (the blue is in the middle, but the purples are switched).

The middle row contains a dusty, sheer, slightly frosty mauve purple, a black with purple shimmer in it, and a frosty medium lavender.

The last row contains a black shade, another frosty medium lavender, and a light, shimmering lavender.

The lip colors in this palette are very sheer (I had to really layer them on for swatches), and are more or less meant to either be layered, or worn alone for a very light, understated lip. The shades still add a gorgeous sheen to your lips, but don’t expect any great color payoff from them. Then again, NYX put these lip colors in the palette to complement a purple smokey eye, so most people will do a subdued lip look anyway.

The pigmentation of these eyeshadows was typical NYX – rich and soft with color. The only eyeshadow that gave me problems was the first shade in the middle row…I found the shade to be so sheer that it was difficult to work with. Again, every shade in this palette is meant to work together for a smokey eye, so not every shade needs to be full of color, or dark.

If you’re not into purple, or simply prefer more neutral shades, the new NYX Kit’s also come in Bronze Smokey Look Kit, and Nude on Nude Natural Look Kit. All three of these kits retail for under $10 at Ulta locations nationwide.

A purple smokey eye tutorial using this palette is coming soon on Beauty Gala, so keep checking back for it!

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