Secret's Out: I'm Having A Black Honey Affair (Palette)!

If you're in the same boat as me, your collection of neutral eye shadow palettes has gotten a bit out of hand. Sure, you own every shade of bronze, taupe, gold, and ivory that one could ever need, but even with some truly standout neutral palettes, everything can start looking a bit samey. Given that drowning in a pile of near-identical palettes is not an option for me (though it would be an ok way to go), any new shadow collection that comes home with me has to offer something fun and unique. It doesn't need to be an anti-neutral palette, but it does need to spice things up a bit!

Enter one of my newest loves, the Clinique All About Shadow A Black Honey Affair Palette. It was inspired by Clinique's iconic Black Honey lipstick and sets to prove that Black Honey can offer an equally classic take on eyes. 

As soon as I saw this palette I knew it would be a huge temptation, and I finally succumbed during the Sephora VIB Sale. Before I delve into what drew me in, let's take a peek at the packaging.

A Black Honey Affair comes in a rectangular cardboard box with Clinique's signature mint, pink, and yellow floral pattern and silver logo. 

The palette itself is made of a mirror-finish plastic that's lightweight, yet seemingly durable. As a nice touch, the back of the palette shows a full listing of shade names and numbers: 

Upon opening the lid, an incredible variety of complementary colours are revealed. Truly, it was the shades and shades alone that drew me to this palette. I can't say that I've ever seen a collection that offers such an interesting mix of warm and cool neutrals, as well as tones of plum and violet. Truly a unique, yet perfectly coordinated selection! 

A Black Honey Affair features 8 shades of shadow:

Sugar Cane- a shimmery white
Hazy- a neutral to cool mid-tone taupe
Black Honey- a pink-tinged bronzy copper
Lucky Penny- a warm, shimmery champagne
Dark Brown (from the Morning Java Quad)- a deep, neutral satin brown
Purple Pumps- a warm lilac-orchid shade
Lavender Out Loud- a cool, blue-toned periwinkle
Graphite- a cool, blue-tinged deep grey

The palette also includes a dual-ended sponge/brush, which isn't shown in the photo above. The brush is actually quite soft!

Here are all 8 shadows swatched on my inner arm (MAC NC15 skin tone):

A Black  Honey Affair Palette shades: Sugar Cane, Hazy, Black Honey, Lucky Penny, Dark Brown, Purple Pumps, Lavender out Loud, and Graphite

And here's my take on the ups and downs of this collection: 

Pros:

• Beautiful variety of shades- I love the idea of mixing in some purple tones with neutrals! 
• Can be used to create subtle daytime looks, a sultry, smokey eye, or a bold colour statement
• Offers a nice selection of finishes; none is too frosty or too flat
• Perfect amount of pigmentation; the shadows can be applied with a light hand for a sheer wash or layered for bolder colour
• These shades should look good on brown, blue, and green-eyed gals alike
• Formula wears well and stays true to colour all day!
• At $40 CAD, this is one of the more affordable department store shadow palettes out there

Cons:

• If you're not a fan of purple shadows, this palette won't be worth your time
• Some of the shades require a few layers for full colour payoff

Overall, this palette is a huge win! It has earned a valuable spot among my vast neutral collection, as it offers a truly unique and versatile range of shades. The addition of purple tones along with the nudes is genius in my eyes and allows for a pop of colour without having to reach for another palette. Call me a floozy, but I'm truly having a Black Honey affair!

Do you like your neutral palettes to offer a pop of colour? Tempted at all by this one?

And stay tuned for some Black Honey-themed makeup looks coming soon! :)