The Accidental Beauty

The 42-color Double Stack palette is one that I’ve been wanting to try for a long time, after hearing great things about it. It retails for around $24.95 at Coastal Scents, and comes with 32 matte shades, although some shades have a subtle hint of sheen. There are 10 blushes underneath the eyeshadows, along with some application tools. Those of you on a tight budget, check out swatches and a review to see if this palette is for you…

There are two available versions of this palette, one with matte shades (which is what I have now) and one with shimmery shades — same colors in each palette, just different finishes. Here’s a description of the palette directly from Coastal Scents, along with ingredients!

32 gorgeous matte shadow colors accompanied by 10 Blushes

Blush Info: (both 42 palettes have the same blush colors)

• The center top Pink blush is matte
• The 4th and 5th on the bottom row are matte
• The blush pans measure 1 1/4 ” in diameter

Eye Shadow Info:

• The pans measure 7/8″ square, or just a bit smaller than an inch
• Matte Case Palette with silver Logo and contents on front
• Measures 9″ long by 4″ wide when closed
• Upon opening the shadow palette lifts up and fits inside the open lid, this offers easy access to the blush while applying.
• This palette weighs over a pound, with packaging and wraps to arrive safely it will be nearly 2 pounds.
• Palette Content Ingredients Weight 80.6g/2.83oz

Ingredients:

Eye Shadow: Talc, Mica, ,Isopropl Palmitat, Kaolin, Waterable Oil, Methylparaben, Proplyparaben, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine blue, Ferric Ammonium Ferrecyanide, Manganese Violet, Chromium Oxide Greens, D&C Black #2, FD&C Red #40 A1 Lake, FD&C Yellow #5 A1 Lake FD&C blue #1 A1 Lake.

Blush

Talc, Mica, Mica & Titanium Dioxide, Mineral Oil, Kaolin Magnesium Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Isoproply Palmitate, Lanolin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine blue, Manganese Violet. D&C Red #7 Ca Lake, D&C #27, FD&C Yellow #5 A1 Lake.

So now that we know all the technical details, let’s check out some pics and swatches

you can see tiny light reflecting particles in this shadow, but it’s still mostly matte

you lift this purple ribbon to help easily lift the eyeshadows so you can access the blushes underneath

voila!

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: first row – (flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: first row – (no flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: second row – (flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: second row – (no flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: third row – (flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: third row – (no flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: fourth row – (flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette swatches: fourth row – (no flash)

Coastal Scents 42-color Double Stack palette blush swatches: all ten – (no flash)

I know that last swatch of the blushes is pathetic. I’ll try to retake that one soon.

FYI: I used my fingers to take these swatches, and I primed my arm using Too Faced Shadow Insurance. They’re not that pigmented on their own!!

PROS

• Affordable
• Great value for the average consumer
• Convenient
• The colors are pigmented very nicely when used with an eyeshadow base

CONS

• The following shadows aren’t as pigmented as the others: Row 1, color 1; Row 2, color 1, Row 4, color 3
• They’re as powdery and chalky as you’d expect from these kinds of palettes
• Fall-out city! You NEED a base with these so the color will even stick and show up as strongly as my swatches
• The applicators are useless (but I understand not everyone has just one makeup brush)

OVERALL

Again, we have another palette that would be great for beginners, however I’m on the fence with it. As a beauty blogger, it can be difficult to grade a product you already know isn’t high-quality without comparing it to higher-end stuff — and possibly discouraging beginners from it all together. I really do feel it’s a great product for budget’istas, students, beginners, etc., — but if you’re already using NARS, MUFE, MAC or Urban Decay eyeshadows you probably won’t reach for this one very often, let alone buy it. It’s an ideal palette for someone who’s either just learning how to apply makeup, or someone who just cannot drop $24.95 on ONE eyeshadow. I don’t hate the palette, I don’t love the palette — it’s just okay. I do like the colors, though — they’re very pretty.

You definitely need an eyeshadow primer and/or base with these, all of the swatches I took are showing up nicely because I used a base. The eyeshadows aren’t so powdery/chalky that you can’t use’em, and they’re definitely not as chalky as the 120 palette. At the end of the day, they’re still in the same boat as the 120 palette. To help with the chalkiness, try applying the colors using a “patting” motion instead of a “sweeping” motion.

As for the blushes? I’m not feelin’ those at all to be honest. They give off that ashy powdery cast, especially if you have darker skin. Many inexpensive blushes do that, so if you’re already using cheaper blushes this might not even matter to you. I personally, do not like it one bit.

So, do I recommend? For beginners, yes. For people on a tight budget, sure — though it’s not a must have by any means. For those of you used to higher-quality? Skip.

RATING

Availability: Coastal Scents