KKW X Mario palette: Collab of the year?
What do you get when you combine the queen of contour and bronzy eyes with a world renowned makeup artist? - You get the KKW x Mario collection; or what many have called a collab of the year between Kim Kardashian and Mario Dedivanovic.
The collection featuring a 10-pan eyeshadow palette ($45) , a creme lipstick ($20) and gloss ($18) launched April 5, the same day as their 10-year work anniversary. As a large fan of Mario's work and also owner of his previous palette, which was a collab with Anastasia Beverly Hills, I knew I wanted to try this palette out. I also loved the promo pictures and the stunning blue shade really drew me in.
At first sight, I'll be honest I wasn't thrilled at the outside gray packaging, partly because I'm a fan of packaging that will sit pretty on my vanity. Nonetheless, I know the style went with Mario's vibe and Kim's simplicity. I did like the sleek and thin shape that makes it super easy to travel with.
So let's get to what really counts - the inside and the shadows.
When you open the palette, there are four matte shades and six metallics. The shades all represent iconic looks Kim has worn over the years. Below is a description of each shade according to the KKW Beauty website :
2008 is a metallic icy silver / Decade is a matte peachy cream / Glam is a metallic rustic gold / Albanian is a matte brick red / Miami is a matte warm caramel brown / Vegas is a metallic deep burgundy/ Armenian is a metallic bright light gold / Libra is a metallic cobalt blue / Loyalty is a matte deep chocolate brown / Bronzy is a metallic coppery bronze with gold flecks
See swatches below:
Looks
For the first look, I knew I wanted to dive into the stunning blue shade, called Libra. (also side note- I'm a libra just like Kim and Mario and actually share the same birthday as Kim.).
So moving on, to achieve the below look, I first applied concealer to my lids and did not set it. I then went in with the shades Miami and Albanian for the crease to give some definition. I then used Libra only in the inner and outer parts of the eye for a halo effect. I applied concealer to the middle once again and then used 2008 with a flat shader brush. I found that I did not have to wet the shadow for more pigmention. I used Libra once again on the lower lash line and then 2008 for the inner corner for a pop of color. I barely saw any kickup which I was extremely happy about.
For a softer look, I decided to go for a silver/gold look. I created a smoke effect in the crease by using the shades Miami and Loyalty. I then cleaned up the entire lid with concealer before going in with 2008 in the inner part of the eye and Armenian for the middle. Once again I was impressed with the pigmentation. I did spray the shadow brush with Mac fix plus to see if there was a huge difference in pigmentation, and I did like how it looked wet. To create an unexpected pop of color I applied a purple Urban Decay liner on the lower lash line.
Final Thoughts
After using this palette for about a month on and off, I have to say it truly does have great quality and the shadows last a very long time without smudging or bleeding. This is a great beginner's palette and so many looks can be created. But I also have to say if you have a vast palette collection like me and own similar warm palettes, or intense single shadows that can substitute these, it's probably not anything you haven't seen before. If you're a fan of Kim or Mario and want to support them, I'd say go ahead and purchase it, but if you're wondering if it's an absolute must have, I have to say that it isn't. I will continue using this and rotating it with my other palettes, and will continue to support Mario's iconic work, but the decision is up to you.
