If you’re not already a fan of multi-product palettes, the NYX The Crimson Amulet Collection ($25) may confirm your worst fears about pre-stocked makeup kits.
Creams placed next to powders, gah! A dizzying array of 24 eyeshadows in a mix of matte and shimmery finishes lurk within this tomb, along with a teeny liquid liner indubitably designed for elfin hands.
Recently launched to coincide with the opening of the movie, Dark Shadows (four-word summary: Johnny Depp disco vampire), the limited edition palette of products for cheeks, lips and eyes harbors a supernatural society of bewitching nudes and brights!
I like the balance of serious colors and playful party shades, as well as the overall quality of the pieces and the number of products you get for the price.
If you maintain a pro-palette position, I think that’s enough right there to sway you.
But experienced NYX adherents might have a different take, one that flits between excitement over the eerily enticing Gothic packaging (isn’t there something very Flowers in the Attic about it?), and hardcore frustration.
I know I’ve definitely seen most of these colors before, like in the Nude on Nude palette, Butt “Naked” Eyes, Bohemian Rhapsody Casting Call and Haute Model.
Wisely for NYX, the palette has a built-in fail-safe: value.
For $25, you get 36 pieces! — all of high quality.
I think the HD Studio Eye Shadow Base, cheek products and lip products rock, but I would have liked to see more pigment added to some of the eyeshadows.
Unfortunately, the tiny liner seems like a bit of a throwaway product (dude, I can barely hold it properly, and I have small hands!), but I guess that’s what greatness like LORAC Front of the Line Pro is for. 🙂
Swatches of the eyeshadows
Swatches of the cheek products, liquid liner, eyeshadow base and lip products
The Crimson Amulet Collection will make many makeup lovers very happy. Overall, it’s not something that rocked me to the core, but it might be a fun starter kit for makeup newbies or a sweet collector’s item for die-hard Dark Shadows fans.
PRICE: $25
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores, nyxcosmetics.com, and wherever 1970s vampires can be found. 
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Speaking of movies…
I CAN. NOT. WAIT! for this weekend. And next weekend. Two of the summer movies I’ve been looking forward to for months finally come out, Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus.
Anyone else counting down the days till June 8?
I know I joke all the time about “the day the aliens arrive,” but seriously…I’m so not ready.
Also on my list of must-watch summer movies: Rock of Ages (because I’m incapable of resisting cheesy ’80s movies), The Dark Night Rises (of course) and Safety Not Guaranteed.
I’d volunteer for this assignment in a heartbeat
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
corallista says
May 31st, 2012 at 10:46 amIt sure looks tempting! I like the fact that the lip glosses aren’t all nude/shimmery unlike some other NYX palettes I’ve come across. I have been using the HD eye shadow base for a while and I love it!
Nina says
May 31st, 2012 at 11:53 amI cant bring myself to watch Rock of Ages because the idea of a gyrating Tom Cruise kinda gives me the heebie jeebies. 😛
The palette is interesting — nice mix of colors!
Kim says
May 31st, 2012 at 12:01 pmI’m still overwhelmed by palettes and where to store them. 🙂
I’m too excited for Prometheus to even describe. I’m also interested in Snow White and Dark Knight. Bourne Legacy is definitely on my list, too. It seems like there’s something almost every week. Then again, I’d be happy to hang at the movies every day. We’ll definitely see Madagascar 3 with the boys. I was reminded of the Chris Rock “circus afro” scene from the trailer when I saw your colorful swatch arm. 🙂
Ruchita says
May 31st, 2012 at 12:06 pmNice palette! I like the variety of eyeshadow colors.
I finally saw The Avengers the other day and saw the full trailer for Prometheus. I love the original Alien movie and I’m super excited to see the prequel.
Also, the new season of True Blood starts June 10th! I’m so excited. It’s the little things like movies and my favorite TV shows that make my day. 🙂
gio says
May 31st, 2012 at 12:07 pmI’m not usually a fan of palettes that contain both cream and powder products but this one is very tempting. I love the packaging and the colors are beautiful too.
Marian says
May 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pmI can’t wait for those 2 movies either….especially Prometheus!
Jenny says
May 31st, 2012 at 6:14 pmI have this set right now with me cause it arrived just today, and I was a little skeptical about buying it because I saw some bad reviews about the eyeshadows, but finally I bought it and wow!!! The eyeshadows aren´t the best quality in the market, but they´re not bad either! In fact, I do like a lot some of them: good pigmentation, smooth and buttery! Love your makeup on these photos Karen, can you tell me which products from the palette did you use? Thanks!
Katherine G says
May 31st, 2012 at 6:21 pmI saw this palette last time I was in Ulta (last week). Didn’t buy it because I was already buying the cream shadow Neptune by Smashbox (very good shadow, stays on all day until you take it off with a good makeup remover), UD 24/7 liner in Zero (I seem to go through eyeliners much quicker than I go through shadows – I get the liners when I see them though because they sell out quick), and UD shadow in Pistol, as well as some makeup brushes. It looks good though, I just bought the Sephora shopping bag palette though, and I’m trying to save some money with makeup and appreciate what I already have (so makeup buying is for mostly needs now but some wants if it’s nice summer stuff). It sounds like NYX made a winner – their shadows are usually pretty good and I’ve heard good things about their lip products.
Cyra says
May 31st, 2012 at 7:35 pmCan not WAIT for snow white! My friends and I got mani/pedis today and we squealed whenever an ad for it showed up in the magazines we were flipping through!
Erika says
June 1st, 2012 at 1:13 pmOh man, this palette looks really divine. I really loved the make up, design and the 1970’s setting of Dark Shadows.
Veneeta says
June 4th, 2012 at 3:55 pmI just picked this palette up at my local London Drugs(Canada). This is a beautiful palette. I was lucky and got it on sale for $19.99!!! The shadows are great with a nice mix of Mattes and Shimmers which they give you a nice amount of blending colors. I really like the blushes and some have a little glow to them and the highlighter is great for my light to medium skin color, but I haven’t tried the lip colors yet. I like the eyeliner that comes with this palette, but could they make it any smaller. It’s very hard to hold and use with how small it is. I do recommend that you grab this palette while you can!!
Veneeta recently posted … Easy Flower Nail Art Design/My First
Rachel says
June 4th, 2012 at 8:26 pmHaven’t even watched the trailer yet, but all I’ve got to say is that chick (Aubrey Plaza) is fan-freaking-tastic in Parks & Recreation, thus I’m all over it. =)
Ok, now that I’ve watched the trailer, I’m *seriously* all over it! Thx for the heads up!
MeldaMae says
June 5th, 2012 at 1:22 pmI’m still waiting for my, this palette to arrive..
I pre-ordered this on an online store here in the Philippines for PHP775 (approx. $18.50) and I’m expecting it to arrive in 2weeks.. I am so excited for this one!!!
Thank you for the swatches, now I really can’t wait! haha!