Unless, as a child, your ears were fed a steady diet of cheesy ’80s pop music, you probably won’t think of Huey Lewis and the News when you open the new Pacifica Power of Love Eyeshadow Palette ($19.99).
But since I was THAT KID, that song creeps into my mind when I think about this palette.
“Try to think of other things, Karen,” I tell myself, “like how these mineral eyeshadows are cruelty-free, or how they’re infused with coconut water.”
But nooooo, all I can do is think about Back the Future…
So, Pacifica. Remember when they were just about bath products? Over the past few years they’ve moved further into the makeup space with color products for eyes, faces, lips and cheeks. Their focus is natural makeup — products made with vegan ingredients that are also cruelty free.
New for summer, the Power of Love Eyeshadow Palette is available exclusively at Target stores for $19.99. Inside the cardboard packaging, which is recyclable and printed with soy ink, in case you were wondering, are 10 powder eyeshadows, eight of them shimmers of varying levels of shine, and a couple of mattes. The shades are mostly neutrals, but there are a handful of accent colors as well. Most of the shadows are moderately pigmented, but a few are quite sheer.
I like that I can take any of these colors and smoothly transition one into the next. As far as blending, I don’t think you’ll have any issues with skipping or patchiness here; however, I do think that if you’re a hardcore makeup person who lives, loves and craves pigment, these shadows may not have enough of it for you. I find myself getting impatient sometimes with how many layers I have to apply to reach the level of intensity I want.
Granted…I’m a chick who’s comfortable wearing quite a lot of color on her eyes at times. Gimme eyeshadow I could wear to Ru Paul’s Drag Race any day, ma! 🙂 I know that’s not everyone’s cup of green tea, though, so if you prefer less intense eyeshadows, you may really like these.
“These colors are formulated without animal ingredients (including carmine, beeswax and lanolin), animal testing, talc, FD&C colors, mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, propylene glycol, gluten, and peanut oil. 100% Vegan and cruelty-free.”
One last thing I should note: the shimmer here is… Well, I guess you could say that it could be kinder to my fine lines. The pearl particles appear larger than the particles in the finely milled MUFE shadows I’ve been wearing lately, and I can really see the difference when I load up the layers. With the MUFE shadows, my lids look relatively smooth, but with these Pacifica eyeshadows, my skin looks more textured, and the shadows a bit more obvious.
So that’s one thing to keep in mind.
That said, should you pick up one of these palettes? Yes, I think so, but only if you’re looking for a cruelty-free, vegan palette with shadows that are 1) easy to blend and 2) not extremely pigmented. For beautiful, sheer washes of one or two colors, this could be ideal.
But if you want an eye palette for bold, intense makeup looks, and/or you’re concerned about shadows settling into your fine lines, you may be better off waiting for something else to come along.
PRICE: $19
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively at Target and online at target.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Katherine M says
May 8th, 2015 at 6:02 pmLooks like a pretty palette! I haven’t bought anything makeup-wise by Pacifica. I really like their blood orange scented body lotion.
I think of the “Power of Love” versions by Celine Dion, and symphonic rock band Within Temptation (really awesome band, out of the Netherlands and have some amazing music), when I think of that song name 🙂
Pavithra says
May 8th, 2015 at 8:00 pmNow I know I won’t be able to get “The whispers in the morning ….” in Celine’s voice out of my head. 😀
I love Pacifica’s body washes, and I have one of their eyeshadow singles (I think it was a sample) in color similar to MAC’s woodwinked – it was buttery and pigmented and didn’t crease the whole day. Its a pity this palette didn’t perform as well.
Pavithra recently posted … If I could pick just one.
Kwmechelle says
May 8th, 2015 at 8:53 pm1) die hard makeup lover who lives, loves, craves hella pigmentation (check)
2) gimme eyeshadow I can wear to RuPaul’s Drag Race (check)
This one’s an easy pass for me 🙂
Simone says
May 8th, 2015 at 10:03 pmWhile this is a (probable) pass for me, I’m happy to see a completely vegan/cruelty brand at the drugstore and “reasonable” price point.
However, like you, I want that pigment baby!
Rebecca says
May 9th, 2015 at 1:57 am“The power of love is a curious thing, makes a one man weep, make another man sing…” Love that song
Erin says
May 9th, 2015 at 8:18 amThe dark blue looks a little too sheer but the rest look ok for pale ladies in the daytime!
Erin recently posted … Vanedo Beauty Friends Sheet Mask Vitamin
LindaLibraLoca says
May 9th, 2015 at 8:42 amCompletely pass on that palette, but I love these 80ies songs.
LindaLibraLoca recently posted … I´ve got this fever again – MAC Hot/Cold Tinted Lipglass
Kiss & Make-up says
May 9th, 2015 at 9:31 amFor some reason I don’t feel really drawn to these shades. Also never heard of this brand before.
Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Review | e.l.f. Baked Eyeshadow in Moonlight Serenade, Bronzed Beauty, Passion Purple & Chocolate Dreams
Kirsten says
May 9th, 2015 at 4:24 pmIt’s hard to get a read on those eyeshadow colors because the packaging is so busy.
BooBooNinja says
May 9th, 2015 at 5:26 pmThe best part of this palette is printed inside the cover. It says: “You are so pretty”. 🙂
Iris says
May 9th, 2015 at 7:26 pmSuch a cute palette and I love the packaging and colours (both the eyeshadow and design). I wish Target was still in Canada.
kristen @ glambunctious says
May 10th, 2015 at 12:45 pmWhat a beaut of a palette this is! The swatches make me happy. Aw, my hubs and I walked out of our wedding reception to “Power of Love”! Huey Lewis 4-Ever! 😉
kristen @ glambunctious recently posted … Beauty Influencer’s Sunday Column Vol.7: How has your makeup style changed over the years?
Stephanie says
May 10th, 2015 at 3:16 pmI don’t think I was paying a ton of attention to this but then I needed to listen to this song… https://youtu.be/VkAVfsw5xSQ
I think you’re getting into my subconscious even when I’m barely reading well, Karen.
Ruth says
July 10th, 2016 at 5:58 pmGreat review, love the 80’s references, I can totally relate to all of it 😉