W7 Cosmetics Ebony Range Review

I promised I would tell you all about the W7  Cosmetics Ebony Range which I received from the lovely W7 PR team and here it is. They kindly sent me two packages; one with regular W7 Makeup Products (already reviewed here) and the other containing their Ebony Range*.The Ebony range is designed for darker skinned girls like me although I don't think they are exclusively for darker skinned ladies. I believe many of the products within the range except the powder and concealer will suit anyone regardless of your complexion. I am really impressed with this range. Most of all, I am very pleased to see a drug store brand create a range to suit darker skinned ladies as this is an ongoing struggle. It's not a struggle for only darker skinned ladies; it's the same for ladies with paler skin tones. Some of my friends who have pale skin find it challenging to track down products that match their skin tones especially foundations, concealers and even bronzers that don't look muddy. I wish more brands will cater to several ends of the spectrum but I have noticed that some drug store brands have extended their range compared to what it was like a few years ago. Right onto the  review, I received various products from the range including the W7 Kiss Liquid Lipsticks*, Ebony Matte Lipsticks*, Ebony Matte Blotting Pressed Powder*, Blush Perfection* and Ebony Catwalk Concealer*.


Packaging
I have always liked W7 Cosmetics Packaging especially the packaging for their eyeshadow palettes. They look and feel like really good quality and you would never believe that they are an affordable drug store brand.  Some of the Ebony Range products I received had black casing made from plastic (except the Matte Powder and Concealer which were in clear casing with red lids/tops). I don't think the Kiss Liquid Lipsticks are from the Ebony Range but it is one of the best packaging from W7 in my opinion. It is made from similar material as the W7 Neon Nights Eyeshadow Palette which you all know I am obsessed with. Overall, I am pleased with the packaging of the products I received and I have not had any problem with them.
 

W7 Ebony Matte Blotting Pressed Powder (Medium)* //£3.99 // Link
This was the first product I was keen to try because I feel like if a brand gets powder right, especially for darker skin tone, every other product will be promising. I like how cute the packaging is and it comes complete with a mirror and a powder puff when you flip it open. It is not the most practical packaging as such because I prefer to have the mirror in front of the powder. However, it actually works well and it also means your mirror does not have to get dirty from the powder. This powder is good at mattifying the skin and I know oily skin girls would really like this. It also adds some coverage (it's quite pigmented) so it is important not to go overboard with it. I just use a really light hand and dab around areas where I am prone to get shine. I really like this powder and I use it both as a setting powder and a touch up powder. If you have a lighter/paler complexion, I feel this can work well as a bronzer or even blush as it has warm undertones making it perfect for summer. I even tried using it without foundation and it offered good coverage although I used a concealer for some pesky blemishes.




W7 Ebony Blush Perfection*// £3.95 // Here and Here
I am very picky when it comes to blushes because many of them are too cool toned for me or they are not well pigmented. I was very curious about these blushes because they had very interesting names- Pink Sand and Red Dawn. I had to do a quick swatch immediately I received them and I was surprised to see how pigmented they were. They really do remind me of the Sleek Makeup Blushes in terms of pigmentation. These W7 Blushes feel so easy to apply and the texture is not chalky at all; it feels quite buttery to touch. They are really pigmented so it is important to start with a light hand and build up if need be. Although, I am not one to build up blushes per say because I like them to be subtle and as realistic as possible.



Pink Sand is a coral earth tone blush which looks very flattering on my complexion. It does not have any pink elements as the name may suggest and I prefer it this way. It is very similar to Sleek's Sahara Blush so if you like that, you would definitely like this blush. It does not have any glitter and it has a matte texture which I like for day time/every day wear. Red Dawn is quite true to its name as I would describe it as a an earth toned blush with hints of mauve or deep pink/purple. I am a little rubbish at describing it but it is such a pretty blush and it has some speckles of gold intertwined in it. Again, it reminds me of Sleek's Rose Gold Blush although they look very different in the pan. On application, Red Dawn gives off a rose gold colour which is so flattering on my complexion and I believe would suit anyone depending on the way you apply it. I have been using these blushes non-stop because they are really pretty blushes and perfect for this season.




W7 Catwalk Concealer (Earth)*// £1.49 // Link
I was slightly scared to use this concealer because it looked way too dark for my skin tone and it certainly is. It does not work for me as a concealer per say but I use it to colour correct some really dark blemishes on my cheeks. This works best for me as blemish corrector or colour corrector as opposed to a regular concealer. I would describe it as dark brown shade but  it appears to have some slight hints of green in it. It's possible my eyes may be deceiving me but it is quite a unique/interesting colour. I think the subtle green tint in it makes it good for colour correcting/blemish correcting as it cancels out any dark blemishes. I was surprised by the results I got when I used this under my foundation because it hid my blemishes really well and did not interfere with the colour of my foundation. The doe foot applicator also makes it really easy to use on pin pointing blemishes. I am keen to see if anyone has tried this as a regular concealer because I have never seen any concealer with this kind of colour. There are only two shades- Earth and Clay so it may be difficult to find something suitable. However, I am really impressed with its colour correcting properties and it lasts for a really long time without fading.




W7 Matte Lipsticks*
Now, we are entering the terrain of my favourite products from everything I received. I had no idea W7 Cosmetics had Matte Lipsticks and I am really impressed with this lot.  First off, the colour pay off and longevity is really good. The texture feels quite moisturising for a Matte Lipstick but it does not have any gloss or shine which I like. My lips just feel comfortable and I have enjoyed testing these lippies out. The shades I received are Lady Luck and Madam Fifi. I don't know why but the names make me happy; I think they remind me of some characters in some story books I read as a child. I feel like whoever chose these shades knows me so well because they are right up my alley. They are my typical everyday lipsticks.



Lady Luck is a matte flesh toned brown with slight hints of pink. I just really like it and it is similar to MAC Velvet Teddy, Rimmel Lipstick Kate Moss 03 and Collection Deluxe Charleston 03 Lipstick. The other shade Madam Fifi is more of deeper mauve/pink brown shade which reminds me so much of MAC's Twig. The packaging does not feel cheap at all and it feels well made. The longevity is really brilliant and I still have a stain left after I have eaten my meals. If you are after an inexpensive matte lipstick, I highly recommend the W7 Matte Lipstick. There is a variety of shades to choose from and the shades sent to me look like they would suit many skin tones/complexions not just darker skin.




W7 Kiss Liquid Lipsticks*// £2.99 // Here and Here
I have only tried a few liquid lipsticks and I have mixed feelings about them, however,  the W7 offerings are one of the best I have tried so far. The W7 Kisses Liquid Lipsticks are so cute and dainty and I feel this is the best packaging from W7 so far from what I have seen/tried. I already mentioned that they are similar to the W7 Neon Nights Eyeshadow Palette packaging which is transparent so you can see the beautiful products easily. These Liquid Lipsticks are intensely pigmented and they do last for a good while on the lips. I believe they can be layered but you need to wait for the first layer to dry before going in with another. It has a doe foot applicator which has a slight groove in the middle which I believe is designed to ensure that one dip is enough to coat both lips. It applies on the lips almost like a lip gloss and then it dries matte within seconds. It looks amazing but you really need to be precise and careful when applying it while in its liquid form to prevent any irregularities. Once it dries, it feels slightly sticky at corners of my lips but it's not annoying. It can be ignored but I just apply a little lip gloss and it goes away. I guess everyone's experience may be different but I really like how it looks on my lips and its longevity is pretty impressive. When it eventually fades, it still leaves such a beautiful natural stain to the lips which is still there until I take my makeup off.



The shades I received were Moulin Rouge and Can Can and they are really pretty, bright colours. I would describe Can Can as a neon pink shade which has neutral undertones so it would suit anyone who loves bright lippies. I know it looks like it has cool undertones from the picture but it looks neutral in real life because it suits my warm undertone skin. It's a really fun summer shade and I know it would get a lot of love from me this Summer. Moulin Rouge is warm toned red shade with hints of pink and it is my favourite. I find it easier to wear and I think it would be suitable all year round/all seasons. I feel it really suits my complexion so well and I have even worn it to work a few times because it looks quite classy.



Overall Thoughts
I am so pleased and very impressed with the Ebony Range from W7. The products are well pigmented and they last a good while when applied. The only product which I found a little difficult to work with was the Catwalk Concealer but I still get a lot of use from it as a corrector.  All the other products I received from the Ebony range were easy to work with and equally amazing. As mentioned earlier, I don't think these products will suit only darker skinned ladies; I feel it cuts across different skin tones. It's one range I have absolutely enjoyed testing out. That's all folks!!  Have you tried anything from the W7 Ebony range?..xx
*PR Samples + Affiliate Links, read my full disclaimer here

W7 Cosmetics Brand Overview

I am always on the hunt for affordable makeup products even though I love my high end/luxury brands. However, I find that I reach for drug store products more often than not these days because drug store and affordable brands are really improving their quality. I was delighted to receive a very lovely package from W7 a few weeks ago. They actually sent me two separate packages which was super cool. The first one had regular W7 products including the In The Mood Eyeshadow Palette which is really similar to the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. The second package had products from their Ebony Range which I would be reviewing separately because I don't want this post to be too long. I am not new to W7 products at all because I have purchased two lovely palettes which I have been impressed with. The first palette I purchased was the In the Buff Lightly Toasted Eyeshadow palette which I absolutely adore and the second palette I purchased was the Neon Nights Eyeshadow Palette which is incredible. I was really pleased to try more products from their range and I would be sharing my thoughts on my faves from what they sent me.


Brand Overview
W7 Cosmetics is a makeup brand owned by Warpaint Cosmetics. The brand is located in the UK which is really good to know.  They are known for creating really affordable makeup products and often create products that are dupes for some high end products. They are mainly sold online from their website or Amazon but you can also find them in some stores such as TK Maxx, ASDA, TJ Hughes, Fragrance Direct etc. You can find a full list of their UK stockist here and Non-UK stockists here.  The two products I purchased were from TK Maxx and I was so happy that they had not been tampered with. Now that I have tried a few of their products, I know which ones are my favourites.

W7 In the Buff Lightly Toasted Eyeshadow Palette// from £5.00 // Link // Review
I won't ramble too much about this eyeshadow palette because it has been reviewed on this blog already. It was the first product I ever tried from W7 and I was so impressed that I decided to purchase another palette. Truly, first impressions usually makes a lasting impression. I love the packaging and the colour selection in the Lightly Toasted Eyeshadow Palette. It is a really good neutral eyeshadow palette and I can't think of any colour in this eyeshadow  that I have not used. The pigmentation was surprisingly good for the price but I find that it works best when used wet and with a primer. I did experience some fallouts but they were minimal especially when used wet. I use this palette for everyday looks and it's easy to work with both for beginners or experts.

W7 Neon Nights Palette Eyeshadow Palette// from £5.00 // Link //Review
When I spotted this palette in TK Maxx, I did not need any soothsayer to convince me to grab it. I actually purchased two because I knew my sister would love it. It's just the perfect Neon palette and it has the most amazing selection of colours I have ever come across. The packaging is so pretty and the eyeshadows themselves are incredibly pigmented. They can be used wet or dry but I use it dry and it lasts all day. I always use a primer but I have tried it a few times without a primer and it still looks beautiful. If you are into creating bold and bright looks/tutorials, it's a palette I highly recommend. It's been my perfect Spring/Summer staple along with some other drug store offerings.




W7 In the Mood Eyeshadow Palette*// £3.92 // Link 
Let me just put it out there that I am not a fan of the Urban Decay Naked Basic Palettes because I thought it was too cool for my skin tone. I was a little sceptical when I saw the colours in this palette and I thought it may be difficult to work with. However, that was not the case at all although I won't say it is the easiest to work with if you have similar skin tone as me.  First off, I am impressed with the pigmentation of this palette and I am pleased that majority of the colours show up on my skin tone. The first four colours look very similar in the pan (and due to the lighting) but they appear different when applied on my eyelids. They can be used wet or dry but they work well either ways. I used this palette consistently for a few weeks in June and I grew to love it. I use the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige as a base and it really creates the loveliest neutral look.




I experienced some fallouts but this can be mitigated by tapping off any excess before application. I use this palette to create an everyday neutral eyeshadow look very similar to one of my neutral looks for Spring. The darkest shade (Cargo) transforms any neutral look to a smokey look. I like the dark brown shade (Katie) for adding some dimension to my crease and it is seriously pigmented so you need a light hand. The first shade has some shimmer in it so it is perfect for the inner corners while the second cream shade (Oops) is perfect for highlighting my brow bone. The next two shades- Venice and Wink can be used as lid colours. I always use a base (Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige) underneath to help the colours pop. It is really a lovely Nude Palette and if you wanted to try the UD Naked Basics but don't want to shell out on it or you are not sure if you would like it, this is a good palette to start with. It has quickly risen to one of my favourite neutral palettes because it is very portable.




W7 King Kohl Eyeliner* // £1.99 // Link
I recently wrote about how I have now gotten into using Kohls or eyeliner to tight line my waterline. I discovered the NARS Eyeliner Gel and it has really changed up my makeup look and made me brave enough to try others. I decided to  give the W7 King Kohl a try and I am delighted that it also did not irritate my waterline (Thank goodness for that!). It is really pigmented and easy to apply so there is no need to drag it. It can also be used as an eyeliner for the top lid and to tight line but I prefer felt tip eyeliners for my top lids. I have naughtily used it to ever so slightly fill in my brow hairs. Now before you scream murder, my brow hairs are actually black so it is not too bad and I use very, very light strokes. I really like this Kohl Pencil a lot.



W7 Thick 'Em Up Mascara* // £2.99 // Link
I am always sceptical about using mascaras that are not high end and it's not because I am a makeup snub. It's mainly because my lashes are super short and curly so I need a super lengthening mascara to give them some length. I am not too fussed about volume as much as length. The wand of this mascara looks a little intimidating; it's slightly similar to the Bourjois Volume 1-Second Mascara. However, its bristles really grip my little lashes which I was very surprised about. It does not do much for length for me because it is a volumising mascara but the volume action is not visible unless I add some length to my short lashes. This is why I use the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara first and then follow up with the W7 Mascara and it looks so good. They both work well together and my lashes don't feel clumpy at all rather it feels just like I have added two coats of mascara. I know this may seem too fussy but if you need just volume, this mascara is good and affordable place to start



W7 Argan Lip Balm* // £1.99 // Link
I was quite intrigued to see an Argan Lip Balm because I had never tried anything like it. It comes in a really cute tube which can be thrown in your makeup bag. It reminds me of something I would like to take with me on a sunny holiday (don't ask why; it just does). It feels really light on application but it's not too greasy. I am not sure it is any different to any lip balm I have tried but it's a nice one and affordable as well.


W7 Hide It Concealer *// £1.99 // Link
I was also sent this concealer which is way too light for me. I have swatched it to try it  so I know it's not suitable for me. If you would like me to send this to you, just drop me an email. I will send it to the first person who emails me. It looks like a lipstick but it's actually a concealer and comes in a lipstick-like bullet for ease of application. As mentioned, I have swatched it so it's no longer brand new. It seemed to have a nice texture on application but as it was too light on my skin tone, I cannot give my full impressions of it.


Overall Thoughts
I am really pleased that I got a chance to try out some more products from W7 Cosmetics. They are a really affordable range and I wish it was sold in more regular drug stores like Boots and Superdrug. I am sure they would give other drug store brands a run for their money. My favourite products from the package they sent me is definitely the In the Mood Palette (which grew on me really rapidly) and the Black Kohl Eyeliner which can be used in various ways. Their Ebony range absolutely blew me off my socks but you have to wait for the review tomorrow so make sure you check back. Have you tried any products from W7?
*PR Samples + Affiliate Links used, red my full disclaimer here

W7 Neon Nights Eyeshadow Palette Review (Swatches +Tutorial)

I have always been a neutral eyeshadow kind of girl but ever since I rediscovered my Sleek Sunset Palette, I have been drawn to brighter colours. I found this W7 Neon Nights Electric Eyeshadow Palette in my local TK Maxx and I can't get enough of it. I was impressed with my first W7 In the Buff Toasted Palette (review here) so I had high expectations for this palette and it did not let me down. I am aware they are largely sold online so it is always a delight seeing them in-store. Again, I was lucky that this palette was untouched because some makeup products in TK Maxx are left in less than sanitary conditions. Thank goodness, it was not and I picked up an extra one for my sister who loves bright colours.



Packaging
How is it that W7 just keeps killing it with amazing packaging? I absolutely adored the W7 In The Buff packaging which is a lovely tin palette and I thought they could not outdo themselves. I was wrong; so wrong!! The Neon Nights packaging is absolutely stunning and a sight to behold. I don't think the pictures even do it justice because it is so pretty in real life. Its packaging is made from transparent hard plastic; I think more of an acrylic material similar to Muji storage. It feels super sturdy and the fact that it is transparent makes it look even prettier. It has a small eyeshadow brush which I like and it's also made from the same transparent plastic material like palette.




Shades in the Palette
The eyeshadows are neon coloured and I seriously love every single eyeshadow in the palette. I know it looks very scary at first especially if you are not a fan of colours. However, the colours in the palette really complement each other. There are 12 eyeshadows in the palette made up of several textures including matte, shimmer and satin.  The texture feels very buttery to touch and it is so easy to apply. They don't have names so I am just going to describe them with their actual colours and textures starting from L-R...
Neon Yellow: A bright neon  yellow shade with a matte texture 
Metallic Silver: A beautiful metallic grey silver shade with a shimmer finish/texture
Turquoise Blue: A lovely turquoise/aquamarine blue shade with a satin finish and slight shimmer
Neon Orange: A beautiful neon citrus/orange shade with a matte finish (or maybe satin, I can't decide)
Fuchsia Pink: A deep fuschia pink shade with a matte finish which still looks so amazing.
Deep Green: I fee so confused by this colour because it look like a good mix of green and blue (A warm deep green)
Metallic Pink: A metallic pink shade with a satin finish 
Matte Blue: A lovely blue shade with a matte finish which I love
Deep Cranberry: A metallic deep cranberry shade with a satin finish.
Royal Purple: My favourite colour in this palette; A deep purple shade with a satin finish.
Leaf Green: A Neon green shade with a shimmer finish.
Neon Green: A matte neon green shade with slight shimmers.

Texture/Pigmentation/Longevity/Application
The pigmentation is really lovely and it is definitely better than the In the Buff Palette. I was really pleased about that because the last thing anyone wants is eyeshadows that lack pigmentation. I find that the pigmentation is quite uniform except for the yellow shade which doesn't quite show up on my skin. It can be applied with any brush including the one that comes with the palette and fingers as well. However, I use my makeup brushes for it because I feel it works best. I have not tried using it without a primer but I think it would still have impressive pigmentation. It is very long lasting and it lasted me all day all the times I have used it. All the eyeshadows apply really well with minimal fallouts which is music to my ears because it makes makeup application much neater.






How I use it
I filmed a tutorial showing how I use this palette and as I mentioned earlier, the colours are complementary. If you are new to colour, you would find a few colours that can be used together like I used in the tutorial above. You can find a direct link here and subscribe here if you want to see more tutorials. I used three eyeshadows from the palette; the orange shade (an amazing transition colour), the cranberry shade (to add more definition to the crease) and the beautiful purple shade (on the lids). I already have more ideas for ore tutorials for this look and I am a little obsessed with this palette for now. I feel it is the perfect Spring and Summer eyeshadow palette.

Cost
It retails for £5.99 which I think is such a bargain for the quality of eyeshadows you get let alone the packaging. I am beginning to think I may prefer the W7 Eyeshadow palettes to the Makeup Revolution palettes which I already love. At the price, you can't really go wrong. It's much easier to travel with and I only wish that it came with a mirror but I guess they have their reasons for not including one. You can find it here on Amazon UK for £5.49 and Amazon US for $7.69. I know it is also sold on Ebay but I did not buy mine from there so I can't really vouch for any seller who stocks this palette hence no link.





Overall Thoughts
I don't want to sound too repetitive but I love this palette so much and I have got so much use from it already. It has really pushed me to experiment again with colours and now I am looking to purchase more products from W7 because I am very impressed with the two products I have tried so far. That's pretty much it and I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different post. If you would like to see more looks with this palette, let me know. If you are not already subscribed to my channel, here is a link to subscribe for more looks. Hope you are having an amazing weekend and I would see you in my next post. Have you tried the W7 Neon Nights Eyeshadow Palette?

                                                                 

*Affiliate links used, read my full disclaimer here