Chantecaille Save The Sharks Palette - Review, Pictures, Swatches

image from chantecaille.com

Chantecaille's Spring offering is another limited edition palette with a theme of conservation as many of their palettes have been in the past. When I found out about this palette, I ordered one directly from the Chantecaille website, un-swatched and untested. I couldn't wait for my Local Neiman Marcus to get it in. I had to have it NOW!!  This year the cause is Save The Sharks. And Chantecaille has partnered with the BLOOM Association for this effort.

Box that the palette comes in. Gone are the days of the leatherette and satin pouches

This non-profit organization, created in 2004 BLOOM solely focuses on marine conservation.  Over-harvesting, destructive fishing, unsustainable consumption, illegal fishing, lack of education, weak governance, and plastic and chemical pollution are all taking their toll on marine life.  BLOOM is dedicated to fighting destructive fishing practices carried out in the deep ocean as well as to shark conservation and the defense of small-scale fisheries. BLOOM in Hong Kong has one major goal; reduce the consumption of shark fin by producing pertinent, independent research and raising awareness and education amongst the general public and decision-makers. While working with other shark conservation groups, BLOOM has successfully orchestrated a top-level ban on all Hong Kong Luxury Hotels from serving shark fin soup.  Chantecaille, in the interest of helping this organization, will donate 5% of proceeds from the Save the Sharks Palette to the BLOOM Association to ban unregulated shark fin trade.

The front of the palette. Almost cartoonish, which is unusual for Chantecaille Palettes.

I'm going to be honest with you. I own and use every limited edition 4 pan Chantecaille palette ever produced.  I LOVE these palettes.  Not only for the beautiful designs in the pans of powder, but for their impeccable quality and stunning colors.  When the Elephant Palette came out last year, I purchased it as soon as I could.  Don't go looking for a review, you won't find one.  You see, the quality of the Elephant Palette was so incredibly bad I could not bring myself to write a review.  The powders were chalky and unpigmented. The shadows, when applied to the eye felt chalky, the overall color scheme was poorly realized and it just plain sucked.  I chalked that up to an anomaly as all the other palettes have been so wonderful in their quality and colors.  So when the Save The Sharks Palette arrived on my doorstep, and I started to swatch it, I was hoping it would not be a repeat of the Elephant Palette.

Standard velum that shows the names of the colors and how they should be used.

I can keep silent no longer.  I would feel responsible if one of you purchased the Save The Sharks palette unseen and and unswatched, only to be disappointed because I didn't warn you.  I still feel pangs of guilt for not warning you about the Elephant palette, I hope none of you purchased it based on my previous glowing reviews of other Chantecaille 4 pan palettes.

Here's the basis of my disappointment.

The shadow quality is different from that of the original Silvie Palette or even the Tiger Palette (which has similar colors to the shark palette). Somewhere between the Turtle Palette and the Save The Sharks palette the eyeshadow quality went down.  No longer were the powder shadows almost creamy to the touch, they were now harder and not as pigmented in some cases.  They applied well enough with sponge tip applicators, but when using a brush, the shadows were inconsistent in quality. It seemed to me that the formula of the shadows had changed. The shadow quality in the Save The Sharks palette are not bad, they just arent as good as other palettes in the past.

According to Chantecaille the Save The Sharks Palette was "Inspired by the Spring ’13 runway trends, a graphic and alluring palette that fuses on trend colors from the catwalks with the freshness of the oceans, in a bold yet feminine way."  I can see the colors going well with the Pantone Color Of the Year (Emerald Green). And basically what doesn't go with taupe?  (Don't answer that)

The Palette has three eye shades, but if you are persnickety you could say there are 6.  The fins in the middle of the palette are not overspray they are an actual different color than the larger part of the eyeshadow in the pan.  

There colors are:

Great White - Recommended as an all over or highlighter, this satin formula white and sandy beige color is a decent color.

Grey Reef - Is described as a "a glistening sandy grey". Which translates to TAUPE!  In fact,  every Chantecaille 4 pan palette with the exception of Elephant has a taupe in it.  I personally like that, but I realize taupe is not every one's cuppa tea.  The fin in the middle is a tan color and is fairly well pigmented.

Black Fin of the navy blue color.  Left=3 swatches, right=1 swatch. Not the best matte black I have seen and almost the worst.

Black Tip - Described as a "deep ocean blue", this eyeshadow is navy blue and looks a lot like the navy blue in the Tiger palette.  The fin in the middle is a matte black but lacking in pigmentation and so chalky to apply. However if you swirl your brush between the two you have a nice result.

The Blush is called Sea Anemone.  This Peachy pink blush has a light pinky peach fin in the center that seems to be slightly shimmery. The main part of the blush is matte. It can apply heavy so use a light touch.

EOTD using the "eyeliner" shade as a crease color and liner under the eye

I have seen reviews that praise this palette to the rooftops. It puzzles me.  Perhaps they praise it because they are beholden to the Chantecaille brand. Sure, I would like to continue getting PR from Chantecaille (They send images and information only; never had a sample), but if this less than glowing review takes me off their list, so be it.  I would rather save you money and tell you honestly what I think, than to leave out the negatives and carefully word my reviews, so I'm can stay on their "good side". I'm more concerned with staying on YOUR good side, the reader.

EOTD using the eyeliner as a liner and the taupe on the outside edges and in crease with the fin color in the middle of the lid. This look was not as successful.

Do you NEED this?  NO.  It really pains me to say this because you all know how crazy I am over Chantecaille 4 pan palettes.  I'm sad to say this, but it is just not worth the $83 that it retails for.  I have had better overall quality from less expensive brands and the colors are not so unique that you couldn't find suitable duplicates from other brands. I will continue to use this palette, but I will not have as much enjoyment out of it as I have from previous Chantecaille palettes. Will I buy from them again?  Of course I will. But I will be more careful to test the item in real life before I purchase.  I suggest you do the same.

FOTD using the shadows and blush