If you never heard of Citrine makeup, then you aren't alone. I bought this on a whim never thinking it would replace one of my luxury makeup items.
I don't have much information about this brand but it is a legitimate Chinese beauty brand. For now, there are only face products from face powders to foundation, and a contour palette. I admit I didn't expect much from it because I find many contours from Asian brands either too warm which almost lean towards a slight undertone of yellow or yellow-peach or just too gray which in makeup terms is great for that "death" hollowed-out cheek. This one tends to be neutral which is great for my light olive to olive neutral skin.
The formula is baked which means it is mature-skin friendly. At first touch the colors felt like Italian silk, just so smooth! I couldn't believe this product is priced anywhere from $15 to $20 (USD). If this were a western brand, it would be sold by one of the luxury names at a hefty price, especially since it contains 4 colors. There are two contour colors - Cloud Smoke Brown and Sun Shadow Brown. Included in this compact are the highlighter colors - Hazy Mist White & Flowing Light Gold.
Color Descriptions
- Cloud Smoke Brown - One of the most neutral ones. Neither gray or warm. Sits right in the middle! Suggested to be used as a nose contour.
- Sun Shade Brown - Still neutral in undertone. Has a slight sunkissed overtone but never nears any warmth like a bronzer. To be used as a face contour.
- Hazy Mist White - Soft matte ivory.
- Flowing Light Gold - More of an ivory gold. It doesn't lean towards any yellow gold.
The negative aspect of this palette is it will only work on porcelain to medium skin tones.
All the colors just sit on any mature skin so finely. You won't get that emphasis on those wrinkles. The two contour colors are so natural looking even on skin that doesn't wear foundation. I don't wear foundation, and that means I don't wear tinted moisturizer or other colored skin products. I wear it on bare skin.
The highlighting colors surprised me the most! I expected the matte color to be so powdery or even just ugly matte but no! At first touch it was so silky and smooth and when applied even around the eye area as eyeshadow, it looked smooth and that is the same with the gold shimmer. This is pure shimmer that any mature person can wear. So soft and shimmery without any glitter. The shimmer sits so fine anywhere on the face and especially on mature eyes it just captures the light on the lids and brow bone area.
As I mentioned in the beginning this palette did replace one of my luxury items - Chantecaille Mermaid Eye Shade in Olivia. I remember buying the eyeshadow at Nordstrom as a treat to myself. At the same time I felt guilty buying an eyeshadow at $40! I began to reason with myself by thinking this eyeshadow will go with my skin tone and it contains 4 grams! $10 a gram! I sounded like some drug addict!!!
I did like it but the weird thing is I noticed it would make my eye area look crepey with or without eye base. The shadow itself feels creamy even though it is a powder but compared to Citrine, it is thicker and heavier. I know it sounds unbelievable for a luxury line to feel
This Citrine palette can be applied with a brush, sponge, or fingers. It is so silky that it feels like expensive lingerie for the face! But at 1/2 or even 2/3 the price of Chantecaille. I bought mine at Yami (referral link) on sale for about $12USD. It is also sold on Yesstyle (referral link) for about $20. This is an underrated palette and certainly well worth the money spent. At least, I don't regret this purchase and I am certainly looking at Asian beauty brands first before buying any luxury brand from now on! The quality is better and the price is more affordable!
