Welcome back. Today I thought I would take the opportunity to review and swatch another eye shadow palette from the Sleek MakeUP i-Divine range. This is the Ultra Mattes V2 Darks - considering I spent my Friday night at a roller disco I perhaps should have gone for V1 Brights for some statement neons! As you might have guessed, this an all matte palette - my last Sleek review I found the shimmer shades to be far superior so I was intrigued to see if these mattes could deliver.



There are, as always, some stand-out shades - Ink, a deep sea blue, Villain, a really blendable purple with warm undertones and Noir, the darkest matte black in my entire collection. Generally speaking, the darker the shade, the more pigment to expect; all of the darker jewel tones can be built up to pack a serious colour punch.

Top Row Swatches - Orbit, Ink, Highness, Noir, Dune, Pillow Talk

However, the two yellow shades, Dune and Flesh, are more than a little lacklustre and very powdery. I appreciate these have been included to help make this palette something you could get a complete look from but to be honest, a more neutral transition shade would have been preferable I think - they're just not strong enough to compete with the darker shades.

Bottom Row Swatches - Thunder, Maple, Flesh, Paper Bag, Villain, Fern

The stark white shade, Pillow Talk, is an unusual addition and is actually pretty versatile; when used with a light hand it gives a sheer light wash to the brow bone or lid but it can also be layered up to a more opaque white for a more striking look (I also found this quite handy for Halloween costumes this year).

Bring the drama! Here I used Pillow Talk on my brow bone,  Dune across the lid, Paper Bag as my crease/transition colour, Ink built up and winged out on the outer-v and blended in to  the crease, all topped off with Noir as a winged liner.

As I'm sure you've noted, this palette isn't really one for an everyday look or a palette that can be used alone (unless you're looking for a REALLY dramatic eye, in which case, knock yourself out!). However, I love having it in my collection for the range of colours it brings, knowing that I can add a little spice to my everyday look with just one of the stronger shades.

Thanks for reading as always and let me know of any other super dramatic palettes that you love!

NSB x