Makeup Revolution Ultra Strobe Balm Palette & Ultra Strobe Stick: Review & Swatches

I have talked about Makeup Revolution a few times in the past and even the Ultra Strobe Balm here. Makeup Revolution now has an Ultra Strobe Balm Palette with 6 new shades. Details per Ulta:

Only at ULTA!

Precise targeted strobing in one convenient palette! Get an all year round glow with these 8 shades of strobe balms in the Makeup Revolution Ultra Strobe Balm Palette. These illuminating balms provide a natural looking highlight to sculpt the face and add depth.

I love this creamy formula. The texture isn’t too hard, yet it’s not too emollient and greasy that it wears off quickly. It’s in-between. That perfect level of not too greasy nor too dry. It really gives just a glow to the skin, the colors aren’t that shimmery or frosty. For $15 it’s a steal. There are three basic types of highlighters in this palette. The glow shades that add that shimmery glow without being too frosty or intense. They are not heavily pigmented, but still enough to give a pretty good glow. These aren’t sheer. There are a few shades that are more shimmery, pigmented traditional style highlighters. They apply with that shimmery frosty pop more than a glow. However, not glittery. Then there’s two shades that glow but are more shimmery than the glow shades. However, they’re not that frosty look.

Starting top left is Hypnotic one of the permanent original two shades. It’s a bright yellow gold shimmery glow in a white base. The base goes on mostly clear on my skin tone. Next to it on right is Euphoria the other of the original permanent two shades. It’s a shimmery intense pink glow in that same base. To the right of that is a new shade that’s a shimmery blue glow in that same base. Last on the top right is a pale pearly champagne shade. This is more shimmery, intense and pigmented than the other top three shades. It’s more of a traditional shimmery pale champagne highlighter.

Starting on the bottom left is a shimmery medium neutral rose shade. This is the more intense, shimmery pigmented style as well. Next to the right is a shimmery purple pink glow. This one’s a pretty intense glow, but in that same white to clear base. Next to the right is a shimmery green. This one is a pretty green glow, but it’s a touch less of that intense glow and a bit more shimmery. Still less shimmery than the other shades in the palette that are like more traditional highlighters. This and Hypnotic are the same. Last on the bottom right is a shimmery cool light medium pink. This is another of the more traditional, shimmery pigmented highlighter shades.

Sunlight:

They also released a few new Ultra Strobe Sticks. Same Ultra Strobe formula in a stick-which I love more than the palettes. I wish they all came in this form so I could only buy the shades I wanted. I grabbed Euphoria to replace my compact and the new one in Peach Lightening which is a shimmery cool frosty icy peach. These are $9 each.

Ultra Strobe Balm Palette Top to Bottom starting Top L to R, then Bottom L to R:

Comparisons with a few others. Top to Bottom(All Makeup Revolution): Palette Top 2nd Left, Euphoria Stick, Peach Lightening Stick, Palette Bottom Far Left, Palette Bottom Far Right:

A Glimpse in My Palettes

Here’s a look into my current makeup palettes. I prefer depotted shades because 1) Palettes take up less room 2) I remember to use all the shades because they’re there in plain view and 3) I don’t have to rummage through a whole drawer looking for a specific shade. I do love special packaging, but I will ruin it to put that shade in a palette if I know it’s a keeper forever.

One thing I love about Japanese or Japanese inspired brands is that they make depotting so easy. They have holes in the packaging and easy light glue. You can just pop the pan out by poking them through the hole in the back. You don’t have to ruin the package depotting it and then you can put it back in the case if you want to in the future. Everyone else should learn from this and make their items easy to depot. It’s the way makeup has been going for years, even with the non pro makeup artists.

I wasn’t originally going to list the shades, but I figure I’ll get asked so might as well. I’ll do left to right, top row to bottom row. Yes I know it’s a lot of browns and nudes and might be boring for those color adventurers. I love browns/nudes in every shape and form.

Eyeshadow

Surratt-Chinchilla, Vision, Zibeline, Brunatre. Natasha Denona-Skin, Satin Skin, Satin Tan, Smoky Topaz. L’oreal Holographic King’s Ransom(DC’d and old).

Surratt-Soie, Idealiste, Haute Chocolate, Griege, Ombre, Brun Noir. NARS Kalahari L shade. YSL Couture Mono #11.

SUQQU Yuushakuyaku Top L, Bottom L. SUQQQU Kozuecha Bottom R, Top R. SUQQU Rengazome Top L, Top R. SUQQU Trio Toutouseki Bottom Brown. THREE 4-D Plus Palette 03 Glitter shade. NARS Kalahari R shade. Addiction Penny Lane.

SUQQU Yuushakuyaku Top R, Bottom R. SUQQU Kozuecha Top L, Bottom L. SUQQU Rengazome Bottom R, Bottom L. SUQQU Trio Toutouseki Middle Pink. THREE 4-D Plus 02 Glitter shade. Armani Maestro 32. YSL Couture Mono #17. Addiction Marron Glace.

THREE 4-D Plus Bottom L Browns from-X01, 01, 03, 02. Charlotte Tilbury Golden Goddess Grey Enhance shade. SUQQU Trio EX-05 Sumichazumi Middle Brown with the Bottom Black right below. THREE 4-D Plus 03 Bottom R with Bottom L from X01 right below. Burberry Pale Barley new version. Edward Bess Intimate. Addiction Christmas Love.

Blush

MAC Seduced at Sea, Estee Edit First Lover, Becca Mineral Sweetpea, NARS Douceur, THREE 08 Eternal Traveler with THREE 17 Wind Swept Soul right below.

Marc Jacobs Flesh & Fantasy, SUQQU 02 Hanachaori, Makeup Revolution Nude, Urban Decay Video, THREE 07 Magical Thinking with Surratt La Rosee Du Soir right below.

Rouge Bunny Rouge Habanera, Armani Sheer Blush #4, Addiction #29 Noah.

Highlighter

NYX Duo Chromatic-Lavender Steel, Crushed Bloom. Makeup Revolution Ulta Pro Glow Palette Pink Shade 2nd from Bottom L. Urban Decay Fireball.

Natasha Denona Light, Makeup Geek Psychedelic.

Random Eyeshadows

L row top to bottom: MAC-Silver Sun, Smut, Urban Decay Bust.

R row top to bottom: Makeup Geek I’m Peachless, Urban Decay-Fireball, Suspect, MAC-Patina, Vex.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Pro Glow Palette: Review & Swatches

I have more highlighters than I know what to do with. Yet I can’t help myself and keep grabbing more. Makeup Revolution just put out this Ultra Pro Glow Palette with 8 shades of highlighter all for only $18. It’s listed as exclusive to Ulta on their site. Details per Ulta:

Highlighting fanatics! This one is for you! Eight amazing, luminous highlighting shades in one Makeup Revolution Ultra Pro Glow highlighting palette. Find your perfect shade and layer or mix shades to create even more ways to glow! Smooth, creamy and finely milled powders to give you that glow from within look we all desire.

The texture is smooth, creamy and it glides on with ease. These are pigmented so some of the shades can appear frosty if you apply too much. None of the shades are glittery at all, just shimmery goodness and they’re finely milled. Great texture love it. I prefer using the Wayne Goss Air Brush to apply these shades. The Wayne Goss brush #2 is also pretty good for these. I prefer the Air Brush because it applies in the lightest way so you can layer without getting frosty too quickly.

The top left is a light beige champagne. Bottom left is a light golden cream. The top second from left is a light peach pink. Bottom second from left is an intense rose pink and my favorite of the palette. It has this amazing pink glow to it.

The top second from right is a medium golden beige. Top right is a medium rose gold. Bottom second from right is a medium beige. Bottom right is a warm bronze.

Overall, the shades are more warm toned. None are cool at all. Nor are any of the shades really unique, except for my favorite that rose pink. I love that shade. It adds a warm pink glow layered over blush and I then use a lighter highlight for more definition on the top of the cheekbone. The rest of the shades are all pigmented and a great formula, just nothing really unique color wise. If you own a ton of highlighters you probably already have these shades in your stash. If I could buy just the rose pink I would give this palette to my neices. That’s the only shade I find myself reaching for a lot.

Top to Bottom: Bottom far left, Top far left, Top second from left, Bottom second from left, Top second from right, Bottom second from right, Top far right, Bottom far right:

In the sunlight:

Makeup Revolution Ultra Strobe Balm Euphoria: Review & Swatches

Makeup Revolution has been a drugstore brand I’ve been interested in lately. It recently became available to purchase at Ulta.com. It wasn’t easy to get before that being a UK drugstore brand. The Ultra Strobe Balm is listed as an Ulta exclusive. There’s two shades. I grabbed Euphoria the pink shade. The other is a gold shade. For $9 it wasn’t hard to decide to grab it.

Per Ulta: “Strobing is here and on-the-go! Makeup Revolution’s easy to use balm formula in the Ultra Strobe Balm can be applied simply, easily and be taken with you throughout the day.”

Euphoria is a intense pink red pearl in an almost clear base. The base looks white, but it pretty much disappears and all you see is the pink red pearl. It’s like the cream version of pink powder from Pat McGrath Labs Nude Highlight Kit. The texture is not overly moisturizing nor greasy. It’s silky but without silicones. It’s not a thick cream nor is it thin, it’s in between. It dries down so it feels more like a cream to powder formula, but it doesn’t turn fully into powder. It stays a bit creamy. So it’s not drying. It also lasts well because it’s not a thin moisturizing cream highlight.

This product leaves an intense pink red pearl behind. It’s not a strong highlight at all. It’s subtle. It adds a pink red glow, not a shimmery highlight in the traditional sense. It’s light and buildable but to a point. You won’t get this built up to a light shimmer highlight. If you want to try a subtle highlight, love an intense pink red glow and like a cheap yet fabulous formula, go grab this. I just grabbed the gold shade as well.

It looks white in inside light. Here’s pics in sunlight where you can see that bright glow:

Top to Bottom: Pat McGrath Labs Nude Kit Powder, Makeup Revolution Euphoria Heavy then Sheered Out, Urban Decay Fireball Highlighter: