Flashback! Marsala sooooo reminds me of the deep, dark reddish browns of the ’90s, like MAC Paramount. Take me back, homie…
I do like the shimmery twists and sheens Sephora incorporated to modernize marsala in their Sephora + Pantone Universe makeup collection, because back in the day, the shade probably would have been reserved for flat mattes, which were nearly impossible to blend.
The Sephora + Pantone Universe Makeup Collection
- A limited edition eight-piece release
- Available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com
- I’m really liking the $28 Shimmering Marsala Cheek Trio. Very easy to blend.
- The $18 Pure Marsala Matte Lip Creme is smooth and creamy and super pretty. Very ’90s, too.
- The Marsala Metalshine Liquid Liner, also $18, is quite shimmery and pigmented.
- While also pigmented, $20 Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter is totally NOT wearable at all.
- Overall, I can get behind the cheek trio, the lipstick and the liner…but the mascara and brow highlighter just make my brows and lashes look hella red. But not runway red in a fashion-forward way. More like red as in demon spawn. Think hard before going there… I’m just sayin’.
P.S. I’m on the way out the door to go to that restaurant/nightclub with the Prince cover band in San Rafael. If I don’t see you again tonight, please have a safe and happy New Year’s. See you in 2015! 🙂
Love it!!! really want to get the lipstick 🙂 Happy new year Karen! as well for Tabs and El hub, hope you guys have an amazing time tonight
What liner are you using to separate your swatches? It looks super bold and black!
The blush trio and the lipstick look pretty and totally would work for me. The brow highlighter sounds weird. I would have preferred they did a nail polish instead. I can imagine the brow mascara and liner will end up on clearance….
Totally loving the color of the year though. It is already a color I gravitate to and have in my collection in various forms!
Love the lipstick and cheek trio!!
I want that blush palette!!
I think only fair skinned warm toned blue eyed blonds can wear that mascara!
I got the lipstick and blush palette and love them. I tried the brow/mascara on my brows – big FAIL. RREEDDDDDDD. I think the eyeliner might be nice layered over a dark brown – might try that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR KAREN!!
Totally Digging Marsala! Cannot wait to pull out a few from my stash and start wearing!
Omg these look SOOO gorgeous!! I need to get these!!
Awww MAN! The mascara was the one thing I was intrigued by. What was wrong with it? Specifically? (PS. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!)
Aaaaaaand I just realized you already answered in the post itself. Oops! Reading comprehension fail.
Marsala is soooooooo ugly. Guaranteed to add at least 20 years to anyone who goes there. Which is great when you’re 10.
Someone, please make it go away!!!
Happy New Year, Karen! I’m completely obsessed with this collection. I need to make my way to Sephora soon to grab the lipstick and cheek trio. They’re both so gorgeous!
I am in love with this color (but I was back in the 90es, so that comes as no surprise), and the lipstick calls my name.
That cheek trio though, need to see it in person first. Looks nothing special to me. Does the color differ from a standard rosewood blush?
The blush palette is beautiful, I am not one for a lot of shimmer but this is very fine and wearable.
Also wondering why no polish, this color would be perfect
Mm, I’m not sure I like this marsala colours. It looks quite… dated.
Happy New Year, Karen! I am personally really excited about this year’s color of the year, I think it’s beautiful!
I’ve been a fan of Marsala-type shades for years, they just work really well with my natural coloring so I’m really excited for this and other collections! I don’t know about that red mascara though… 😀
I love the cheek trio, the shades look really wearable! Marsala is such a pretty color!
You know? That blush palette reminds me of a Sleek Blush by 3 palette that I have!
>> While also pigmented, $20 Bold Marsala Mascara & Brow Highlighter is totally NOT wearable at all.
Not true! 🙂 You know that saying that “for every crooked pot, there’s a crooked lid”? I’m the crooked pot in this case. My hair is dyed a bright tomato red, and for years I’ve been looking for a brow product that was a closer match. I don’t want an exact match, just something that looks more red than brown.
I’ve tried all the major brands that do brow products, but even the auburns are too brown. I usually end up highlighting with a wine lip pencil just to avoid the harsh contrast between red hair and dark brown brows. But I really prefer a brush-on applicator to a pencil.
So to me, this product is perfect. 🙂 I hope it ends up in the bargain bin – I will buy all of it to stock up!
It would be great for a lot of the natural gingers out there, too, I think. I use L’oreal Excellence HiColor in Red Hot. I would have liked the mascara darker (more like what Physician’s Formula’s Raisin Quartz was). But I don’t think it’s completely unwearable across the board; not at all.
I love your hair color. It’s awesome.
I love the color. The mascara from this collection is way too light, but the rest of it looks beautiful.
I really like the color this year. I think it can be worn by mostly anyone. The blush palette is really pretty. I’d love to play in it 🙂
I want to see these products on YOU! Especially the lipstick! I’ve heard Maybelline’s The Buffs Untainted Spice (which I have) is a dupe for it, but I’m still having a hard time trying to talk myself out of buying this one!
Love brick-red brown lipsticks! They are the most flattering color on me. So glad this is back in style. I think 2015 is already great!
As a redhead, I am over the moon about Marsala!
The blush palette is gorgeous but u r right that those reddish brows will look so vampy.. Waiting for this collection to come to India..:-)
In love with marsala shade.. A lovely wine red for warm skin tones. 🙂
The cheek trio and lip color is gorgeous!!
Cora from VintageorTacky created a fabulous video about the color marsala called “The New Neutral; Why I’m Obsessed” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pvM3bdKLfo) in which she describes why marsala is such a great color for everyone, regardless of skintone/haircolor. Cora has some terrific suggestions for incorporating the color into your makeup routine. Even if you’re convinced you.absolutely.cannot.wear.marsala., take a look; she just might change your mind!