Surprises are one of those things you either love or hate, and I definitely love them.
Well, provided they’re good surprises – obvs!
And you know when the last time I was pleasantly surprised was? When I recently placed my first NABLA order.
NABLA is a young independent Italian brand that was first launched in December 2013. Their mission is to create cruelty-free (and for the most part vegan) makeup products using the best ingredients and formulations, while keeping the retail price as low as possible.
Sounds interesting, don’t you think?
24 hours after placing my order for 12 eyeshadow pans, 1 magnetic palette (which I got as a free gift for purchasing the shadows), 2 lipsticks and 1 brow pencil, I got the smallest box I had ever seen — so small that at first I thought they hadn’t sent me everything.
But no, everything was there, perfectly packaged and intact. I really appreciated that they didn’t waste any unnecessary packaging material and space.
Let’s have a closer look at the products that stole my heart! 🙂
NABLA Eyeshadow Pans (€6.50/$7.40) + Liberty Palette (complementary)
OH MY GAWWWD! NABLA’s eyeshadows are out of this world!!! So silky, pigmented, and blendable… They basically just blend themselves, and they can all be used dry or wet to maximize the color payoff (although I’ve never really felt the need to wet them so far).
Personal favorites include matte Caramel and shimmery Rust, but there’s none I actually find unimpressive.
NABLA Diva Crime Lipsticks in Rouge Mon Amour & Alter Ego (€12.90/$14.70)
When I first opened my parcel and saw these lipsticks, I thought I had received sample sizes… They’re so tiny! But the quantity of the product inside is actually higher than most lipsticks (4.2g/0.14oz).
I really appreciate this original touch, since these days it doesn’t happen that often when you see something different in the beauty world.
The formula of the NABLA Diva Crime Lipsticks is definitely one that will please many. They’re very creamy, glide on effortlessly, and are super saturated with pigment. The finish is a comfy satin-matte, and the wear time is pretty impressive for such a creamy texture. I’m definitely tempted to get more shades!
NABLA Brow Divine in Uranus (€11.90/$13.60)
The NABLA Brow Divine in Uranus has become my go-to brow product. It’s the darkest of five shades and, since I ordered it online, I was a little worried it might be too intense, but luckily it’s exactly what I needed. Unless I press it hard, it yields pretty soft strokes – ideal to achieve nicely defined brows that don’t look too strong.
I’ve never tried the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, so I don’t know how this one compares. All I can tell you is that I really, really like it!
Did I pique your interest? If I did, you may want to know that you can purchase NABLA’s impressive products on nablacosmetics.com or in an Italian bioprofumeria.
Tee hee, you said uranus (har dee har).
I really like that first set of swatches, very errrmahgerrdd-worthy indeed! And how cool that you got the palette for free!
The shadows of the first set of swatches are my favorites, too!
I am all for surprises as well. They make live worth living.
Completely agree! Once you stop been amazed at things, you’re dead.
Wow!! That is a GORGEOUS palette!!
Definitely, I was so pleasantly surprised!
That palette? I DIE! These are so adorable, I wish Sephora carried this brand.
I don’t see that happening anytime soon, but who knows, maybe someday…
I have two 6-pan Nabla palettes and I love them! The quality is great and they have some unique colors I haven’t seen anywhere else. One of my favorites is Madreperla – it’s Mother of Pearl in the shape of an eyeshadow. It was the reason I decided to order in the first place. Unrestricted is also great, a reddish base with golden shimmer, one of a kind! Baltic is a beautiful blue and their matte eyeshadows (Narciso, Wild Side, Petra) work great as transition color.
Thank you so much for your recommendations!
Those eyeshadows look fantastic! It’s nice they ship to the USA, and the shipping prices are very reasonable.
Yeah, I was actually quite surprised to find out they ship to the US and that the rates are not prohibitive.
I like that brow product!
It’s not half bad!
That shadow palette is beauuutiful. Everything looks so pigmented and smooth!
And it really is! 😉
You are from Bologna, aren’t you?
You’ve got plenty of shops where to try Nabla’s products, they are sold not only in bioprofumeria but also in regular shops!
(You can check the complete list here: http://alostgirl.net/nabla-cosmetics-dove-comprarla/ )
I do love Nabla’s products, I tried… like everything (I own all eyeshadows but 3, all lipsticks, even the liquid ones, and… I love their blushes and their concealer is really good too).
I have a weakness for shadows. They all look so gorgeous! So nice of them not to waste a lot of packaging material.
I am perpetually on the prowl for cruelty-free, reasonably priced, high-quality neutral matte eyeshadows, *especially* greys.
Assuming that Nabla ships to the U.S., I think I’ve hit a mother lode!