Mehron iNtense Pressed Powder Pigments Earth Palette: Review, Swatches & Looks

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Earlier this year, I reviewed the shades in the Mehron iNtense Pressed Powder Pigments Fire Palette (click here to check that review out) and really fell in love with the extremely bright colors and high pigmentation. I found myself longing for the other two palettes so that I could own all 24 beautiful shades so with Black Friday sales, I treated myself to one of them, Earth.

The palette comes in a simple paper box, bearing the Mehron iNtense logo.

It houses eight shades with the names written on the bottom of the palette. Each pan is roughly 36mm. The case is sleek and black.

There's a slot for a brush, a synthetic one is included.

The brush is thin, soft and rounded; not especially great for use with these dry matte pigments. It doesn't pick up much pigment to pack on color nor does it blend well. It's really better suited for creams so I've repurposed it as a concealer brush.

These are swatches done over primer. Left to right: Red Earth, Desert Sand, Earth Crust, Mountain Moss, Carbon, Graphite, Night Sky and Morning Sky.

Carbon has the most frightening, outstanding pigmentation. I think this might be the truest matte black shadow I've owned. It's honestly almost too black, you barely need to touch your brush to apply it. All the shades have great pigmentation though Night Sky and Morning Sky were somewhat chalky.

The texture of these is definitely on the dry side, even for matte shadows. I think the wetter and creamier your base or primer is, the better the color impact. I find these shadows to look particularly well with creamy formulas like NYX HD Eye Base and LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer and not so well with my NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (looked a bit scaly/chalky, didn't blend that well).

Here's a few EOTDs I did featuring these shades.

Earth Crust on the lid, Desert Sand in the crease. Touch of Carbon in the outer V and on the lower lash line.

Here we have Mountain Moss on the lid, Desert Sand in the crease. Yellow Spark (not in this palette, in the Fire Palette) in the inner corner. Earth Crust, Desert Sand and Carbon on the lower lash line.

In short you get six shades that are great to work with, just absolutely phenomenal pigmentation and two shades that are a bit finicky and chalky, but still vibrant. Regularly priced at $52.95, they are a steal if you can get them on sale. Speak of which, at the moment Cherry Culture has them for 50%! I definitely bought the last palette, Wind, without a second thought. I really absolutely love working with these Mehron iNtense shades, they are a joy to use and photograph.

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.