Ciate x Edna Mode

[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] I see a lot of chatter on Twitter about the ‘infantilising’ of beauty products but I draw a distinction between witty collaborations and let’s say, Barbie lip gloss. Let’s not forget that Kawaii products – which are invariable cute and ostensibly childish – are part of an important subculture that has complex roots not immediately visible. This collaboration, to my eye, falls firmly to the former and I just think it’s a lot of fun.

The main feature of the collection is the Never Look Back palette which (to my surprise) has some wonderful colours in a mix of mattes and metallics. The secret to a red or pink eye look is to put something between it and you such as a dark eyeliner very close to the upper lash line. The disc in the middle is a bit of over-design – you need to move it around to open each section individually.

I’m not sure I’d head to the top corner where the turquoise lives but Listen Closely, I Insist and Milan Darling are all shades I think I could enjoy wearing – definitely not all at once!

From bottom to top: No Capes (blush), Heroic (blush), Mavellous, Explain Yourself, Yess!, Listen Closely, I Insist and Milan Darling. For once, the soft metallic isn’t one that just falls straight out of the pan and all over you, it’s soft and creme textured but very smooth on application.

Although it’s the cutest product, the ‘lip shadow’ is the one product that I didn’t love. I like the idea of it – a kind of blur, matte lip in a powder format which conceptually, is interesting. However, you really need the smoothest of lips for it not to instantly suck every drop of moisture from you even though it is fairly well laced with oils. The colour didn’t translate particularly well either – it’s much darker in the pan than it appears on the lips.

All that said, if you don’t have any lip dryness to start with, it’s a kind of understated, natural lip colour shade that would amplify your own lip colour while giving a kind of gauzy, velvet effect. Maybe it’s my lips. I’m talking myself into liking it again!

No such indecision with the eye liners – they’re smooth, bright and impactful and I can see myself adding a cheeky turquoise line on a sunny day. If you like a strong, graphic line, they’re perfect but they have enough pigment to be just a hint of a line if you prefer.

All of these products together form The Edna Mode Collection which is £67 (was £83 HERE) or they’re available to purchase separately at ASOS HERE, non-affiliate HERE. The liners are reduced from £15 to £12.