My Addiction palette – one blush & four eyeshadows in Compact Case II

I started this week off as Japanese Makeup Week, then got distracted, but now we’re back (and with a very long post). Today I have a review of one blush and four eyeshadows from the brand Addiction, which is exclusively available in Japan (sorry!).  You can actually buy it online worldwide on Ichibankao, but it’s marked up about 50%.  The best way to get it outside of Japan, and the way I got it, was to have a Japanese friend purchase it and mail it to me.

I really like the Addiction blush / eyeshadow packaging system – the blushes are exactly twice as big as the eyeshadows, and everything is easy to depot.  The packaging the products come in is actually quite nice – it looks like the palettes, but is flimsier.  The Compact Case I (which fits four eyeshadows) and Compact Case II (which fits six eyeshadows) are really gorgeous – the aesthetic is just my style, though do note that it holds fingerprints quite terribly. The lovely Kate of Drivel About Frivol has a better explanation with great photos here.

My Addiction purchases – boxed

Left – Revenge; Upper middle – Flash Back; Lower Middle – Sandbar; Upper right – Safari Mode; Lower right – Concrete Jungle

I purchased six items; Revenge blush, Flash Back, Sandbar, Safari Mode, and Concrete Jungle eyeshadows, and the Compact Case II to hold everything.  Revenge is a matte pink-based red.  Flash Back is a metallic taupe.  Sandbar is hard for me to describe – it is sort of peachy in a heavy swatch, but a wash of shimmer on the lid.  Safari Mode is a khaki green satin.  Concrete Jungle is a purple-based grey  with a satin finish.  I have some shades that are similar to Revenge, Flash Back, and Sandbar, but the latter two shades are unique to my stash.

On to the swatches! First, I swatched the eyeshadows without primer, as is my standard practice – but I was slightly disappointed by the pigmentation level. It’s good – but not exceptional. And I’ve heard that Addiction makeup is exceptional.

No Primer: Sandbar // Safari Mode // Concrete Jungle // Flash Back

So, I also swatched them over primer. And, over primer, they look fantastic – complex, pigmented, and beautiful.  Apologies for swatching in a different order!

Over NYX HD Primer: Flash Back // Sandbar // Safari Mode // Concrete Jungle

Here is Safari Mode on the eye.  I’m not wearing primer, but I’m wearing MAC Soft Ochre paint pot as a base. I’m wearing Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Daring Green on my upper lash line & Prestige Total Intensity eyeliner in Intense Olive on my lower lash line. I don’t remember what mascara I’m wearing.  As you can see, Safari Mode is fairly subtle – more akin to the first, no primer swatch.  However, I didn’t try to pack it on – I’m sure I could have coaxed more intensity out of it if I had wanted to.

And, as requested, here’s a comparison of Addition Safari Mode and Inglot 419P – as you can see, they are quite similar in color, but the finish so different that they don’t really appear very much alike. The Inglot is highly pearlized, almost metallic, while the Addiction has more of a satin finish. This picture is a touch too yellow, as you can see from my skin, but still useful as a comparison.

left: Inglot 419P // right: Addiction Safari Mode

On to the blush – Revenge has a very soft, smooth, and slightly dry texture.  It is not powdery, and the dryness doesn’t interfere with the use of the blush – it doesn’t appear dry on the skin; it’s just not a particularly buttery powder.  It’s very blendable – the reason the swatch doesn’t look particularly well blended is that I used a sponge tip applicator rather than a brush 🙂

Addiction Revenge

Here is a full-face swatch where I am wearing Revenge – I find it very flattering! My lips are Tarina Tarantinto Prong (review), and my eyes have several eyeshadows layered, but the main shade is Fyrinnae Shenanigans, used damp.

Both Revenge blush and the two eyeshadows I’ve tried, Safari Mode and Concrete Jungle, lasted all day.

Overall, I’m happy with my purchases. I don’t see Addiction becoming one of my go-to brands, both because it’s so hard to access and because I prefer a more buttery eyeshadow formula (vs. Addiction’s slightly dryer formula), but I do absolutely love all the colors I picked out!