I Bought This, Affiliate Links, Informational Link
You know what a sucker I am for cosmetics ads that pop up on my Facebook feed. Before the holidays, I was taken in by the Siren song from the stunning makeup brand from China, Florasis. I knew nothing about the brand except that this was the most gorgeously presented and packaged makeup I had ever seen. Here’s how Florasis describes the brand on their website:
“Florasis (HUAXIZI) explores wisdoms in traditional beauty rituals, inherits the philosophy of Chinese aesthetics and adopts modern technologies in creating our cosmetic products.”
While their English isn’t always the greatest, the Florasis website is beautiful. You must must must check it out!
Their palettes and packaging are all carved or imprinted with images created by Chinese artists and artisans. A few weeks ago, I watched a couple of videos on the website that showed the artisans crafting the makeup from scratch. It was incredible! Unfortunately, I can’t seen to find the videos on their huge website right now. Nevertheless, I expect that the artisans do the original mold and then machines manufacture the carved makeup and packaging, but regardless, it is truly to die for. My friend and former beauty blogger, Erika, said “I would keep it as a pet!” when I posted a photo of the limited edition Impression of Dai Eyeshadow Palette a few weeks ago. Erika is a great wit, and as usual, she nailed it. However, I definitely plan to give this beauty a try. That’s why I am calling this post, “First Look”.
About two weeks ago, I think, I finally succumbed and purchased the Impression of Dai Palette. The description of the Impression of Dai collection also enticed me as well as the product itself:
“A love of life and nature characterizes the Dai people, an ancient tribe living in Xishuangbanna, China’s Yunnan Province, and the inspiration behind our latest collection.
Xishuangbanna is often described as a magical place, where green peacocks roam free in year-long warm climes amidst striking plant life in China’s only tropical rainforest. Such color and vibrancy are reflected in the spirit of Dai culture: in their folklore, music, food, striking geometrical Dai costumes, and free-form movements when they perform their native Peacock dance, a dance which has made them infamous throughout China, and across the world.
For a limited time every year we introduce our “Eastern Impression” Collection and this year’s theme is Dai. To create it, we worked with specialist artisans and technicians to truly reflect everything Dai, from the precious ingredients incorporated to the elegant packaging designed. Together, we carefully balanced Dai philosophy with our own R&D technology, one of the main features of the collection.
We applied the principle of synergy between all parties, a philosophy that pays attention to the overall balance, and a formula that enabled us to incorporate flowers from the Dai rainforest alongside other caring ingredients. We wanted to ensure the vitality of the petals, blossoms, flowers, and leaves from the rainforest survived long beyond their natural habitat and were reflected in the glow of our customers’ skin. This approach is the brand DNA of Florasis and is part of our promise always to use natural ingredients to create safe, nourishing skin and make-up products.”
(I am glad that they venerate the Dai people, but I wish the Chinese would be much more tolerant of the Uyghurs, the Turkic minority that are oppressed by the Chinese government.)
So enough background. The limited edition Impression of Dai Palette officially called “Floral Engraving Forest Aura Makeup Palette” that I ordered two weeks ago arrived this afternoon, and I was blown away by the entire presentation.
First, the shipping box in the photo above was the most beautiful shipping box I have ever received. Even the inner flaps of the cardboard box were lovely and theatrical!
Inside the box, the palette was nestled in a tightly fitting plastic bubble wrap pouch that allowed the palette to travel from China to Massachusetts without incident.
In addition, Florasis included in my box a Florasis tote bag, a double-sided shadow brush, a makeup sponge, and two products samples: 4 little shades of lipstick with a tiny application brush and something else that feels like a sheet mask (I can’t read the Chinese on the lovely-looking packet). It was way more than I expected!
At the bottom of the photo above is my new “pet”! I adore the jeweled peacock case!
Isn’t it the most beautiful palette you have ever seen? Both the case and the peacock carved pans are stunning.
The version of the Impression of Dai peacock makeup palette that I have has a heavy plastic case, and it was priced at $59. The version with the metal case was sold out, and it had been priced at $79. Shipping was free. I think when I bought it, there was a free gift promotion so maybe that was how I managed to get the two-sided brush? But the blending sponge must have been thrown in as a freebie. The lipstick samples and sheet mask (?) are free samples.
Even though I haven’t tried out the palette yet, so far I am delighted with my purchase from Florasis. I’ll be back with swatches and more thoughts after I have had a chance to use it. In the meantime, go on the Florasis website and see the rest of the Impression of Dai collection and the other makeup products they carry. You will drool when you see the lipsticks!
Now, on a different note, Marcia will be posting her first review along with a little autobiographical info tomorrow/Thursday. So please check it out and leave a comment to say hello!
WOWOWOWOW! That palette is simply stunning inside and out, Allison! I can’t wait to see what you think about it, and to see how it swatches!
Lola+Seicento recently posted…GOOD FAITH Smoothing Eye Cream + Caffeine
It’s a beauty for sure!
These palettes are breathtaking! I try not to get enticed by packaging but these are too beautiful to pass up!
That’s exactly how I felt, Diana! Hopefully, I won’t “keep it as a pet”, but I found it irresistible!! Unfortunately for me, it looks like their stunning carved lipsticks are mostly or all mattes, though I would love one just to look at it (I am resisting that urge, however).
I’m not a big lipstick wearer so I’m not enticed by those. But wowie is the eyeshadow palette gorgeous. But I own SO many eyeshadow palettes that I would never need to buy another for as long as I live. I am trying not to be tempted to buy this one but between the actual compact and the actual shades of the eyeshadow, I may just end up buying it.
By the way, Happy New Year! Hoping this year is much kinder to us. Last year was brutal.
That palette is so unbelievably stunning! Oh my stars! Wow!!!
That eyeshadow palette is too pretty to use. It should be framed! I hope it’s as lovely on as it is new like this. What an amazing package too. Well worth the money. Enjoy this!