REVIEW: Ameli Step Basic Cake Eyeshadows

i anticipated the arrival of my lucky winnings from Closet Voyage and Vanity Box's giveaway since i have not really dabbled in Korean cosmetics before. these Ameli Cake Eyeshadows were one of the items that i was especially excited about. 

Ameli is a Korean cosmetics company that dates back to 1996. they sell their cosmetics online and even have an American page which makes it much easier for me to understand :)

no idea what the sides of the boxes says!

the eyeshadows are well packaged - they come in a box within a box. they are stored in a reflective metal container with a lid that has "Ameli cake eyeshadow" inscribed around it and a little window so you can see the shade.

i received the Ameli Cake Eyeshadows (4 g) in two colors: "027 Nude Beige" and "217 Charcoal Brown", both from their "Step Basic" eyeshadow line. at first glance, these two looked a tad boring compared to most of the eyeshadows i own; however, i've come to really appreciate these matte shades! 

"Nude Beige" looks almost like my skin color; it doesn't seem like it will show but it definitely evens out my skin tone. i enjoy using this as a base since it makes the eye area look brighter and more even.

"Charcoal Brown" is another fantastic shade. i use this in the crease area and it is dark enough to pull off a smokey look but at the same time, toned down enough to wear it at the office. in fact, Ameli describes this as a "toned-down grey with brown hue". 

the texture of these eyeshadows are powdery soft and velvety. it feels very smooth and the powdery-ness may come off as chalky at first. i wore the shadows with primer and it has lasted 12+ hours (i can't really say for sure for "Nude Beige" since it is so close to my skin tone but definitely for "Charcoal Brown"). i can't read Korean but from what i gather from the websites, the colors are crease-resistant and long-lasting because they have "sebum control" built in. definitely a plus for oily eyelids!

i really like the packaging, pigmentation and long-lasting ability of these eyeshadows - this is my first introduction to Ameli and i am impressed!

Ameli ships worldwide and shipping starts at $20US (if you spend less than $100). you can purchase "Charcoal Brown" here ($12) but it appears that "Nude Beige" is no longer sold on their website. there are plenty of other pretty shades available though! you can also buy them both at Vanity Box where they are currently on sale for ~$6.82 CAD (50% off!) and shipping starts at $15.

i think i have discovered a new love for matte shades! let me know what your favorite matte color is!