Hi everybody - I've been super busy and haven't been keeping up with this thread.
I only just got to see the whole collection yesterday and I'm sure you're all getting your things in the mail by now, so no need for me to go on about anything.
I just have to say I've finally been won over by these new pearlmattes. So much nicer than Vera or Lilly Land. They're very sheer, but have just enough color to balance out your skin tone and that finish is awesome - it's definitely a finish like the glorious Elude has. Veronica's Blush is like a sheerer, less white/more pink Elude, in fact. The Betty pearlmatte was too deep for me and could only be a blush on my skin tone, but on my MA's ruddy skin, it took away all his redness perfectly and he didn't look like he was wearing a stitch of makeup.
I also broke down and got the Veronica quad because those shadows are pigmented as all get out - one swipe and you are done, no need for a base to bring out the colors. I felt I only had one shadow in my collection that seemed like a dupe to something in the quad, so that made a difference for me too (I don't have too many matte or satin finish shadows, especially not purples). All the colors made my green eyes pop drastically so I fell in love.
I couldn't help but fall in love with Betty Bright - I compared it with Force of Love, Toxic Tale and Reel Sexy and it was most comparable to Reel Sexy - it's the pink version of Reel Sexy, I'd say, if I had to sum it up, but a touch less light. It wasn't too dissimilar to Force of Love, though FoL is quite a bit darker and a bit pinker.
Boyfriend Stealer is really sheer, but that gives a nice effect, especially when blotted. If you had wished Hot Chocolate had been more purple and less brown, you are going to love Boyfriend Steeler.
The bright coral Betty lipgloss is almost an exact match for Force of Love lipglass, without the very subtle shimmer.
Ronnie Red is very close to Absolute Power but brighter and a little lighter. It's a color like Love Goddess in that it really shifts from pink to red as the light source changes. It's less pink overall than LG, though. I would have skipped it but it blots down AMAZINGLY. It leaves the smoothest, richest stain you could want out of a blotted red lipstick. The stain was so gorgeous and even and perfect that I bought a tube, even though I have Absolute Power and Love Goddess. If you're trying to budget, you could probably skip it, unless you really love wearing blotted down reds.
Mall Madness is a fun color, because of the shimmer. I reserved it, but I may wind up passing on it. I don't really need any more pink glosses….that shimmer is lovely, though.
The pigments have me on the fence - they're kind of dry and very fine, so even more caution that usual is needed to prevent them getting all over your face. You must wear some sort of based under the pale green Betty or you will be a pastel green raccoon in 3 minutes. The dark teal was surprisingly nice and the teal showed up very clearly, but it looked better under the eye than all over the lid, where it was much harder to coax out the richness of the color. I do think the pastel pink Betty one is the winner of them all because it will be really great on the lips under gloss to add shimmer or pressed on top of pale pink lipsticks for an unusual texture effect, as well as used on the cheeks and eyes - it's the most multi-purpose.