When I heard that Sacara released a new makeup collection, I wasn’t overly excited. Generally, this brand has mainly excelled in branding – whenever I actually tried their products, my rating was usually a 5 out of 10: “Nice, there’s potential, we see you’re working hard, but it’s just not there yet.” It’s no surprise most of the company’s customers were young girls and teens, as those who regularly wear makeup would usually prefer other brands, except for glitter or nail polish.
The celebrity collections released last year, including the one by Anna Zak, were better in terms of textures and trendiness of shades. They were essentially moderate imitations of products sold by more prestigious makeup companies. I could tell the new collection’s textures were improved just by swatching each blush or eyeshadow with my finger, but there’s a big difference between feeling the texture and actually wearing the makeup for several days straight. Sacara is finally stepping up.
There’s no doubt that the success of this collection is largely due to the involvement of professional makeup artists, at least in terms of choosing the precise shades of the products. The textures and finishes glide smoothly on the skin and blend easily. It seems a significant amount of money was invested in better ingredients, and those designing the collection are makeup artists who truly love the field.
In the lipstick collection, the hard work on shades and textures is evident. The lipsticks are designed for pragmatic women – there isn’t a single unnecessary color, like a strange purple that no one would wear daily. You have a neutral lipstick for every woman, regardless of skin tone.
Finding a beautiful nude lipstick is no small challenge, as anyone who has ever tried to find the perfect item knows – something that always looks good, with or without makeup, no matter what you’re wearing. If you’re into matte lipsticks, M06 and M05 are perfect nudes, not too light, and very suitable for the olive undertone of Israeli skin. If you prefer something less matte but not shiny, the best choice is number 207, a slightly darker nude with a bit of sheen but sheer – it shows through the natural color of your lips, contributing to its more natural look, and it complements almost anyone. There are other shades, including a matte red and matching lip pencils, which can also be used as lipsticks on their own.
The selection of shades for the lip pencils is excellent, and I also appreciate the thought behind creating slightly thicker lip pencils – not overly thick like those that quickly become dull – but just the right thickness for precision. They are accurate enough to outline and thick enough to be used on their own.
The highlighter, almost an exact dupe of the successful OFRA highlighter, is also impressive. For those who love a dazzling shine, one visible from space, that could signal to friendly forces if you’re behind enemy lines. The blushes, both powder and cream, mostly return to everyday shades that suit everyone and any event – even the pink and light pink cream blush, which looks like it couldn’t be flattering, is actually one of their most successful products and will suit many skin tones – its secret is in a very gentle application, and when done right, it gives a fresh, innocent, magical look.
I have only good things to say about the eyeshadows that come in two palette sizes. The textures are good, blend well, and are pleasant to work with. However, many excellent companies “fall” into the trap of over-creativity and sometimes launch eyeshadow palettes in problematic shades. Women who love makeup buy them because they look exciting as products, and palettes are beautiful – especially when every other shade is a duo-chrome shimmer.
While this is very appealing, let's be honest – aside from a few women who really do what they want and know how to apply makeup, looking good in unconventional and sparkly shades is something only achievable on a specific type of eyelid – very young – the former audience of the company, who could overlook unflattering textures. Anyone who’s past that stage knows that shiny eyeshadows are a trap easy to fall into.
I am pleased to report that the new palettes, whether the eight-shade ones or the smaller ones with only four shades, are designed by people who know exactly what I’ve just mentioned and have again done an excellent job choosing the shades. All the palettes receive a high usability score, and this can also sum up this new collection. It’s not just a pleasant surprise – it’s a game changer in the Israeli makeup world. Already looking forward to the next collection.