I don't know about you, but I have a real sweet tooth. Like, dessert is my favorite meal, I eat brunch solely as an excuse to have french toast for lunch, never met an ice cream I didn't like sweet tooth. This, in fact, may be what led me to my former career as a pastry chef. So as a lover and connoisseur of all things sweet and rich, you can imagine how excited I was to receive this month's i+t alchemist subscription, based around my personal favorite sweet treat and that most glorious of foodstuffs, chocolate!
In case you are unfamiliar, i+t alchemist is the name of the monthly subscription service from Innocent + Twisted Alchemy. There were recently some changes in the subscription service and, starting in July, it will be just one size for $18.00 per month, including shipping. Each month's subscription is based around a particular theme and contains at least three products made just for subscribers, plus a coupon code. The subscription is currently sold out, but new spots open up on the first day of every month, or you can snag a one time trial subscription, which is the same price but does not include S&H. For more details and release times I would suggest following the I+TA facebook page.
This month, as I mentioned, the theme is Chocolate, and it contains four loose eye shadow pigments from I + T, plus a sample size shadow from Meow Cosmetics and another full size shadow from Baroque Cosmetics, an information sheet with ingredients for each pigment and this month's coupon code, which is for 35% off any order at I + T! As usual, all pigments are swatched over Geek Chic Cosmetics' Power Up Primer.
The first shade is called "Surfin" and it's a pale creamy yellow gold. Surfin is the name of a dark chocolate bar made by luxury chocolatier Lindt, ostensibly from one of their founder's original recipes. This color matches the wrapping on the bar, whose name translates to "greatest quality".
Next up we have "Porcelana", a milk chocolate with an intense gold/green sheen. Porcelana cocoa beans are considered the highest quality and are some of the most sought after in the world, due to their delicate balance of flavors. The name comes from the appearance of the pods on the tree, which are said to resemble fine porcelain.
"Palet D'or" is the next color, and it's an appropriately cocoa color, similar to Porcelana, but cooler in tone and with a more bronze sheen. In the chocolate world, Palet D'or is a chocolate with a simple vanilla ganache filling, dusted with gold. This simplicity of flavor allows the notes in the chocolate itself to really shine.
And next up is "Couverture" a rich deep brown with silver glitter and sheen. Couverture is chocolate that is made with a higher percentage of cocoa butter, lending to a lower melting point that gives it a smooth mouthfeel when eaten and making it ideal for dipping chocolates, fruit, and other items, as it gives a much thinner coat and is much more forgiving and easy to work with than chocolates with a lower percentage of cocoa butter.
The guest indie this month is Baroque Cosmetics, and their item is another full size loose eye shadow. This one is in the shade "Dark Chocolate Turtle" a deep cool brown with tons of gold glitter and sheen. A "turtle" is a type of chocolate that is made with nuts (usually pecans) and caramel, coated in chocolate. The nuts are left uncoated and stick out of the sides, resembling the feet of a turtle.
And the final item this month is from Meow Cosmetics, and although the name, "Stripped: exposed" doesn't seem to match the chocolate theme, the milk chocolate color with a bronzy sheen certainly does.
Final thoughts: Well, I guess I should be put out by, let's face it, a completely brown subscription this month, but I just can't be mad. First of all, the finishes are so gorgeous that they keep everything from looking too "samey". Second, I have blue eyes and every single one of these shades is just going to make them look gorgeous. Plus, of course, I had a lot of fun refreshing my memory on chocolate terminology and even learning some new things! And now, if you will excuse me, I need to go eat something.
Oh and by the way, the hint for next month's theme is "Cephiro". Guys, this is gonna be EPIC! I love Magic Knight Rayearth SO MUCH.
What did you think of this month's i+t Alchemist? Do you have a favorite sweet treat? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for hanging out!
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