Question Beauty - Fable of Spice and Bloom Eyeshadow Palette

It took months before I decided to order this palette and I’m so glad I did. Question Beauty is a small “indie” brand based in New Zealand meaning there was no way to try out the product before purchasing. There were also little to no reviews of this brand anywhere online.

What was eye catching about this release is that is was second in a series from the brand following the Legend of Land and Sea which I also purchased in the same order. I love brands with a collectable story and this series really had me feeling the magic.

I was concerned about the ordering process this being a New Zealand based brand. Given the current state of the world in 2025 I was unsure if my parcel would be subject to tariffs upon arrival to the United State. When tracking my order I saw it was actually coming from China. This fact was a bit disappointing but in the grand scheme of logistics and manufacturing it made sense. I was hoping this was either shipping from New Zealand (which would be incredible expensive) or it was shipping from another country know for cosmetic manufacturing.

The reason I was hesitant about this product coming from China is because while there are rather strict regulations on ingredients used in cosmetics sold within China, the same regulations to not apply for anything being exported. At this point I was having to trust in Question Beauty that they have done their due diligence to ensure this eyeshadow palette is safe for use on eyes.

Ingredients

I took some time to dig deeper into the ingredients used for the Question Beauty Fable of Spice and Bloom eyeshadow palette. While I did not find anything too out of the ordinary I did find some components that are less in vogue these day.

• Talc, Mica – all widely used in eye and face powders.
• Phenoxyethanol – typical preservatives/skin conditioners.

Looking color specific there are some ingredients known to cause staining and irritation when used around the eyes.

Shades Sweet Jasmine, Seedling Spell, Petal Prophecy, Apple Blossom, Spice Keeper contain ingredients that are deemed safe in the U.S. for skin but not for eyes. These colors are labeled as “pressed pigments” rather than “eyeshadows” for that reason.

Ingredients in question:

• Ultramarines (CI 77007)
• D&C Red No.27, No.28, No.33, No.6 Ba Lake
• FD&C Red 40 Al Lake, Yellow 5 Al Lake, Yellow 6 Al Lake

All in all, I personally don’t have an undying affinity for “clean” beauty and will use this palette without concern.

Value Breakdown

Retail Price $69 USD ($6.90 per shadow) 10g total weight.

Given the quality of the shadows, size of the pan, and technology seen in the special shades I will say this palette is absolutely a great value. The packaging is also a plus with the sleek acrylic adorned with gorgeous artwork on a transparent acrylic lid. There is no mirror but I don’t mind that. Depending on where you store this palette you may have photosensitivity concerns, intensity of a shadow fading due to sunlight exposure. Personally I am unconcerned with this possibility.

Swatches

Color story of this palette is meant to evoke the tension between fall and spring. The cohesive yet contrasting feeling of rich autumnal shades under fresh and airy early spring vibrancy makes this palette’s color story captivating.

I found creating a cohesive look with these colors quite easy as the tones complement each other well and there is not a ton of clash between the hue and saturation of each shade.

Sweet Jasmine - Delicate shimmy pink great for inner corner highlights.

Cinnamon Veil - Feels like a white sand beach, good for under brow or highlight placements.

Petal Prophecy - Neon orange that makes for a lively smolder of sparks.

Seedling Spell - Neon green that mellows down to a wearable exotic shimmer when blended.

Smoked Marigolds - Satisfying burnt orange great for crease details or transition placements.

Pistachio Lace - A vibrant matte army green with chartreuse to yellow dimension when blended out.

Spice Keeper - Rustic brown red thinner. Finer formal than Petal Prophecy or Seedling Spell.

Apple Blossom - Cool toned pink red shimmer, similar finer formula to Spice Keeper.

Dark Nectar - Rich red brown matte with plum undertones. Builds and blends beautiful.

Wild Berry Glint - Magenta red color matte, tends to leave staining. Can be slightly finicky to build up color.

Performance

Possibly one of the easiest formulas I’ve used as of recent. Mattes blend well without being patchy, the soft texture sinks into the skin effortlessly and builds up saturation with ease. What I love about the mattes is the layers of color in each shade. It’s not just red, it’s also pink. It’s not just green but also yellow.

For the shimmer special shades these can be a bit overwhelming as they become the immediate star of the show. They can be used as a scattered effect or packed on for a more mirror or foil effect. Highest impact is achieved when starting with a finger or silicone applicator but, a brush can be used for a more diffused look.

Overall Thoughts

I have no regrets in purchasing this palette. I do have concerns about the special shades drying out over time as they were covered with a protective foam upon arrival. Overall I’m absolutely pleased with the performance and quality of the shadows and they are presented in a beautiful package experience. The staining of the pressed pigments is not idea but my makeup remover seems to solve this issue fine. Currently I'm very happy with this palette and would consider getting any new releases from this brand. If you'd like to own this you can purchase it online at questionbeauty.com.