The internet – and more specifically, TikTok – has been abuzz with the hottest new Chinese cosmetic brand. You’ve probably already seen their products – intricately carved eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks, with glossy, detailed packaging.
Being an absolute sucker for beautiful design, I – of course – had to get my hands on a couple of products to see if they would live up to the hype.
Florasis currently have only 4 palette products to choose from, all coming in at a cool $59 each. I was torn between the Floral Engraving Phoenix Makeup Palette and the Floral Engraving Forest Aura Makeup Palette (Impression of Dai) – as the former seemed very versatile, and the latter was a staple-worthy nude options. Ultimately, I chose the Floral Engraving Odey Makeup Palette (The Encounter), as the colors were more exciting and the impressions looked gorgeous in the product shots. Post editing note: This collection was designed to celebrate the Dai ethnic minority group in China, learn more here.
The pictures posted on the Florasis website do not lie, the palette is beautiful. I do feel like a lot of the price is tied up in the “engravings”, which I know must be achieved en masse via a mold or impression device and obviously not an individual artist. You should also know that while the packaging for this particular palette is very luxe feeling, the actual palette itself is a high-grade cardboard used in typical beauty palettes (I believe the Phoenix is plastic or aluminum). This isn’t a deal-breaker for me, as you can tell just by looking at the site pictures, but it’s worth noting as it’s a pricey purchase.
The art/engraving is designed to honor “Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River”, a poem written by Cao Zhi in the Three Kingdoms Period. I think this brand wonderfully connects their products with the culture that the brand originates in. Beyond that, they do the impossible and manage to manufacture truly velvety feeling eyeshadow that maintains it’s design even throughout shipping. I do have to note, it feels almost illegal to destroy the artwork that this palette is, I almost wanted to just put it under glass so I could look at it every day.
I also picked up the Blooming Rouge Porcelain Lipstick ($39) in M303 Peach Red Glaze. The lipstick is packaged in this gorgeous white porcelain, and the engravings are all of scenes from the porcelain making process. This is definitely more of a powder formulation, and – like the eyeshadow – will feel like a crime to actually use. Color payoff is actually better than it looks in the images, I was almost afraid that this would be one of those light crème-type lipsticks and instead this was dense, but smooth. If that makes sense.
I bought a couple of other things, but they didn’t make it to this post as they are gifts. Florasis was kind enough to also include a generous number of samples, and free facial cottons in their package.
My overall rating for the brand is that yes, it is a little overpriced, however it’s a better visual value than a LOT of higher end eyeshadow palette’s out there, and the formula is one of the nicer ones on the market. If you have someone who enjoys cosmetics, and especially enjoys unique and beautiful products, Florasis would make an amazing Christmas, Valentines, or birthday gift.
Florasis has become so popular that they are now making efforts to protect consumers against counterfeit knock-offs and will even help you identify if your Florasis product is authentic or fake – especially helpful if you’re purchasing from eBay, Tradesy, Poshmark, or other resellers.
Florasis’ bio, from their website: Florasis, Hua Xizi, an innovative makeup brand born by the Lake Xizi (the West Lake) in Hangzhou, China. Florasis explores wisdoms in traditional beauty rituals, inherits the philosophy of Chinese aesthetics and adopts modern technologies in creating our cosmetic products, which features nourishment from flower and natural essences, unity of makeup and skincare, promotion of both inner and outer beauty and excellence of craftsmanship.
Find out more about Florasis, and shop here: https://florasis.com/