Derwent Alphacolor Soft Pastels, Multi-Cultural Portrait Pastels for Skin Tones, 12 Pastels per Set (102006)

Box is not sealed, seems like it's already opened, sticks are not even to each other ( some sticks are too short compare to others), and some also were broken in pieces. The color look a lot more different the those colors appear on the cover ( dull and colored dust go everywhere). The box look REALLY old with lots of scratching marks. I hate this set and also the Reeves one. Found the Jackson cheap brand at local art store work even much better. Go with faber castell or anything else!!!

A friend gave me a larger set of these 10 years ago and they are still great! I ordered this set just to get black and white because the price is so goid. These are powdery and opaque but I like that characteristic, colors are deep and true, too!

they don't lay down or blend as well as I had hope but they are the colors I needed

I used this brand in an intermediate drawing class. They are fine for blocking in the first layer of color. After that, I would use Rembrandt. The fact that they are broken in the box is not a big deal. The first thing you do when you pick up a new one is break it anyway if you are "painting" with it rather than drawing. Now once they are crushed, for ex if you step on one, forget it. They start to disintegrate and get everywhere. They are perfectly good inexpensive soft pastels.

The colors were just what i needed and so was the grade of pastels. I think this is a wonderful product.