Palette-Palooza!

Week one of Palette-Palooza! I've realized that I basically do the same look matter the palette, and that I have more colors than I will ever need in just the palettes I've used this week alone. I tried taking photos of my eye looks, but they all look sort of washed out and kind of like I should have today's newspaper underneath as proof of life. I don't know how other people get such beautiful photos.

1. Cargo Cosmetics Limited Edition Tokyo In Bloom
I love the design of this palette. I saw it TJ Maxx and said to myself, “I definitely already have all these colors,” and then I bought it. This has lovely, cool-toned mauves and pinks which is just entirely my jam. I didn’t like this when I first used it because I’m used to more pigmented shadow. I wasn’t getting much color and they were just mixing into a big bleh.  Once I figured out I had to build up each color, I liked it much more. It starts out sheer, so it can be very natural, and they blend well at transitions between colors. The packaging, while beautiful, is also very clunky. It's a bunch of layers of cardboard stacked so high, it's difficult to get the brush out of its cavern. Unnecessary and annoying.  But, I really like that it’s set up in quads and duos because the less I have to think about my makeup in the morning, the better.

 




2.  BH Cosmetics Cosmic Chic
This is all metallic palette that looks like little planets. It’s adorable. I really like BH Cosmetics and I bought a few palettes when they had one of their big sales. While the products are always affordable, the web site also always runs some sort of sale and gift with purchase. I wasn’t sure how I would make a look from a metallic only palette, but I think it actually worked out pretty well. I did cheat a little bit by setting my primer with Coty Airspun, but then I used two grays for the lid. I put the darker one in the outer half and really blended it into the crease to blend out most of the shine. I pat the lighter gray in the inner half to keep as much shine as possible. It was OK, but I wanted a it to look a little less dramatic so I put the chocolate brown over the dark gray and blended it in too. I think that made it a little  more daytime appropriate for the grocery trip I was about to on. (Less Emo, more Aldi.) I’m really happy to see how well these blend and the different finishes I can make from all all- metallic palette. I took the photos in sunlight, and the metallic finish threw back light, making the shadow seems lighter. I could probably sheer it out to look like this, but in person this is a more steely grey/ mauve brown.
  

3. Too Faced White Peach
There was a lot of debate over this palette. I actually bought and returned it when it came out. The first palette I got had very faint, crumbly glitter shades and I figured that at this price, I wouldn't keep a palette around when I couldn't use 1/4 of the shades.  When I saw it half off at TJ Maxx, I picked it up again for the rest of the shades- which were always very pretty. I guess there were a couple batches of this palette out there, because all the shades in this one work beautifully! I love these peachy shades, and I really like that they are lighter than the usual super warm coral and peach palettes our there that are just too dramatic for my fair skin.

This one turned out really poorly, so I gave up on photos

4. BH Cosmetics Afternoon Rendezvous
I got this for free with a BH order. They always have some sort of giveaway happening. I wan't super stoked for another warm toned palette, but this little mini palette is perfect for keeping in my bag when I do my make up on the train. The pans are just so teeny and cute! There are enough colors that I can add a little something different whenever I use this depending on what I happen to be wearing that day, which is wonderful for mass-transit make-up.


5. Lorac Mega Pro 2
Lorac is an amazing brand for shadows, and really any powder product. I got a blush set and it's amazing as well. I have a few Lorac eye shadow palettes, and the colors are always pigmented, blendable, and notoriously powdery. I think it helps the blending. I have the 4 and the 2, both have a lot of cool shades and some pretty pastels. Since most people have warmer toned skin, and warm tones are just so much more popular now, these palettes are not the most popular. But, if you have cool, fair skin like me- they are a great fit.





6. Makeup Revolution Iconic 3.0
This is a $7 dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I really like these shades, and Makeup Revolution usually kills it with their formulas. While I love the cool Urban Decay/ adorable Too Faced-style packaging, you can't beat $7. This is a plain, although sleek, plastic case with no mirror. The pans are huge, and the colors are gorgeous. I loved the Naked 3, but I just couldn't part with $50 for a bunch of pink eye shadow. These colors complement my green eyes, a lot like the Tokyo in Bloom. This one has more pigment than the Cargo one, while that has a little more diversity in shades.


7. BH Cosmetics Zodiac
Another BH palette. I love these eye shadows. This palette has a mix of pressed and baked shadows, and the design is just so fun. I'm a big astrology and astronomy fan (not an expert, but I know my sign and like seeing eclipses.) I find that I need an additional color to set my primer and use as an all-over shade since there aren't any light mattes.

That's it for this week, see you next time with more conspicuous consumption!