On the eyes - The Essential Mattes (05)
In recent years, the focus of my makeup has shifted from the eyes to the lips. My love for colorful, bold, bright eye makeup looks have given way to bright and statement-making lip colors. I can’t have it all – colorful eyes and bright lips – together, can I? I mean, I COULD, but it wouldn’t be work-appropriate and I want the focus to be on my lips.
However, I don’t want to have no color on my lids, I just want a more classic look to compliment a bright lip. Don’t get me wrong, I still LOVE breaking into colors but I reserve them for special occasions or when I’m in the mood for something fun.
Sephora launched TEN Colorful 5 Eyeshadow Palettes about a year ago, of which I own Flirty to Intense Purple (03), The Essential Mattes (05) and Pale to Rich Taupe (06).
For All To See
Each palette comes in a nifty, chic looking packaging with 5 eyeshadows. When I first saw how slim the mirror was, I thought it was as good as not having one coz it was too slim! But when I first took it to the roads, WOW, it was oddly sufficient for eye makeup application. In fact, I thought it was brilliant that that thin height enabled a more focused application.
Retailing at SGD36.00, of course it cannot compare to high-end eyeshadow palettes with fancy designs or a heavier weight to denote luxury. It comes in a black plastic packaging that shuts well but is not too difficult to open. Very travel-friendly in terms of size, weight, security. It comes with a duo-ended applicator, but I don't use it.
The best thing about it is the see-through top. Straight away I can see which palette to pick. 🙂
Different Looks & Finishes
What you get are really good quality eyeshadows. I was impressed by how pigmented and long-lasting most of them are.
The Essential Mattes (05)
The Essential Mattes (05) Swatches
I love ALL shades in The Essential Mattes. I usually have the middle shade as an overall lid color, the second peachy shade at the contour area to create warmth, the fourth shade for the Outer-V, the fifth shade as a hint of eyeliner, and then the first pale shade to diffuse any hard edges up towards the brow bone. All 5 are matte shades.
Flirty to Intense Purple (03)
Flirty to Intense Purple (03) Swatches
Pale to Rich Taupe (06)
Pale to Rich Taupe (06) Swatches
Flirty to Intense Purple (03) and Pale to Rich Taupe (06) each have one glittery shade, three satin, and one matte. The middle three shades are simply wonderful to work with and look gorgeous when applied. I think the purple ones are just slightly less pigmented than the brown palette.
Some people complain about fallout and mess from the first glittery shade. I think it’s actually a ‘user problem’. Haha. It’s not meant to be an all-over-lid shade, it’s supposed to be like a finishing touch to the look, IMO. It should the LAST shade applied; I usually apply it on the centre of my lid.
The fifth shade, the darkest, on all my three palettes is consistently less pigmented than the rest.
Which Palette?
I was surprised at how the 5 shades in each palette work so well on their own and combined. All ten palettes are gorgeous in their own rights. My favorite is The Essential Mattes. I am so tempted to try Sunrise to Sunset Bronze.
I cannot decide if I prefer the Urban Decay NAKED 2 BASICS or Sephora Collection Colorful 5 Eyeshadow Palette in Pale to Rich Taupe (06). I’m comparing coz both pack 5 beautiful neutral shades in a small packaging, but are very different – NAKED 2 BASICS is all matte, while Pale to Rich Taupe has a good mix of different finishes. In fact, I think it is more like a smaller version of Urban Decay NAKED 2.
On the eyes - Flirty to Intense Purple (03)
On the lips - Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Obsessed
Have you tried any of the Sephora Collection Colorful 5 Eyeshadow Palettes? Which shade appeals to you the most?
