Splurge or save: Eye-shadow palettes

Splurge or save: Eye-shadow palettes

SAVE

LANEIGE PURE RADIANT SHADOW IN CITY KHAKI

$40, from Laneige counters (Photo 1)

Review: This pretty four-shade palette gave me subtle smoky eyes with a touch of shimmer.

The iridescent charcoal made my eyes look wider, while the sparkly gold-khaki accented them. The light pink matte and iridescent white shades brightened the inner corners of the eyes.

I lined my eyes with jet black eyeliner for a bolder look.

TOO FACED CAT EYES FEROCIOUSLY FEMININE EYE SHADOW & LINER COLLECTION

$49, from Sephora stores (Photo 2)

Review: This is not your usual smoky eye palette. There are nine shades - brown, bronze, violet, plum, silver and black, as well as three complementary neutral shades - for three different looks. The palette comes with a set of easy-to-follow instructions for the three make-up looks.

When dry, the eyeshadow looked sheer. The powder can also be used wet; when I dampened the brush before picking up the colours, they were more intense.

SPLURGE

YVES SAINT LAURENT COUTURE PALETTE 5-COLOR READY-TO-WEAR IN NO.1

$95, from YSL Beaute counters (Photo 3)

Review: I used the matte black, stone and taupe shades to elongate the shape of my eye, while the iridescent charcoal (on the middle of the lids) and shimmery silver-white shadow (on the inner corners of the eyes) added sophistication. The eyeshadow can be used wet or dry for different intensity.

This five-shade grey-themed palette now comes in a limited-edition compact to mark the second anniversary of the Yves Saint Laurent Beaute's store at Ion Orchard.

Want smoky eyes? Check out these five palettes for different budgets.

BOBBI BROWN SMOKY NUDES PALETTE

$99, from Bobbi Brown counters (Photo 4)

Review: Considering that you get eight easy-to-wear shades, this palette is value for money and versatile. There are five nude and three dark smoky shades - four matte, two metallic and two sparkly - to mix and match for simple everyday looks and occasions when you need to impress.

I liked the stacked drawer design of the palette, which makes it handy enough to carry in a small make-up pouch.

DIOR 5 COULEURS COUTURE COLOURS & EFFECTS EYESHADOW PALETTE IN NO.096 PIED-DE-POULE

$102, from Dior counters (Photo 5)

Review: This is a luxurious five-shadow palette embossed with the signature quilted pattern you find on Dior handbags.

It is the ultimate smoky palette: the matte charcoal, iridescent black-khaki, satin grey and deep brown with gold flecks gave my eyes a dark but multi-dimensional look. An iridescent beige for highlighting the brow bone and inner corners of the eyes completes the glamorous smoky-eye look.


This article was first published on Sept 26, 2014.
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