Splurge or Save: Make-up palettes

Face party palettes are just about all you need when getting ready for a night out about town.

Blush, eyeshadows and lipsticks (and sometimes mascara and liner) all fit into a neat compact or pouch for convenience.

Often sold around the festive season at attractive prices, these palettes are perfect for the light traveller too.

SPLURGE

CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE MAKE-UP COFFRET

$260, from Cle de Peau Beaute counters 

There are three shadows and two cheek colours inside the compact (photo 1). An additional mini lipstick and mascara are also part of the coffret.

REVIEW: The three complementary eyeshadows - champagne, milky brown and plum - are luxuriously fine with a subtle metallic finish and floral scent.

The two cheek shades - a light coral pink and bronze - are made for face contouring.

I also like the soft bristle shadow brush, bristle blush brush and double-tipped sponge applicator in the compact that work well enough on their own; I did not have to whip out separate tools to paint my face.

Although the pigmented deep berry red lipstick and black mascara do not fit into the compact, they are small and slim enough to be slipped into a small clutch.

Skip the red lipstick and you have a simple make-up kit for an everyday look.

The beautiful constellation design on the compact makes it a collectible.

SAVE

LUNASOL PARTY COFFRET

$118, from Lunasol counters

A quartet of shadows, a clear gloss, a jar of loose powder and a brown pencil liner in a zipped pouch (photo 2).

REVIEW:This coffret is a steal, considering that all four items are full-sized and each Lunasol item usually costs at least $40; plus you get a sparkly make-up pouch.

I have always loved Lunasol eyeshadow palettes for their good colour payoff - one swipe with a brush leaves a decent amount of powder on the lids - although you will need a shadow primer to help the particles stick.

The sparkly neutral palette in this set does not disappoint.

I can imagine myself using all the products often as the colours are flattering for a simple make-up look.

SHISEIDO SPARKLING PARTY PALETTE

$60, from Shiseido counters

A six-shade eye, cheek and lip palette (photo 3).

REVIEW:This is one of my favourite palettes as there are different textures in it for a multi-dimensional make-up look.

There is a creamy red lipstick with subtle shimmer and glossiness; and a cream-to-powder shimmery cream shade that is made for highlighting the cheeks and inner corners of the eyes.

A cream-to-powder blue sparkly liner is made to complement a duo of brown and metallic yellow-gold powder eyeshadows. A sparkly gold and pink powder blush gives cheeks a healthy flush.

All you need is a separate mascara to create a complete sophisticated party look.

And if you need to touch up on the go, there is a double-ended eyeliner-cum-lip brush, blush brush and two-sided shadow sponge applicator inside the compact.

LAURA MERCIER INTO THE WILD LOOK BOOK COLLECTION

$169, from Laura Mercier counters

A trio of palettes that contain three cheek colours, 16 eyeshadows, a cake eyeliner and two pencil liners (photo 4).

REVIEW: You get 22 full-sized make-up items for $169; that is value for money. The three compacts are categorised into different make-up looks.

There is Jungle Chic, which lets you create an olive green and gold smoky eye rimmed with a charcoal cake liner and bronze pencil liner. My favourite is the taupe brocade with gold sparkly bits.

Safari Chic is made for sun-kissed cheeks and neutral eye make-up accented with a creamy brown pencil liner.

Tribal Chic - with its coral, plum, violet, gold and navy eyeshadows and bright blushers - is made for days when you feel experimental.

The palettes resemble bound notebooks when closed and slide easily into a "book case" that comes with it. This makes them perfect for travel, when you have to wear neutral looks for the day and more dramatic make-up for evening soirees.

This article was first published on Dec 12, 2014.
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