Is it just me, or are ALL the 2009 Holiday Palettes ridiculously tempting? After sifting through all the latest launches, here are the makeup palettes/gifts I’m adding to my own wish list this holiday season:
1. Laura Mercier “Color Wardrobe” Compact ($98) – The Laura Mercier holiday sets are always a fantastic value, and this one is no exception. The two-tiered compact holds 6 eye colors, 3 cheek colors, 6 lip stains, 2 lip glazes and a double-ended lip brush. The top palette contains: African Violet, Stellar, Café Au Lait, Sandstone, Celestial and Coffee Ground Eye Colors; Plum, Rose and Nude Cheek Colors (exclusive); a Double-Ended Eye Color/Corner Eye Color Brush and a full-size mirror. The bottom palette contains: Mocha, Scarlet, Melon, Mulberry, Nude and Rosette Lip Stains (exclusive) along with Brown Glaze and Pink Glaze Lip Glazes (exclusive). Also included is a double-ended lip brush.
2. Laura Mercier “Master Toolbox” ($65) — If the “Color Wardrobe” doesn’t fit your budget, Nordstrom also offers this exclusive palette. This two-tiered compact includes 5 eye colors, 3 lip stains, 2 lip glazes PLUS a mini lip-color brush and a double-ended eye color brush. The top palette contains Beige, Sable, Sandstorm, Mica (exclusive) and Gold (exclusive) Eye Colors, along with a mini Black Turquoise Kohl Eye Pencil. The bottom palette contains Shy Pink, Crimson and Raspberry (exclusive) Lip Stains along with Natural (exclusive) and Spice (exclusive) Lip Glazes (exclusive).
3. LORAC “Double Booked” Full-Face Collection ($55) — LORAC eye shadows are among some of the best I’ve used. I would rank their pigment intensity right up there with MAC, and their blendability is unparalleled. The holiday “book” opens up to reveal two “pages.” One page is compiled of 8 warm, color-coordinated eye shadows; the other, 8 cool shadows. Also included are two blushes, two lip glosses, one bronzer, one highlighter, one lip liner AND a double-ended eye color brush.
4. MAC “Magic, Myth and Mirth” Eye Palettes ($36) — So many choices to choose from!
Each palette contains 6 eye shadows.
-“Devil May Dare“ = Colors include Oh My Darling (pale frosty cream), Dare Ya! (light frosty peachy pink), Sorcery (blackened burgundy), Gold Tease (frosty midtone gold), Prankster (midtone frosted olive), and Devilishly Dark (rich brown with gold pearl)
-“Smoke and Mirrors” = Colors include Fire In Her Eyes (neutral beige), Wide-Eyed Wonder (gray taupe), Black Magique (black with gold pearl), Spell #9 (muted pink beige), Deception (frosty golden brown), and Smoke and Mirros (dark chocolate brown)
-“Sorceress” = Colors include White Rabbit (frosty soft white), Hold My Gaze (midtone cool green gray), Edge of Dark (charcoal with silver pearl), Magnetized (light frosted lavendar), Hypnotizing (frosted gray mauve), and Altered State (deep frosted blue purple)
-“Mystic Cool” = Colors include Cool Incantation (opalescent white gold), Blue Enchantment (dark frosted turquoise), Deep Scarlet (deep frosted indigo), Shhh! Don’t Tell (pale neutral pink), Rose Potion (midtone frosted rose), and Violet Vow (deep cool brown)
5. Felix Rey Cosmetic Case ($88)- If you’re going to be getting new makeup this holiday season, why not also ask for an incredibly cute cosmetic case to keep it all in? I am quickly becoming obsessed with this cosmetic case from Felix Rey. He also offers this larger case for $100 and this smaller case for $55. If these options are a little too girlie-girl, he also offers this great rocker-chic cosmetic case for $90.
6. Chanel Collection Essentielle de Chanel Multi-Use Palette ($85) – Created by the CHANEL Makeup Studio in Paris especially for the United States, this essential all-in-one makeup wardrobe now features three new must-haves: two cream concealers and one cream blush. The exclusive colour collection, named ‘Paris-New York,’ also includes two shades of lipgloss, one cream lip colour, three powder eyeshadows, a sponge-tipped applicator and a soft-bristled lip brush.
7. Bobbi Brown Chrome Palette ($75) — Early reports say that this palette is much more wearable than it looks in the packaging. Eyeshadows: White, Polar Ice Shimmer Wash, Storm Cloud Sparkle, Iron, Thunder Metallic, Moonlight Sparkle, Cyber Grey Shimmer Wash, Foil Metallic, Chrome Metallic and Charcoal Haze. Lip colors: Pink Mist Shimmer Lip Gloss, Winter Bronze Glitter Lip Gloss, Berry Glitter Lip Gloss and Chrome Pink Shimmer Lip Gloss. Mini lip and eye brushes are also included.
8. MAC Brush Bags ($49.50) — The holidays are always a good time to stock up on MAC brushes via their holiday brush collections. With each collection costing around $50, you’re getting top-quality MAC brushes for roughly $10/brush, and most of these brushes would cost between $15-$30 normally.
-“Morning, Noon and Knight” eye brushes include brushes #194SE, 204SE, 224SE, 266SE and 275SE
-“Do The Trick” buff and line brushes include brushes #168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE and 252SE
-“Wave of a Wand” sweep and define brushes include brushes #129SE, 190SE, 212SE, 227SE and 275SE
What about you? What’s on your holiday makeup list?
-Images from nordstrom.com, sephora.com, felixrey.com and maccosmetics.com
