Product Review -- Revolution Beauty Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes

As I've said before, I definitely enjoy plenty of high-end makeup products, but there's always something exciting about finding a budget-friendly product that performs well.

Who doesn't want to save a little money when you can?

Revolution Beauty is a brand that puts out plenty of high-quality products at a very affordable price point, so I'm always willing to give their new items a try.

Their Reloaded Eyeshadow Palettes have been out for a while, and I've slowly been collecting them. I only have four at the moment, but I feel like the quality is consistent enough among those that I have to assume what the others are like as well.

The palettes are only $7 each, but you get 15 shades in each one so they're a serious value.

Product Review -- Ace Beaute Paradise Collection Classical Paradise and Blossom Paradise Eyeshadow Palettes

About a year ago, I started seeing ads on Instagram for Ace Beaute and was definitely intrigued.

The ads were mainly for the Quintessential Eyeshadow Palette, which is certainly stunning -- but I hadn't really heard anything about the brand or the quality of their products at all and I kept dragging my feet about actually making a purchase.

Fast forward several months later, when the brand released the Paradise Eyeshadow Palette Collection and not only were these palettes all gorgeous but I saw plenty of positive reviews for them, which mean I couldn't risk trying them myself.

All of the palettes are lovely, but there were two that I could see myself using more than the others so I picked up the Classical Paradise Palette and the Blossom Passion Palette.

Product Review -- Urban Decay Naked Cherry and Elements Eyeshadow Palettes

Like many makeup lovers, the news that Urban Decay was retiring the original Naked Palette left me feeling strangely emotional.

I remember how much trouble I went to get that palette, how excited I was to play with it, how it seemed to start the whole natural/neutral palette trend back in the day. I've used it a ton over the years to the point where I'd hit pan on a few of the shades (and yes, I took advantage of all discounted pricing after its retirement was announced to buy a brand spanking new one).

To drown my sorrows over the news, I bought a couple of new Urban Decay palettes -- the Naked Cherry Palette from the Naked line and the Elements Palette.

Product Review -- Strobe Cosmetics Divinity Palette

I love supporting smaller, indie makeup brands, so Strobe Cosmetics has been on my radar for a while now.

In fact, a couple of years back, I purchased their American Horror Story-inspired palettes even though I've never seen a single episode of the show -- and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.

The shadows in those palettes are richly pigmented, easy to blend, and just a dream to work with.

I'd been waiting for Strobe Cosmetics to put out other palettes, and while they introduced the Creepy Cute Palette earlier this year, I wound up passing on it because I just didn't think I'd get much use out of the neon-pastel shades in it.

So I was very excited when they came out with the Divinity Palette this fall, which had shades that were much more up my alley.

Product 411 -- New(ish) ColourPop Releases

I've been such a slacker lately that I've got a pile of products to review that's about waist-high at this point. In particular, I've got a ton of ColourPop stuff that I've bought over the past few months and haven't gotten around to writing about yet.

(Because seriously, they seem to put out a new collection every single week -- in fact, at the time I'm writing this, they're releasing a new collection tomorrow or the day after, and I know I'll probably buy some stuff from it... I just can't help myself.)

To get through my backlog a little more quickly, I figured I'd do an overview of all of these new-ish ColourPop items in one post. I also don't feel like there's a need to do an in-depth review of the items because the quality and formula is pretty consistent across the board and I've already reviewed most ColourPop product categories, so it just seems redundant.

So here's just a general rundown with some swatches. I'll be sure to point out my favorites, though.

Product 411 -- ColourPop Fame and Fortune Shadow Palettes

It's pretty hard to keep up with all of the new products that ColourPop puts out.

Don't get me wrong... I certainly try to, but they put out new items at a pretty prolific rate, so it's impossible to stay on top of all of them.

I have done a pretty good job of keeping with their shadow palettes (I think there's only one in the line that I haven't snagged yet), though, so I picked up the Fame and Fortune Shadow Palettes that ColourPop put out for their birthday.

One of them features cool-toned shadows! How could I possibly resist?

Product Review Roundup -- PUR Soiree Diaries, Pur PRO x Etienne, PUR x Boxycharm, Visionary, and Creator Eyeshadow Palettes

Note: My apologies for the lack of posts last week. I was swamped with work and feeling a bit under the weather, so I needed quite a few naps... which ate into my blogging time. ;)

A few years ago, I bought a PUR Minerals eyeshadow palette on a whim, though I'd never tried any products from the brand before.

I quite liked the palette, and actually still use it to this day.

But despite a pretty positive experience with the brand, I never tried any more PUR products ... until recently.

Over the past several months, I went on a little bit of a binge and picked up not one, not two, but five PUR eyeshadow palettes since the end of last year. Instead of doing individual palettes for each of them, I figured I'd group them all together just to make it a little easier.

Product Review Roundup -- Too Faced Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, Natural Face Palette, and Natural Nudes Lipstick

I tried to resist Too Faced's It Just Comes Naturally Natural Beauty Collection, really I did, but between the natural inspired makeup shades and gorgeous packaging, I just couldn't do it.

Since both of the eye shadow palettes were essentially re-releases, I couldn't justify buying both of them just to see if the new formula with coconut butter was really any different, so I wound up buying the Natural Matte Eye Shadow Palette, which had seven new shades. (The Natural Eyes Eye Shadow Palette, with both matte and shimmer shadows, has all repeat shades from the previous Natural Eyes Palette, which I already own).

The packaging for the palette is absolutely lovely -- instead of the old tin box compact, it's housed in a plastic compact with a lace design and gold embossed details. There is a nice large mirror inside too. The palette is slightly difficult to open, though.

Product Review -- Profusion Mixed Metals Palette in Nude

I spend a lot of money on makeup, and I don't really have any qualms about doing so, but I still loving finding bargain.

There really isn't anything quite as exciting as good makeup at an affordable price, is there?

Well, in terms of makeup things anyway.

So I was intrigued when I spotted the Profusion Mixed Metals Palettes at Target near the holidays.

I've heard quite a bit about the Profusion brand over the years, but I'd never actually tried anything myself, so I figured it was as good a time as any to bite the bullet.

The palette is actually part of a kit that also includes a shadow primer, blending brush, and an eyeliner pencil, which I'm not sure is still available at Target, but you can still get it on the Profusion website.

Product 411: ColourPop Element of Surprise and You Had Me At Hello Shadow Palettes

Note: So I've fallen embarrassingly behind on products that I've been meaning to review, and instead of just skipping over them entirely, I thought I might do the occasional round-up where I do mini-reviews for multiple products -- sometimes from the same brand, something from the same product category -- in one post. 

That way, I can still share my thoughts on noteworthy items without needing until next Christmas to get caught up. ;)

At this point, I should probably just admit that I'm a dedicated collector of ColourPop's pressed eyeshadow palettes.

I'm pretty sure that I have everyone they've done at this point.

But I can't really feel guilty about it because the quality is always outstanding and the prices can't be beat.

I mean, 12 shadows for $16 (in most cases anyway) -- how can you beat that?

Like all of the the other ColourPop palettes that I've tried, the two that I'm going to talk about in this post feature a pretty great formula. The shadows are all extremely pigmented -- and they're smooth and creamy too.

Product 411: ColourPop Yes, Please! and She Pressed Powder Shadow Palettes

I've already expressed my affection for the ColourPop Pressed Powder Shadows so I was pretty excited when they came out with larger shadow palettes that contained 12 shadows.

There's not much point in a doing a full blown review of these palettes, though, because the shadow formula is essentially the same as the single shadows, but I did think it might help folks who are on the fence about them to do a quick little rundown with some swatches.

At the moment, both the Yes, Please! and She Palettes are out of stock, but ColourPop has been restocking them pretty regularly, so if you're interested, keep an eye out.

Product 411 -- Juvia's Place Nubian 2 and Masquerade Eye Shadow Palettes

Several months back, I reviewed the Nubian Eye Shadow Palette from Juvia's Place.

I absolutely love that palette, which contains richly pigmented, creamy shadows in warm, natural tones like copper, rust, and bronze, and I've been meaning to pick up some of the brand's other palettes for a while.

When Juvia's Place was on Haute Look recently, I couldn't resist picking up the Nubian 2 and Masquerade Palettes.

I'm not going to do full-fledged review of these palettes because the shadow formula is exactly the same in these as the shadows in the original Nubian Palette -- which is to say, absolutely, completely amazing -- but I thought it might be helpful to show some swatches of the shadows in case you've been thinking about picking up either or both of the palettes.

Product Review -- Estee Lauder Gritty and Glow Magnetic Eye and Face Palettes

During the Sephora VIB sale a month ago, I tried to focus on getting products that I've been wanting to try for a while.

But I'm a makeup palette junkie so I couldn't resist the opportunity to add another to my collection at a discount.

And the Estee Lauder Gritty and Glow Magnetic Eye and Face Palettes seemed the best way to go because you get both eye and face products in two separate compacts.

It'd been quite a while since I'd tried an Estee Lauder product too, so it was the perfect time to try the brand again.

Product Review -- Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection

I am pretty much obsessed with warm eye shadow shades.

That's because I have blue eyes, so anything with reddish or orange-y undertones makes them pop like nobody's business. Peach shadows are my absolute favorite, but rusty or red browns are also high on my list.

So when I first heard about Too Faced's Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection, I knew I had to have it.

As its name implies, the palette is inspired by everyone's favorite sandwich, peanut butter and jelly, so it's mainly warm shades, including Peanut Butter from the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette, with a couple of purple shades throw in to represent jelly.

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection is one of Too Faced's smaller palettes that comes in a metal tin. The packaging is adorable, as always, and there's a small mirror and instruction booklet inside with look ideas.

Product Review -- Make Up For Ever Artist Palettes Vol. 1 & Vol. 3

A while back -- a year ago... maybe two? Sometimes, I lose track of time with all the new makeup coming out all the time -- Make Up For Ever reformulated their eye shadows.

Of course, I wanted to try them, and at the time, they put out a little rectangular palette that had five or six of the new Artist Shadows in them that I purchased so I could try several shades at once. I liked them quite a bit and kept meaning to try some of the individual shadows.

With all the other makeup out there, I never got around to it.

So when Make Up Forever put out their Artist Palettes, which contain nine shades from their permanent line, I decided I had to give them a try -- because each shadow in the palette contains 0.06 grams of product, while the individual shadows contain 0.07.

Which means you're getting nine, nearly full size shadows that retail for $21 each for just $44.

That's a pretty amazing value.

Product Review -- Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette

With so many nude, neutral, or natural palettes on the market these days, it's kind of refreshing when a collection of shadows comes out that actually features bolder, brighter hues.

And I say that as someone who doesn't really rock colorful looks all that often (with my incredibly pale skin, the look is usually more clown-like than fierce).

It's just nice to have some options.

So when I had a Sephora gift card that needed spending, I decided to go a little outside my usual box and pick up the Urban Decay Urban Spectrum Eyeshadow Palette.

While most of UD's palettes seem to contain a mix of natural and brighter tones, the Urban Spectrum Palette really only has four natural/neutral shades -- but it's such a gorgeous collection of colors that I think it'll appeal to plenty of people.

Product Review -- LORAC Nude Necessities Eye Shadow Palette

I don't know about you, but it feels like the whole nude/natural eye shadow palette trend has been going on forever.

Not that I'm complaining, really -- those types of palettes tend to get the most use in my collection because they work well for pretty much any situation and I can always come up with a look that flatters my fair skin.

But at the rate we're going, I'm going to have a ton of nude/natural palettes before long -- and I bet other makeup junkies feel the same way.

Of course, I could just stop buying them, but like a true makeup fiend, I have a compulsion to try all the new stuff that there is and since makeup brands keep coming up with nude palettes, I keep trying them.

Enter the LORAC Nude Necessities Eye Shadow Palette.

Product Review -- Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette

I've mentioned before that I've been obsessed with blush palettes recently.

I mean, I've always liked blush, but there's something about having several pretty shades all in one convenient place that just really makes me happy these days.

So as much as I told myself that I didn't need the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette (I already have 101 blush shades ... could there really be any unique shade in this one?), I wound up caving. 

Because I absolutely love the UD Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette, and the blush version has the same sturdy plastic packaging with the cool black-and-white cutout design under clear plastic for a polka dot effect and gold accents, including an antiqued metal label with the palette name.

In other words, it's totally the kind of palette that looks fabulous sitting out on your vanity.

Product Review -- Maybelline The Blushed Nudes and The Rock Nudes Eyeshadow Palettes

When Maybelline introduced their first 12-pan shadow palette, The Nudes, a couple of years back, I immediately picked it up.

I was very excited by the prospect of a drugstore brand making a real, honest to goodness palette, so I was eager to try it.

I liked The Nudes, but I was overly impressed by the shadows so when Maybelline released The Blushed Nudes Palette about a year ago, I didn't pick it up even though the colors really appealed to me.

When I saw new The Rock Nudes Palette at Ulta recently, I decided that maybe it was time to try to the Maybelline palettes again -- and since they were BOGO-half off, I picked up The Blush Nudes too.

Product Review -- CoverGirl Tru Naked Eyeshadow Palettes

There are so many exciting, intriguing new products at the drugstore these days that I feel like I wind up picking up something every time I stop by CVS, Walgreen's, or Target for toothpaste or deodorant.

It's a problem only fellow makeup junkies will understand.

When it comes to new products, though, the ones that I've probably been most excited to try are CoverGirl's Tru Naked Eyeshadow Palettes.

Because, to be honest, I haven't really enjoyed a CoverGirl eyeshadow since I was a teenager -- and that's years and years ago.

The Tru Naked Palettes come in three shades: Nudes, Goldens, and Roses. They are clearly meant to mimic Urban Decay's Naked Palettes, though they have fewer shadows (8 vs. 12) and don't have exact shade-for-shade dupes in my opinion.