Since a picture’s worth a thousand words, here’s how I feel about Laura Mercier’s new Colour Wardrobe Dual Decker Colour for Eyes & Cheeks…
The thing is, it’s $125.
Uh… Yeah. Ouch.
And it’s not like there aren’t any other holiday sets out there now that cost a lot less. There are, but if you want something comprehensive for your eyes and cheeks that you could use every single day, don’t overlook this two-tiered kit outright, despite its price.
It’s brimming with rich purples and chocolaty browns, and sprinkled with pink, taupe and navy. Plus, the included travel brushes are actually worth keeping! They’re surprisingly soft. I almost always ditch the brushes that come with holiday kits because they’re usually scratchy and…just not up to par, but I think the eye brushes that come with this apply and blend just as well as Laura’s full-sized brushes.
WOOT! Bomb-@ss brushes to go with some bomb-@ss makeup. Who’d a thunk it?
Starting with the eye colors in the first tier…it’s African Violet, huzzah!
LOL! OK, you’re probably about as sick of seeing African Violet as I am (I swear, it must be in half of Laura’s kits). I love ya, L-Boogie, but please, can we take a break from African Violet already? At least for a few months? 🙂
Aside from that little quibble, I think the eyeshadows are tops. Every one has the brand’s signature smooth, easy-to-blend formula, where you literally swipe your blending brush once or twice, and the colors melt together. As with Laura’s Artist’s Palette, I actually have to resist the urge to over-blend these.
And I barely notice any fallout at all — a smidgen, but it’s not enough to annoy me.
The eyeshadow finishes range from mattes, to shimmers and lustres, and the colors, predominantly purples and browns, lean neutral and cool, in terms of color temps.
But if you have warm skin tone, don’t let that dissuade you. With a little help from one of the products in the second tier, the big pan of Golden Shimmer, you should totally be able to pull off these colors.
Technically, warm bronzy Golden Shimmer is a highlighter, but I’ve been using it as a transition eyeshadow, by sweeping it into my crease. I think its warm tones go well with the purples and browns in the palette, even the navy blue and the taupes.
As for the rest of the palette, I think the blushes are great (and blend really well), the cake liners are a breeze to use, and the little brown eyeliner stays put along my lash lines (but along my water lines, not so much).
If you have the extra cheddar, you could do a ton of different looks with the colors in this kit. It’s way wearable, and I like that the shades aren’t your run-of-the-mill brown and beige ensemble. That, and they aren’t excessively cool-toned, or so light that ladies (and gents) with medium or dark skin tones wouldn’t be able to wear them.
PRICE: $125
AVAILABILITY: Available now online and at Laura Mercier counters
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
African Violet is to Laura Mercier as Orgasm is to NARS. Le sigh. Moving on. Four of those eyeshadows were in last year’s Artist Palette, which I still feel is a winner over this year for having more variety in the shades. This set looks amazing, and I’m really feeling the packaging. I can totally see buying this if I had a job that requires traveling regularly. How amazing would it be to stash this thing in a carry-on and always have it available?
At first I was like, “eh…” when I saw the way the colors looked in the pan. But then I saw the swatches.
Still way out of my price range.
I love the way your eye brows look! So natural and full 🙂
Wowza!!! That one I could definitely go for! I love cool tones like these, gorgeous!
This looks nice, but its a lot of dough. I’ll have to skip out, plus how many pans of African Violet can one girl own?
Happy Hump Day!
I love how the swatches look, and how its packaged.
Yup! Nice set. Have to agree on African Violet and the fluffy brushes. Last year’s Glamour wardrobe came home with me when NOrdstrom’s put it on sale. That one has cream blushes and lip gloss on the bottom but no liners. Last year’s also was a hard case that zipped closed- perfect for travel. But that metal screw that slides around to open the second layer broke in no time. Boo! But at least with my set I can zip it closed to keep it all contained. this one, not so much. However, if it goes on sale post- holiday… I might go for it, African Violet and all.
Nyc shades and brushes look lovely!
The swatches are amazing!
We didn’t get the Artist’s Palette in Europe, much to my intense grief. We got this instead. I’m skipping.
Alison M is right on with her African Violet-Orgasm analogy LOL!
Just the perfect palette <3 Sadly, it's way out of my budget. Hope more brands embrace this idea of a wearable shades to achieve a whole look in a palette – like this one, and the UD Face case, for example 🙂
I love the packaging, but the actual kit just seems okay to me. It doesn’t look like something I would get much use from.
It seems like a really versatile kit – and I definitely like the packaging. I’m not in the market for shadows but, if I were, I’d definitely check this one out.
Love that it includes some decent brushes too!
Whoa! These colors look amazing on you, Karen! I just bought this palette like 2 days ago, but I haven’t start anything with it apart from just opening it and oggling at the gorgeous colors. And I agree, the brushes are awesome. 🙂 Wonderful review, thanks so much!!
Hi Karen, I already have mine, in Australia this kit is only $98AUD.
Love how it has very usable products…but wish the colors were more warm/rich…