True, there are many lovely holiday gifts out there now for the beauty junkies in your life (and that includes yourself!), but not all of them offer the added bonus of simultaneously helping others.
Chances are your resident makeup loving do-gooder pal will love the assortment of 10 wearable beige, brown and taupe mineral eyeshadows in the new $45 Clarins The Essentials Palette, and when she hears about how Clarins partnered with the PurProject organization to help preserve the Kuntanawa culture and ecosystem in Brazil, she’ll appreciate the gift even more.
According to PurPuroject and Clarins, the Kuntanawa people of the Amazon basin in Brazil heavily depend on the forest for their livelihood, and today they struggle to maintain their culture as deforestation threatens their environment.
Clarins has vowed to plant 10,000 trees to preserve the Kuntanawa culture and ecosystem, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this limited edition palette going to support the initiative.
But the feel-good factor doesn’t stop there. The palette itself has eco-friendly flair, like reusable packaging made from eco-friendly cardboard (the eyeshadows pop out when you’re finished with them, allowing you to reuse the box) and a dual-tipped brush made from sustainable birch wood and recycled aluminum.
As for the eyeshadows themselves, they include a smattering of warmer shades, which I’m wearing here, but for the most part, the palette leans neutral/cool.
The finishes are primarily satins and pearls, with a couple of mattes dropped in for contrast.
The textures blend like butter, and I like the delicate shine of the shimmery shadows. Nothing here is overly frosty, keeping the overall effect elegant.
I do have to contend with some minor fallout…but it’s not something a quick swipe of a makeup wipe can’t fix.
The Essentials definitely delivers as an everyday eye palette, particularly if you like cool-toned grayish taupes and neutral golden browns.
PRICE: $45
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Clarins counters and coming soon to clarins.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen! Lovely makeup as usual. 🙂 I’m in the market for a great basic pallette. Which one would you recommend? I was considering the UD Naked 1, the Lorac Pro, the new LE Laura Mercier one, and the Clarins reviewed here. Or would you rather recommand starting a MAC pallette? Thank you!!
These swatch so beautifully.
It’s always a major bonus when a beauty product/brand helps people, in addition to being awesome on its own. This is great!
Very pretty! I’m curious about the mascara, how do you like it?
This is such a great, useable palette. The cause that Clarins partnered with only makes it more lovely.
I’m loving those swatches.
*gasps* I love this! I thought I was all neutral-ed out after getting my Too Faced “Natural at Night” & UD Naked2 palettes, but I want to get my hands on this!! Might just have to ask Santa to bring it to me this Christmas… 😉
OMG another neutral palette that I need!! UGh so pretty!!!!
That’s very pretty!! 🙂
Pretty Pretty palette!But I dont need any more nuetrals 🙁
I love, love, LOVE such makeup on you! And also was happy to see that Clarins brought out such palette, one of my favourite brands.
Lovely palette.. the warmer shades suits u so well.. 🙂 🙂
Such initiatives taken by brands really do a great help… kudos to clarins.. )
Okay, I LOVE this!! And the stripes on that packaging is making me want this even more!
This looks like Lorac Unzipped on steroids! Very nice!!! I would be thrilled if someone gifted me this, but I am not sure I’d run out and buy it for myself. Very pretty, though.
I really loved the whole “project” (palette + PurProject organization)!!! I hope I can put my hand on it… great colors and a chance to help my culture in only one time!!! Sounds perfect!!!
Karen, I love that shirt! PLEASE tell me where you got it!
What a gorgeous palette!
Very versatile and wearable colours in this palette. I stopped by a Clarins counter and don’t see it yet but I hope it arrives in Canada soon. 🙂