Palettes, particularly of the eye shadow variety, are very covetable. I just want to look at them lovingly and imagine being able to use them really well, with an artistic flourish. The reality is that for someone fairly obsessed with beauty products, I’m not great at applying makeup. I’m more of a five-minute face for the school run kinda gal…
However, I’ve realised that having a lot of shades together doesn’t make things more complicated – it makes things easier. So if you’re in the mood to buy yourself a present this autumn, or can wait until Christmas, may I suggest one of these beauties?
First up is a work of art from Clarins. It’s called The Essentials Mineral Eye Make-Up Palette (£35) and I honestly don’t know where to start with this. It has ten shades. Yes, ten. And diagrams to help you work out where to put them. Plus, it’s got a mirror and a normal, long brush not a silly little one. I want to marry it.
Also boasting ten shades and a decent size brush is Anna Sui Eye Color Palette (£14). Now you wouldn’t feel embarrassed pulling this out of your handbag: it’s just so gorgeously vintage. The colours are wonderfully autumnal too – love the greeny olive shade which makes blue eyes pop.
Clinique have a limited edition Christmas makeup collection called Nutcracker, which goes on sale on the 28th November. This is seriously lovely stuff, and my pick from the range are the two palettes, Act 1 and Act 2. Pictured is Act 1 (£23), which I can’t wait to get stuck into, the purple shade is the perfect smoky eye alternative to grey and the blusher is a clever addition.
Mary Kay have a great idea – you buy a palette for £12.50 and fill it how you like, with eye shades, blusher, a bronzer… up to you. I was lucky enough to get my makeup done last week with fantastic Mark Kay products and I’ve chosen six eye shades in wonderful neutrals like this to see me through the winter.
Finally, another limited edition Christmas cracker from Lancôme: Hypnôse Drama Eyes Parisian Lights (£37). Looks fancy – and is fancy – but it also comes with fool-proof step-by-step instructions using a combination of the sponge and brushes, dry and wet. You shall go to the ball.
