Random Swatching - Spot the Cheap Stuff

I was at CVS yesterday and I'm not really sure what possessed me but suddenly I looked down and had 2 Wet n Wild holiday palettes in my hand.  Oh, yes I do... it was the red eyeshadow.  I wanted *NEEDED* that red eyeshadow.  I figured at $5 it was no big risk so held on to them and ended up buying them. 

Anyone that reads this blog or knows me, knows that I am a label whore.  It's not something I'm proud of - choosing form over function, being a makeup purist, a snob, whatever you want to call it - it's just the way it is.  I used to rationalize it by saying that if I was going to pay $12 for a drugstore product, I might as well just go buy department store brands.  Sounded good to my ears anyway.

Now, when anyone asks me, I tell the truth.  The truth is this:  There are probably many good drugstore products out there and I've come across a few but I always end up giving them away because I can't stand to see WnW or Revlon bumping uglies with my Chantecaille, Dior and Chanel.  There, I said it.  The packaging on almost all drugstore products (except in the asian brands) is sorely lacking.  I buy makeup not because I need it but because I like it.  I like pretty, sparkly, girly things and if I'm going to blow my money on non-essential items, then I'm going all out!

Anyway, I did come home with these WnW palettes and I have to say that I was impressed.  There were 3-4 very good quality shadows in both palettes and 2-3 sucky ones.  Honestly, the same thing happens in Dior quints.  Bad news, the red one (the whole reason I got sucked in) was a piece of shit. 

Up above, you saw some swatches on my hand.  Are there any cheap ones on there?  Are there any high end?  Am I just messing with your head?  :)  Go up and look again and see what you think.  I'm going to give the answers below.
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OK, ya back?  Made your decisions? 

1 = Dior (Endless Shine Quint)
2 = WnW (Coloricon Palette)
3 =  Dior (Endless Shine Quint)
4 = WnW (Coloricon Palette)
5 = Dior (Endless Shine Quint)
6 = WnW (Coloricon Palette)

I wasn't trying to dupe colors, just pulling colors that I had handy and that were in the same color families.  Did you have it right?  I was pretty impressed with the WnW.

Here are some more pics.
7 = Bobbi Brown
8 = WnW
9 = Bobbi Brown
10 = WnW
11 = Chantecaille
12 = WnW
13 = Chantecaille
14 = WnW
15 = WnW

Givenchy Le Prisme in Khaki Egerie - Thoughts, Pics, Swatches

I passed these testers probably a hundred times and never had any interest. Until one day, Khaki Egerie drew my eye and pulled me in. If you've used Givenchy eyeshadow quads in the past, you know what I' m talking about... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, prepare to be cursed out, jeered and discarded."

So, all that in mind, it's amazing that I even took a look at these. The colors of this particular quad though are absolutely bloody gorgeous and they demand to be sweet-talked and stroked.

Breakdown:
✓ Packaging - Boxy and elegant, typical Givenchy
✓ Color Scheme - Beautiful, all colors work well together or you could mix any 2, or a wash of 1.
✓ Texture - Very soft, not too powdery, not chalky.  Just smooth and soft.
✓ Pigmentation - Very pigmented. Not stain your skin kind of pigmentation but you don't have to pack it on.
✓ Pricing - Expensive at $56 but about the norm for a high end quad.  (I'll never rank something crappy b/c it's expensive.  I knew what it cost when I got it. )

Bottom Line:  I'd say this one is worth the price.  I'm not sure about the others because there's nothing terribly unique or enchanting amongst the remaining quads.  If you can find a deal, fo for it!

Dior Pink Golds Minaudiere Palette Holiday 2010 Swatches

This is a quality piece, a collectible to be sure.  The compact is heavy and beautiful.  I love the little hinged cover over the lipglosses.  I normally hate mixed palettes because I hate the powder migrating into the creams.  Yuck. 

When I first opened the palette, I was a bit disappointed.  On first touch, it feels a bit chalky.  I think you're going to have to play with these a little bit to see which applicator/method works best for you.  I can normally make just about anything work with my fingers.... not this.  It did work extremely well with the sponge applicator included.  I haven't tried a brush yet.  The colors are gorgeous.  I'd call the darkest and medium shades metallic rather than frosty.  The lightest shade is on the frosty side.   The lipglosses seem nice and suit the palette well. 

Bottom Line:  Colors are excellent and all work well together.  Texture (after the initial dip) is fairly soft and well pigmented.  Not a must have unless you are a collector.  I think all of the colors are dupeable.  What cannot be duped is the luxe packaging - and those of us that are high end hoors know that's sometimes one of the biggest deciding factors before making a purchase. :)

Dior Tailleur Bar Palette & Serum de Rouge

This palette is amazing. I'll add pics a little bit later of the packaging & the palette itself. The colors are gorgeous and the quality far surpasses anything I've laid eyes/hands on from Dior.... ever. They are creamy soft (but still powder) and intensely pigmented except for the fleshtone one which I just can't really get to in order to provide a good swatch. $90 is steep. Do you NEED it? No. But you know you want it. :D

How to Depot Rock & Republic Eyeshadow & Blush

I know that depotting these e/s from their awesome packaging is unthinkable but I have too many eyeshadows now to sift through all of them trying to find the colors I want.

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow Swatches

Bobbi Brown Day to Night Cool Eye Palette

I generally don't pay any attention to Bobbi Brown because her stuff usually bores me.  When I saw the swatches for these from KarlaSugar I knew I had to have at least one palette. 

I have to say I am not disappointed.  The colors are gorgeous and have great pigmentation.  They're soft and easy to work with.  The black (Charcoal) is by far the deepest, most velvety black I've ever tried.

This beauty is $45 and limited edition so grab it while you can.  

Chantecaille Eyeshadow Swatches - Palette d'Olivia & Sylvia

Chantecaille Eyeshadow Swatches (Tigers in the Wild, Les Dauphins, Sylvie's Personal)

Chantecaille Papillon Single Swatches (Bleu & Violet)

A Quint A Day: Day 3- Dior Smoky Crystal

If you love silvers and silvery taupes, this is the quint for you!  I love this one.  It's one of the newer ones that is up to the old quint quality.  Every shadow is soft and pigmented.  Fantastic colors.

Grade:  A+

A Quint A Day: Day 2 - Dior Petal Shine

One of my favorite quints.  I love the iridescence of this one and the colors are wonderful.  Every color in this palette is wearable and they all coordinate very well with one another.

GRADE:  A

Guerlain Place Vendome EOTD

I used the palette exclusively for this. No other products, except mascara. :)

A Quint A Day: Day 1 - Dior Misty Mauve

I've decided to feature a Dior Quint per day w/ pics & swatches.  At the end, I'll assign a "grade" as to how I feel about it.  Misty Mauve is very nice.  Not a favorite, because some of the shadows aren't as soft as the older palettes.  In general, the newer ones have been rather disappointing

Grade:  B

Guerlain Fall Eyeshadow Palettes - Sevres, Vendome, Passy

(click to enlarge)

I wanted to put all of these in one place to show the differences between the palettes.  I chose not to get Champs or the warm one (can't remember the name) though it's been difficult abstaining.  :)  These palettes have made me love Guerlain so much more.  I always liked many of their products, but felt that their eyeshadow was lacking.  They definitely have a winner with this formulation and I hope they continue to crank them out.

Chantecaille Palette d'Olivia

(click to enlarge)

I love this palette.  The shadows are all very smooth and finely milled and well pigmented.  The colors are gorgeous.  I imagine this being the perfect travel and everyday palette.  I will swatch it tomorrow and add photos.

Colors are:

• Perle
• Granite
• Quartz
• Obsidian
• Tanzanite
• Peony
• Zinc
• Joy Blush

Guerlain Rue de Passy EOTD