I.love.eyeshadow.palettes… I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect one for as long as I can remember. You know the perfect pearly shimmer to brighten the inner eye, and a golden shade to warm your skin tone, with the perfect bronzey brown to contour the eyelid … Oh and a deep smokey shade to touch up eyebrows, and define your eyeline. I favour a smooth powder texture with just the right amount of shimmer, and I tend to apply them with my favourite Laura Mercier Ponytail brush for a natural blended look (although I have been known to become quite fond of those little freebie applicators that make up artists hate).
Of all the beauty products in my makeup bag it’s probably my ultimate desert island essential. When you travel as much as I do, every little extra space counts, and over the years I’ve become quite the master packer, so an all-in-one eye palette is a top tip. Maybe one day I’ll get to make my very own perfect eye palette (but would it be perfect for everyone…?) In the meantime, check out my current favourites and let me know if you’ve found one that I just have to try!
1: Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palettes
The ultimate goddess of make up founded her eponymous make up range in 2013 and it became a beauty world gamechanger. I honestly think it’s one of the most clever ranges, from a consumer point of view (and from a commercial one too)! Charlotte draws on her roster of beauty “looks” and provides all of the products you’ll need to recreate each look at home. (An idea which I’ve heard nearly every big name make up artist is kicking themselves for not developing!) It’s super easy to buy just one more product (see how it’s a commercial gamechanger too) but the core item for each look is the eyeshadow palette. My favourites are The Golden Goddess for a natural, glowing daytime look and The Dolce Vita for a warm, sultry, smokey look
2: Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Palettes
Smashbox Cosmetics has some serious beauty credentials. It was founded in 1996 by Dean and Davis Factor, the great grandsons of Hollywood makeup legend Max Factor, as an add-on to their LA-based Smashbox Studios where some of the most iconic images have been shot. I feel like Smashbox has always been famous for their primers, which I used to pick up on trips to the States (the original is still one of the best and the new Radiance Primer gives the perfect golden hour glow!) but the rest of the range has some real star buys too. I love their Full Exposure Mascara, and the Always Sharp Eyeliner is the best… but back to eyeshadow palettes. They recently released the Cover Shot Eye Palettes in a range of colours and textures, from tropical brights to natural mattes, and my favourites: the warm toned palettes with a subtle shimmer. Try Golden Hour or Metallic to create a range of adaptable summer glow looks.
Suqqu is a fabulous range of skincare and beauty products which promotes the Japanese cultural tradition of inner composure and serenity by enhancing your natural beauty. I discovered the brand last year and after trying a couple of products I was hooked. Each look starts with their Gankin Massage (click here to learn more). Based on the theory that stiff facial muscles limit lymph flow which causes the skin to sag, it’s perfect to reduce puffiness, boost circulation and tighten pores before you even get started with your makeup. They have a great selection of foundation formulas but of course it’s the eyeshadow palettes that I really love. The Designing Colour quad in Yuushakuyaku is my favourite, with it’s shimmery texture and a soft pink shade that brightens the eyes and blends beautifully with the other colours.
