What They Say: "Spring beauty has never looked fresher. This sleek mirrored palette has everything you need to create Bobbi's Pink Raspberry Look -- making it the season's must-have.

Features cool, neutral shadows and sheer, pink raspberry shades for lips and cheeks that are universally flattering for a range of complexions. All shades are only available in this palette: Navajo and Fog Eye Shadows; Pink Raspberry Blush; and Raspberry and Blue Raspberry Lip Sheers. (Limited quantities available.)"

Jen's Experience: When I saw this look passing by the Bobbi Brown counter, I knew this was something I wanted to try. But when I opened the palette, I was surprised by the colors. The eyeshadows, while cool and neutral and generally useful shades to have, seemed to be an odd choice to match the bright pink blush and lip gloss. And the blush, while gorgeous, was so shockingly pink that I knew it would take some time to master the application. It took me perhaps three applications to get the look right, but once I did, I couldn't have been more pleased with the results.

The eye colors -- which, incidentally, are quite similar to the MAC ones I reviewed Tuesday -- are a great nude for work with any blush and lip combination. They're dense with color and are so soft that they apply like a dream. The blush was difficult to apply as I suspected, but once mastered delivered the perfect healthy pink glow to my cheeks. It seemed like the color that the Smashbox O-Glow was aiming for but didn't quite achieve. My biggest disappointment was with the lip colors, which are a little too solid to easily apply. I had to break out a lip brush for them to get a good amount of color, which isn't really a good option for the road, so I couldn't reapply during the day. Their waxy texture made them not as moisturizing as I'd like either, but that was easily remedied by using a good quality balm before application.

The end result is a look so pretty that I would wear it anywhere from work to a date to shopping at the mall. For those with a cool complexion and fair skin, this is an all-purpose palette that will look great for seasons to come.

Retail Price: (BobbiBrown.com or your local department store counter)

Rating:

What They Say: "A mix of best-selling and exclusive colours - four eyeshadows, four lip colours and one blush - combine in two shade harmonies that transition smoothly from day to evening."

Jen's Experience: I have a vast collection of Chanel products in my bathroom drawer, and they tend to be what I reach for when I am getting ready in the morning. Even with my high hopes, this palette exceeded my expectations. The eyeshadows in particular are spectacular; they seem to work with everything in my wardrobe. The blush, which to the eye looks like it will be sort of understated, packs quite a punch when applied (in quite a nice shade). The lip glosses are okay and do coordinate nicely with the eyeshadow and blush, although I have never been a huge fan of cake lip gloss, so that's not something I will be using as much as the other items. The palette is packed in the usual velvet Chanel bag, and also includes a lip, blush, and eyeshadow brush. The brushes are okay, but I might have expected more for the cost. I would recommend using your own brushes when possible to deliver the best color. That's a pretty minor complaint, though, and overall, I think this is an excellent palette for yourself or a gift if you've got the cash.

Retail Price: $85.00 (CHANEL.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This limited edition palette wrapped in faux croc (a must have fabric for Fall) provides 2 complete looks inspired by fashion week in New York and Paris, including eyeshadow, lipstick and blush. The Ready-to-Wear palette also includes the basic necessities accompanying every look: mini lights, camera, lashes mascara, all over eyeshadow brush, eyeliner brush and a mini rest assured eyeliner. All products are created using natural, good for you ingredients because healthy skin is always in fashion. "

 

i love new york:
lipsticks: muted pink beige, muted peach-beige
blush: warm honey-peach
eyeshadows: soft-shimmery bone, shimmery olive, deep-shimmery moss

paris, mon amour:
lipsticks: warm burgundy rose, currant red
blush: rose coral
eyeshadows: soft-shimmery pink, shimmery grey-purple, shimmery deep plum

Jen's Experience: I have a lot of make-up in my purse. Somewhere between 3 and 10 lip glosses and lipsticks depending on the last time I cleaned out my purse, plus concealer, mascara, blush and some powder. I was intrigued by the idea of this product, as a nice, compact palette that contains everything I need to do a touch up. But I gotta say, I was pretty bummed out with the results. I really, really liked the eyeshadows that were included in the set, but generally disappointed with the accompanying brushes. The mascara was pretty good (and I really have a problem with most). It had a nice dark color and actually stayed on my eyelashes throughout the day. But I thought the Rest Assured eyeliner pulled too much when I tried to apply it, and really didn't create enough of an effect to be worth it. The blush and lp colors looked great in the palette, but I found it difficult to get any amount of color out of either. Overall, the set is a mixed bag, and I think I would get better results from just adding some of Tarte's eyecolor and mascara to my cosmetic bag.

Retail Price: $44.00 (TarteCosmetics.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Drawing inspiration from Armani's exquisite collection of leather accessories, the eye mania palette features four versatile shades encased in a luxurious black snakeskin print compact. This elegant eye shadow palette is an accessory all on its own; a unique expression of the Armani style. The collection of pink and violet hues in matte, satin, and shimmering finishes creates a sophisticated look for Fall 2007. Limited Edition.

Eye Shadow Shades:
satin pink beige
soft shimmering pink
matte deep purple
matte ashwood

Application Techniques:
Apply matte ashwood all over your eyelid, blending matte deep purple into your crease and soft shimmering pink above the crease. Finish by adding satin pink beige into the inner corners of your eye."

Melissa Says: It was as if this palette was created just to make me happy. The colors just happen to contain the shades that look best with my eye color, and they apply more smoothly than any shadow I've used. Not only does this shadow blend beautifully, but there is not a crease to be found after wearing it for hours. True, this is more than most of us are typically prepared to spend for shadow on a regular basis, but the luxury of the formula combined with the beautiful shades and pretty compact make this a splurge that's worth it if you're looking to spoil yourself. If this selection of colors doesn't work as well for your coloring, I would still highly recommend one of the other versions of Eye Mania palletes.

(Click pic to enlarge.)

Retail Price: $65.00 (at giorgioarmanibeauty.com or go here to find a select retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Vasanti's latest eye colour palette uses distinctive reflex sparkles that provide a super brilliant reflection of dazzling shimmer. 5 gorgeous colour-rich shades that can be used as eyeshadows or eyeliners. Mix & match and have some fun!"

Toya’s Take: In my earlier review of Vasanti products, I let you know how much I love this new make-up brand. The eyeshadow palette did not disappoint. What’s so great is that the colors look on your face like they look in the palette – the colors are very “true” and saturated. Know that there are no matte shades in this palette – this palette is for the woman who wants brilliant color with some sparkle and shimmer. I have used it to create a smoky green eye and a smoky blue eye, suitable for evenings. I also have used it as stage-worthy make-up to great success. Vasanti is well worth the money.

Retail Price: $38 (at vasanticosmetics.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: The Sue Devitt Holiday Palette is packed with seasonal must-haves in cool-weather colors. Palette comes complete with two silky shades of eyeshadow, two coordinating lip glosses, and new transitional gel-to-powder blush, along with a convenient mirror.

Jamie’s Thoughts: This is my first experience with Sue Devitt Studio, and I am officially hooked. I took this compact on a business trip, along with some mascara, and needed nothing more. That’s how versatile this palette is!

Each product is totally fantastic in its own way. The lip glosses are super smooth, and very sheer – they make my lips look like a better version of normal. Not a good choice for ladies who prefer strong color, but definitely a top choice for neutral girls.

The eyeshadows came in two neutral shades. One is a khaki hue, the other a light peach. The peach is all wrong for my skin tone (too pink), but would be incredible on anyone with a dark or olive complexion. The khaki color is GOR-GEOUS. These shadows go on smooth as silk, don’t accumulate in the creases of the eye, and the khaki also makes a wonderful, subtle brow bone highlighter.

As they say, save the best for last…the blush is unbelievable. It’s amazing – it goes on substantially with very little product or effort. The color is quite natural, and somewhat similar to NARS’ favorite “Orgasm.” Don’t be turned off by the descriptor “gel to powder,” because it looks and acts just like regular blush. That is, until I put it on my face (using a standard blush brush). It’s so smooth, and it lasts all day, no joke. I’ve officially shelved my NARS for this blush, and if that’s not a strong enough statement, I don’t know what is.

Add a big mirror, and an adorable powder blue compact, and you’ve got a serious contender here. It is totally worth the purchase price, and then some.

Price: $28.00 (ULTA)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This shimmering eye palette creates a soft sultry eye that is perfect for all seasons. This kit contains a white with gold flecks highlighter; peach-pink, bronze, and gold green shadow as beautiful accents, lid, or contour colors and finish by lining with a stunning deep aubergine."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: With a quartet of shades that are not only wearable for everyday but also lovely together, this eye palette got my attention right away. The colors are not too dramatic for daytime (in fact, the lighter colors combined can create a subtle gold and pink-hued neutral effect) and can be intensified if desired with the darker shades.

(Click to enlarge.)

These shadows create a lovely sheen and look just as great at the end of the day as they did when I put them on. I love the applicator enclosed, especially that it has a tiny end for applying the darker shade as liner (I played around with using the gold-green shade as a liner also). You can use the shades in multiple combinations depending on occasion and your mood. All in all, a very usable and high-quality set of shadows.

Retail Price: $24.00 (at pauladorf.com or sephora.com)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: (about the Lip Gloss) “These sophisticated shades bestow lips with vibrant color and the luscious formula is creamy and moisturizing, giving lips extreme sheen without feeling sticky.” (About the Smokey Mountain Trio) “This incomparable wet/dry formula for eyes is finely milled imparting a silky texture and satiny finish. This versatile powder can be used as both a shadow and a liner – offering the best of both worlds.”

Toya’s Take: I took the Smokey Mountain Trio along with me to New Jersey for a bellydance weekend, including a performance by my dance troupe. I used it to create a smoky eye effect, using the two shades of gray (Cascade – light gray and Smokey – dark gray) as my highlight and lid color and the Blue Spruce (kind of a dark teal) as a liner. I was impressed. The colors are true and last through a sweaty performance and do give a beautiful, smoky effect. The color combination wasn’t the greatest on my warm skin, but I think it would be great on someone with cooler undertones. The lip gloss I tried was a beautiful neutral pink, worthy of being paired with such a smoky eye. It was soft and creamy and didn’t leave my lips feeling parched. It didn’t last all that long, but most lip glosses don’t and, with such a moisturizing formula, you won’t mind having to reapply.

Retail Prices: Smokey Mountain Trio, $60 (at drugstore.com); Lip Gloss, $18.50 (at threecustom.com)

DeLush Rating: for both

What They Say: “Covered in touchable, matte black paper, the compact features a mesmerizing assortment of UD elements - animals, hearts, skulls, and flourishes - gently wafting from a pistol in overlapping textures of violet metallic foil and rich velvety flocking. Upon opening the kit, you're met with endless eye options: 10 best-selling shadows are arranged as five sets of coordinating duos, running the gamut from subtle to sexy. The slim case is complete with a perfectly sized mirror, applicators, and a magnetic closure, so it's sure to stay closed in your handbag.”

Alissa’s Opinion: This is absolutely the best designed palette I have ever owned. The velvety designs, the sleek purple and black case, the magnetic closure and the huge mirror are enough for me to love even without the gorgeous shadows!

The colors that are included in this kit are all perfect for evening looks, but a few of them are nice everyday shadows as well. Sin (light shimmering champagne) is a great base color that works with all the other shades. There is also a highlighting shade, Polyester Bride, and a sparkly black, Oil Slick, that works well as a dramatic liner. All the other colors coordinate with each other for a great smoky eye look. Some of them have a lot of glitter that gets all over the place if you aren’t careful (and maybe even if you are), but it’s so worth it. Basically, if you only plan on buying one product to update your winter look, this one has everything you need and is beautiful to boot!

Retail Price: $34.00 (at urbandecay.com and select retailers - find one near you here)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Your walk of shame has never looked better. The Urban Arsenal is jam-packed with the essentials of Urban Decay for eyes, lips, cheeks and face – in warm, wearable shades designed to work for everyone. Thanks to its portable setup, Urban Decay addicts will love this kit just as much as a newbie looking for a sampler of our best offerings.

Eyeshadow Primer Potion – Our runaway cult product makes Eyeshadow stick like magic!

Mascara – Lengthens and thickens in basic black.

Big Fatty Lip Plumper – A warm shimmer and up to a 20% fuller pout!

Naked XXX Shine Lip Gloss – Our extra, extra, extra shiny gloss in a neutral hue.

Afterglow Blush in Score – Ultra-sheer blush in a peachy-gold with a touch of shimmer.

Eyeshadows – What we do best! Four of our best shades.

Sleek and shiny, the lavender foil case is decked out with a black fabric patch, beautifully embroidered with thorny roses and a stylized Urban Decay logo. Perfect for overnight stays (we won’t ask where), the case includes an oversized built-in mirror and magnetic closure."

Jen's Experience: Although I've reviewed a lot of these products before, I was thrilled to get to try them as part of the Urban Arsenal. Once I started using this palette I was hooked; the colors together are all I need for color for work and even for evenings.

The eyeshadows in this palette are gold, sand and brown, the perfect combination for the gold smoky eye or just a nice bright neutral look. My favorite combination was covering most of the eye area with Half-Baked, putting Roach in the crease of my eye. I also used Roach wet as eyeliner, although I think a darker brown gives a little more contrast. Placing Shotgun right on the apple of my eyelid was perfect for brightening up the eye area, but I found that both Shotgun and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again resulted in little flecks of glitter all over my face, so I limited the use of the more sparkly colors for evening wear. I'd never used the Eyeshadow Primer Potion before (and I believe that Jamie has a full review of that product in the future) but I noticed that my eyeshadow and eyeliner really stay put with this potion. The Urban Decay eyeshadows don't normally smudge for me anyway, but the potion gave them extra staying power.

Two items I have reviewed before with good results are the Big Fatty Lip Plumper and the Naked XXX Shine Lip Gloss, both of which continue to be in my regular rotation. Perhaps you're supposed to use one or the other since they're both fairly sheer, but I chose to layer the lip plumper with the lip gloss, resulting in plumped up, shiny lips with a pinker tone than my natural lip color.

For me, the weakest link in this palette was the mascara. Much like their Skyscraper mascara, it wouldn't quite stay in place for me. It's not as bad about the football eye effect as a lot of mascaras for me, but it still resulted in some grayish color under my eyes. I had slightly better results putting some lash primer underneath.

My absolute favorite part of this palette is the blush in Score. The color is generally coral but it has a hint of pink. The result? A color that looks great on a variety of skin tones. Even if you don't rush right out and get the Urban Arsenal, I think the blush in Score would be a great purchase on its own.

All of this is wrapped in a great purple shiny case with a very large mirror and magnetic closure. The design on the top is actually a cross-stitched piece of fabric. It's super-cute, but it's just the package for an overall great palette.

Retail Price: $42.00 (UrbanDecay.com)

Rating:

What They Say(about BronzeRush) "Bronzerush is a palette that has everything you need to add color and life to your complexion. The gorgeous gold metallic kit includes a velvety smooth powder bronzer with a gel-based translucent blush, for a pop of fresh cheek color. Bronzerush gives you a warm healthy glowing tan, flushed rosy cheeks, and an all-over sun-kissed radiance that cannot be achieved by the average bronzer." (about the Rose Eyes Palette) "You can create a new look for every mood, season, or time of day with this gorgeous rose-themed palette. Set includes a true rose base shade, soft pink shimmer, soft rosy bronze, peachy-gold shimmer, and a deep plum-brown cream liner, plus a double-ended flat liner/eye blender brush."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow:(about BronzeRush) The sight of this palette, upon opening, kind of made me nervous. To me, it looked pretty bold. But on I soldiered, and put the stuff on anyway. The bronzer portion is actually less alarming than I imagined. It appears more orange-y in the compact than it comes off on my skin, but it is rather sparkly and maybe just tawny enough that I'd prefer it for spring or summer, but you may like it just fine, especially for those nights out. The little pot of creme blush to add on top for a bit of a rosy hue is NOT super-bright on your skin. It's actually quite sheer, and I thought rather pretty. If you've got slightly oily skin as I tend to get by around 5 o'clock in the evening if I don't powder or blot, this may not stay on as well as you'd like and you probably would prefer a powder blush for more wearability. Otherwise it's these two are a really nice combo.

(about the Rose Eyes Palette) This I absolutely LOVE. The colors are so perfectly matched for highlighting and deepening of the base color, and the generously-mirrored case is slim and compact. I think these colors would be flattering on practically anyone, whatever your skin tone or hair/eye coloring. The shadows are silky and really do wear fabulously - I didn't notice any creasing during the day. I was a little concerned about the cream liner, because it is such a soft formula. While I did smudge it myself a tiny bit when I applied it for a soft-focus look, the lines absolutely stayed put (surprisingly well) for HOURS. (Click the pic to the right to enlarge.)

Retail Prices: (BronzeRush) - $34.00, (Rose Eyes Palette) - $32.00 (BronzeRush is available at shop.duwop.com and the Palette is available at sephora.com)

DeLush Ratings: (BronzeRush)
(Rose Eyes Palette)

What They Say: "The lights go dark, the music beins to thump, and a still blackness fills the room. You hear the click, click, click of a long-legged heel...then a camera snaps, triggering a chain of illuminate flashes aimed straight at the runway. Bibo's Fall Collection, Blackout, is the only thing you see as the start whites of the model's eyes project against a billboard of dark, sultry shades. It's a combination of glam-rock meets modern chic with dramatic eyes and a high-gloss lip. Incredibly strong, moody, and mysterious - but most of all gorgeous!

Seize the Spotlight - Long legs are overrated. Draw attention upward with a killer glance from a powerful smoky eye. Four stealthy charcoal shades line, layer and smudge while three deceiving suede shades highlight, blend and secure. This isn't your average charcoal: bronze, burgundy and indigo make this all-inclusive palette unique.

Your Moment to Shine - Create unbelievable shine with a coat of Flash and Flicker lipgloss sure to turn heads. Capture an audience with an energizing bronze gloss or revitalizing berry tone."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: First of all, let's start by saying that the packaging for this collection is dark and sleek, very fitting for its name. I love the squareness of the (large!) lip gloss tubes and the eyeshadow palette. The only negative in terms of packaging would be that it really took a few times (and some pretty persistent trying on my part) to get the top shadow tray to slide out. Once I did it about 3 times, it came much easier. On the plus side, included is an applicator with sponge tip on one end and liner brush on the other, so you can use the darker shades along the lash line (I did this with great results and the shadows last very long as liners).

(Click pic to enlarge.)

As far as the actual products go, Bibo has once again impressed me. Their silky true-color shadows stay for hours and resist creasing, and these new shades are very versatile. This set can be used for daytime sheer prettiness or nighttime drama. The lower tray of suede shadows wears well for day or as base colors for the more rich, slightly shimmery shades. I acheived the look above by applying the Bronze charcoal shadow on top of the Pink suede (which resulted in a bit of a deep rich plummy color). Also, I did apply some of the Bronze with a damp cosmetic Q-tip, so keep in mind that the charcoal shadows, though looking quite dramatic in the palette, can actually be applied much more sheer dry.

As usual, Bibo's glosses are creamy and long-lasting. These two shades seem to be infused with teeny-tiny shimmer that simply increases the shine and glow on the lips. The color above is the bronze (Flicker).

Retail Prices: (The Shadow Palette) $34.00, (The Lip Glosses) $15.00 (available through select distributor stores and premier salons across the U.S. and Canada...call 1-800-456-9322 or go to bibocosmetics.com for retail locations)

DeLush Ratings: The Shadow Palette (not 5 only because of the tray issue)
The Lip Glosses

What They Say: "Laura Mercier has added two more best seller's to her famous Beauty Library...Bronzing Books in Bronzed and Gilded. The Bronzed Book includes 2 Pressed Powders, 3 Illuminating Sticks (in pressed form), 2 Stickglosses and 2 Eye Colours."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: My initial impression of these books is just how well the colors are coordinated. You do get a lot of options with these palettes due to the selection inside. First of all, I used the book in Gilded, as that was more suited to my skin tone.

The Pressed Powders (a light and a darker bronzer in each) are pretty easy to apply without looking heavy, and don't contain the heavy shimmer in some bronzers. My only complaint about them was that even when using a pretty high-quality brush, the powder seemed to leave a lot of residue all over that part of the palette afterward which I had to make sure to blow off.

The pressed Illuminating Sticks were something I've never tried but was really impressed with. The texture is hard to describe...not glossy like a lip gloss or even the consistency of a lipstick...more like that of a gel eyeliner. And laid on top of the bronzer, this gave a lovely glow. I used the more pink shade on my cheeks, and laid the more gold shade on top of the eye shadow and it gave some highlight to the center of my lid and browbones.

I wasn't overly-impressed with the Stickglosses; I felt they could have stayed on longer. But the color choices were nice, and if I had laid them on thicker with a brush over liner they may have fared better.

Finally, the Eye Shadow is something I really liked. Great combo of colors and smooth application with nice staying power. Very wearable.

Overall, I think if you're already a fan of Laura Mercier products and are looking for some new summer colors, one of these two palettes may give you the basics for your look. However, as a new client I wouldn't run out to buy one without at least testing some of the product in a store first.

Retail Price: $45 (lauramercier.com or sephora.com - UK and other international readers, help us out by letting us know in the comments if you know where other readers can purchase this internationally)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Beauty takes flight…
as the Metamorphosis Collection enhances femininity and unveils a fresh, natural grace with touches of beautiful, whimsical color.

Metamorphosis consists of warm Monarch and cool Painted Lady color collections that include two lip glosses, two eye shadows and a cheek blush.

Monarch Color Collection - Includes eye shadows in sheer nude and warm purple-brown, a cheek blush in deep tawny and two lip glosses in cocoa and shimmery nude."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: This is a high-quality mix of Bibo's color products. The shadows are fine and incredibly soft - as well as the blush, and the gloss is moisturizing (yet just the tiniest bit sticky). For my complexion, the blush in this particular palette just looked a bit muddy on me, no matter how lightly I tried to apply it. It was difficult for me to get it to create a look I felt comfortable with. I would recommend it to those with more olive tones, or more natural color to their faces (I have very little). If not for the color mismatch for myself, I would have been very happy with this (I think I would have done better with the cool color version of this palette, "Painted Lady").

Retail Price: $30.00 (the Bibo Metamorphasis Collection is available through select distributor stores and premier salons across the Unites States and Canada. Call 1-800-456-9322 or log onto www.bibocosmetics.com for salon locations.)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Bella's fabulous face palettes offer eight complimenting shades for the worldly girl-on-the-go. Available in three flattering looks. Featured Here: Pretty in Paris - A palette of pretty pinks and perfectly complementing colors."

Melissa's DeLush Downlow: First of all, can I start with the packaging? These palettes come like CD cases, which flip open to reveal large mirrors and high-quality applicators (sturdy dual-ended shadow sponge applicator and dual-ended easy-to-handle lip brush) for sufficiently-sized squares of color. The Pretty in Paris palette colors include a peachy-pink blush, 4 shadows (a pale champagne pink, a creamy bisque, an almost-black, and a rich but soft mauve), and 3 ever-so-slightly shimmery glosses (very pale pink, a luscious darker pink, and glowing clear).

I absolutely fell in love with the incredibly soft powder-formulas of the blush and shadows; they blend nicely and the shadows have just the right amount of glow to them to help create a gorgeous eye. The gloss feels very soft and non-sticky, while having fairly nice staying power.

I was really pleased with this mix of colors and the quality of the products. If you haven't tried anything from the Bella line yet, perhaps this would be a good introduction (and a nice addition to your new spring finds!).

Retail Price: $22.00 (bellabeauty.com - Readers in the UK can also get other Bella Il Fiore products at pinkenvy.co.uk)

DeLush Rating: