Quick Review: bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette ($24.50 for 0.28. oz.) is a holiday palette from last year, but it’s actually still available through bareMinerals at a discounted price of $24.50–it originally retailed for $40.00–and it is a truly fantastic palette. I’m a huge fan of the Ready eyeshadow range, and this palette is and was excellent. This palette contains these shades: Black Tie Optional (black velvet), Icebreaker (pink pearl), Swanky (dazzling plum), Spiked (copper blush), Elixir (luxe lilac), Invite Only (taupe slate), Libation (sugared cinnamon), and Shaken Not Stirred (jeweled envy).

• Black Tie Optional is a dark charcoal black–there’s a hint of gray there. It has cool undertones, excellent color payoff, and has a mostly matte finish.
• Icebreaker is a pearly pale pink with subtle warm undertones and a frosted finish. Super soft, smooth, and intensly pigmented.
• Swanky is a red-toned medium-dark purple with a satiny finish. It had nice color payoff and was soft and smooth to the touch.
• Spiked is a warm, medium orange with a hint of reddish-copper and a frosted sheen. Good pigmentation and smooth texture.
• Elixir is a pink lavender with a frosted finish. It was very soft and had good pigmentation.
• Invite Only is a soft, metallic finished taupe–a great balance of gray and brown. Nice color payoff, smooth finish.
• Libation is a beige-copper with a champagne metallic sheen. It has a very, very reflective finish with good pigmentation.
• Shaken Not Stirred is a darkened navy blue with fine navy blue shimmer over a matte base. This had good color payoff, especially when applied, but the shimmer isn’t very noticeable on.

This is a fantastic palette, and at $24.50? a total steal. The quality is excellent across the board; there are no duds in this palette. These wear well, apply beautifully, and blend out easily. If you love soft, buttery eyeshadows with rich color payoff, this palette has your number.

** A Note on Quick Reviews: In an effort to be more on-the-ball for 2013, I’m digging through my photo folders and getting as much posted as I can. These are not full-length, in-depth reviews, and instead, I’m writing brief reviews. For dupes, I highly suggest checking out The Swatch Gallery; it’s my first stop whenever I am looking for possible dupes. All of the swatches in this post are automatically added to the gallery, so you can compare them for yourself.

The Glossover

	bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches A+
	This is a fantastic palette, and at $24.50? a total steal. The quality is excellent across the board; there are no duds in this palette. These wear well, apply beautifully, and blend out easily. If you love soft, buttery eyeshadows with rich color payoff, this palette has your number.
	Product 10/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 5/5
	Where to Buy
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bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Cocktail Hour Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals Black Tie Optional Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Icebreaker Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Swanky Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Spiked Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Elixir Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Invite Only Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Libation Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Shaken Not Stirred Eyeshadow

The Star Treatment is Packed with Value and Quality

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette ($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes eight eyeshadows:  VIP (gold flecked black), Connoisseur (golden copper), Carte Blanche (icy ivory), Ritzy (shimmering cocoa), Kudos (golden gray), Bragging Rights (shimmering rose gold), Elitist (glistening olive), and Extravagance (golden glow). It also includes a 0.05 oz. (half the size of the full-sized version) of Prime Time Eye Primer.

Each eyeshadow is 0.035 oz., as compared to the average full-sized eyeshadow, which is 0.05 oz. (and bareMinerals’ Ready eyeshadows in the duos and quads are 0.05 oz.). In duos, they’re $20/0.10 oz.; quads are $30/0.17 oz., and 8-pan palettes are $40/0.28 oz.–which breaks out to $200/oz., $176/oz., and $143/oz. I love that they give you a little more as you buy larger palettes. Just to put those prices in context, MAC single eyeshadows are $300/oz., while their duos are $275/oz. and quads are $210/oz.

VIP is a dark black with brown undertones and gold sparkle. It had excellent pigmentation and applied smoothly and evenly. Too Faced Licorice Latte is not quite as dark. Cinderella Cinders is similar. Dior Night Golds is lighter, browner. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy is similar but has a stronger red-tone. Bobbi Brown Black Gold is similar–more shimmer.

Connoisseur is a deep, molten golden-copper. This shade was insanely pigmented; so smooth, buttery, and densely packed with color. bareMinerals Pret-a-Porter is lighter. Inglot #404 is lighter, less coppery. Inglot #430 is yellower, lighter. Dior Aurora is lighter, more orange. While not at all similar in color, MAC Campfire had a similar molten, metallic look and feel.

Carte Blanche is a cool-toned white with a golden shimmer-sheen, which gives it a mostly warm-toned appearance. It had great color payoff and applied very smoothly and evenly. Make Up For Ever #101 is very similar. Bare Minerals One Hit Wonder is less warm-toned–the color is more like the base color without the sheen. Tarina Tarantino Wonderful is warmer, yellower.

Ritzy is a warm bronze brown with a frosted sheen. The pigmentation was incredibly rich, while the texture was soft, dense, and smooth. Urban Decay Deeper is very similar. Urban Decay Snakebite is less warm. Bare Minerals Cognac is lighter. MAC Woodwinked is also lighter. MAC Bronze is comparable–perhaps a bit warmer. Inglot #406 is a touch lighter, more reflective.

Kudos is a pale beige-brown with an olive green shimmer-sheen. It has a really subtle, but cool, duochrome. I was like, “ooh! look!” when I initially swatched it. The first thing it reminded me was Illamasqua Bacterium, which is a nail polish. MAC Jaunty is a bit lighter, no duochrome. Becca Quartz is similar in color without the green sheen. Giorgio Armani #1 Madreperla is similar (again, no sheen).

Bragging Rights is a medium-dark orange-copper with a frosted sheen. The color payoff was nice, while the texture was soft and smooth. Guerlain Calligraphy is a bit more orange and not as coppery. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy is darker. NARS Isolde is similar, a bit darker.

Elitist is a subdued khaki brown with a satiny shimmer-sheen. It had good color payoff and was very, very smooth. This is one of the “cooler” shades in the palette, though it is still on the warm side. MAC Soba is similar but more matte. theBalm Schitoz is more golden. Giorgio Armani #26 is similar–a bit browner. Dior Golden Savannah is warmer, lighter.

Extravagance is a frosted orange-gold. This shade was really soft and buttery in one sense, but it was almost so soft that it became a bit crumbly. This was the only shade I had any problems with; the color payoff was fantastic, but it did have extra fall out during application. Guerlain Turandot is more orange. Milani Gold Dust is noticeably more orange. MAC Sweet & Sour is yellower. Le Metier de Beaute Goldstone is darker, more orange.

There was only one miss, which was Extravagance, and it’s mostly problematic during application, because it had a fair amount of fall out while you apply it.  I recommend lightly tapping off excess product before applying it to the lid and then patting, rather than sweeping, it on to minimize fall out.  I didn’t have trouble with fall out during wear, so after cleaning up initially, I didn’t have to worry about it.  Worth noting and an area for improvement, but it’s a minor infraction.

If you like your colors warm-toned, fairly neutral, and shimmery, this is your palette from start to finish. When I tested out the palette for wear, they wore like iron–full ten hours without fading or creasing without a primer (with a primer, I had the same results). I wish there was one or two more matte finishes in the palette, though, and overall, the palette is a bit dupeable, depending on your stash of course.

The Glossover

	The Star Treatment A
	If you like your colors warm-toned, fairly neutral, and shimmery, this is your palette from start to finish.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The Star Treatment Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals VIP Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Connoisseur Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Carte Blanche Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Ritzy Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Kudos Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Bragging Rights Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Elitist Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Extravagance Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Eyeshadows in Kudos, Elitist, Ritzy, VIP, and Carte Blanche

The September Issue is Packed with Value and Quality

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette ($40.00 for 0.28 oz.) includes eight eyeshadows: Couture (glimmering clove), Silhouette (antique white), Statement (vibrant orchid), Pret-a-Porter (sunbaked gold), Tres Chic (apricot cream), Editor’s Pick (metallic teal), Glitterati (shimmering pink), and Ensemble (deepest eggplant).

Each eyeshadow is 0.035 oz., as compared to the average full-sized eyeshadow, which is 0.05 oz. (and bareMinerals’ Ready eyeshadows in the duos and quads are 0.05 oz.). In duos, they’re $20/0.10 oz.; quads are $30/0.17 oz., and 8-pan palettes are $40/0.28 oz.–which breaks out to $200/oz., $176/oz., and $143/oz. I love that they give you a little more as you buy larger palettes. Just to put those prices in context, MAC single eyeshadows are $300/oz., while their duos are $275/oz. and quads are $210/oz.

Couture is a neutral-cool dark brown with a subdued bronze shimmer-sheen. It had really good color payoff and was soft, finely-milled, and smooth. Girogio Armani #24 is a bit darker. Dior Golden Savannah is warmer, a touch more golden. NARS Paramaribo is more red-toned. Urban Decay Snakebite is much warmer, browner. Tarina Tarantino Dreamy has more red in its undertone.

Silhouette is a pale, warm white with a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation and applied smoothly. Dior Night Golds is frostier. Too Faced Vanilla has more beige in it. Givenchy Lune Mysterieuse is similar but more frosted.

Statement is a fuchsia-magenta with a matte finish. It is a smidgen powdery, but it has good color payoff and does apply evenly and smoothly on the eye. MAC Infra-violet is pinker, lighter, and has shimmer. Sugarpill 2AM is similar but has very, very fine shimmer. Bobbi Brown Ultra Violet is a touch more purple. Urban Decay Purple Haze is more purple. Urban Decay Fishnet is shimmery and iridescent.

Pret-a-Porter is a molten honey gold with strong yellow undertones and a frosted finish. It had excellent color payoff, and it was a cinch to work with: super smooth and soft. OCC Triptych is yellower, less orange-toned, and has a metallic finish. Urban Decay Honey is less orange-toned. NARS Paramaribo is more antique-y. Inglot #404 is less yellow.

Tres Chic is a subdued peach with a mostly matte finish. It had good pigmentation, and it was soft, smooth, and not at all powdery. Chanel Premier Regard is similar. Cinderella Pumpkin Coach is yellower. Dolce & Gabbana Cocoa is lighter. Inglot #328 is a touch lighter.

Editor’s Pick is a deep green-teal with an almost blackened base and a frosted finish. Urban Decay Hijack is bluer. Illamasqua Android is darker, smidgen bluer. Milani Mix It Up is brighter. Urban Decay Loaded is less frosted, darker (blacker base). Bare Escentuals Max Volume is pretty similar.

Glitterati is a light pink with a golden shimmer-sheen. It had good pigmentation, and it applied very smoothly. MAC radial Pink is lighter, less golden. Chanel Harmonie du Soir is darker, no golden sheen. MAC Invicible Light is a yellower pink without the golden sheen.

Ensemble is a dark burgundy-brown with a matte finish. This shade swatched unevenly, but applied to the eye, it performed better. It was very pigmented, so a little goes a long way. The texture was slightly powdery. theBalm Presto is similiar but warmer. Tarina Tarantino Saw Dust Heart is darker, blacker. MAC Midnight Flurry is comparable in color. MAC Embark is redder, warmer. Inglot #378 is similar.

Quite honestly, bareMinerals’ Ready range is an eyeshadow formula I could use and use exclusively and not feel like I was missing out. It is a truly excellent formula with a wide range of colors and finishes. They are consistently top notch in quality, but I love that they really reach across the spectrum of color. You have pops of color plus a strong neutral range. I’ve been a huge fan of the Ready eyeshadow range since it debuted, and I continue to be impressed by the recent releases.

The September Issue is a Sephora-exclusive, and it’s an interesting mix of colors, from color to neutral and warm to cool shades.  There were two shades (Statement and Ensemble) that were a bit powdery, though they were both very soft, finely-milled mattes. The other six shades performed incredibly well.  I wore several of the shades in a look, and I had no problems getting a full eight hours of wear without creasing or fading without a primer.

The Glossover

	The September Issue A
	It's a fantastic palette from start to finish with a good selection of colors and neutrals. It's not warm or cool-toned, so it should work well across skin tones.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 9.5/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 10/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!

See more photos & swatches!

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals The September Issue Eyeshadow Palette

bareMinerals Couture Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Silhouette Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Statement Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Pret-a-Porter Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Tres Chic Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Editor’s Pick Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Glitterati Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Ensemble Eyeshadow

bareMinerals Eyeshadows in Statement, Pret-a-Porter, Editor’s Pick, Tres Chic, and Glitterati