There were actually a lot of fantastic palettes released this year! I already pulled up twenty that to consider for the top ten, and I had only reached August (I go backwards). So here are my picks–and I tried to include a variety of brands that were all excellent, but full disclosure: could have easily included more bareMinerals, Guerlain, and another Tom Ford (Enchanted).
Le Metier de Beaute Nouvelle Vague Kaleidoscope Eye Kit
A Palette Inspired by the French Cinema
Le Metier de Beaute Nouvelle Vague Kaleidoscope Eye Kit ($95.00 for 0.49 oz.) consists of four eyeshadows inspired by “the spark present throughout the French cinema New Wave.” The colors can be worn alone or layered over each other (part of the brand’s methodology).
Nouvelle is described as a “sheer mink negative.” It’s a warm peach with a frosted finish and a kiss of pink. The color payoff is rich and opaque, not quite the sheer color they described it as (so for some, this is probably a good thing!). It had a lovely soft, finely-milled texture that felt buttery and smooth. Chanel Complice is similar but less reflective, a smidgen darker. theBalm Stubborn is warmer, less pink. Urban Decay Scratch is fairly close, though a little pinker.
Gamine is described as a “satin pink celluloid.” It is a blue-based cotton candy pink with a soft frosted finish. The color payoff was fantastic, and the texture was soft, smooth, and blendable. MAC Dynamic Duo 4 is sheerer, less frosted. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is similar, a smidgen darker. MAC for Miss Piggy is sheerer, less frosted. MAC Feather Pink is cooler-toned, almost lilac.
Icon is described as a “silky matte Parisian mauve.” It’s a soft pink-tinged mauve with a matte finish. It had a soft, smooth, and finely-milled texture that yielded rich color. Inglot #399 is frosted. Guerlain Boulevard du Montparnasse is similar but satiny. MAC Neo Nebula is shimmery. Urban Decay Bordello is darker and frosted.
Fin is described as a “smoldering black carbon.” It’s a rich, deep, dark black with a fine dusting of multi-colored shimmer (which you don’t really notice when it is applied). The pigmentation in this is so, so rich. The texture is soft, smooth, and not a bit powdery. As far as comparably rich in pigment black eyeshadows go, Urban Decay Blackout is similar but has a more matte finish; Milani Pitch Black is also similar; and Make Up For Ever #4 is entirely matte and has no shimmer at all.
The palette is high quality from top to bottom, and really, the only reason it lost any points was because of Nouvelle, which was described as sheer but is, in fact, quite pigmented–for most, this will be received as great news. When I tested these shades for wear, they wore for eight hours with no fading or creasing.
Each eyeshadow is just over 0.12 oz., which is double the size of most eyeshadows. To put it into perspective, a MAC quad is the equivalent of paying $200/oz., and the Kaleidoscope is $194/oz. Note: my packaging is sample packaging, while retail versions are packaged in the brand’s signature black; the packaging rating reflects the retail packaging.
It's a fantastic palette, and while it's worth it from both a quality and value stand point, it is quite the investment! Rich in color, soft, blendable textures, and great wear make this palette hard to resist.
Product
10/10
Pigmentation
9/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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