I love that they’re usually a great value, and they can inspire new color combinations! Sometimes the quality is lesser in a palette than the equivalent full-sized products though 🙁
— Christine
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I really enjoy the variety in holiday sets and palettes, but hate the hassel of trying to find them. Limited quantities, exclusives to such and such store, and then sometimes it’s lesser quality. I think holiday palettes are good in theory, but can lack final execution…
I bought the Vice 3 because I thought the colors were decent and not as bright as previous years. Unfortunately, I barely use it now. When I did use it, the formulas weren’t great. There was a lot of fall out. I don’t think I will be buying anymore of these Holiday palettes unless I truly feel blown away. I also bought a few years ago the Too Faces A Few Of My Favorite Things and ended up re-selling it because I barely used it. On top of that, a good chunk of colors didn’t have good color payoff. Which is what I have noticed with some of these holiday palettes – usually most glitter/shimmer colors, need to be PACKED on in order to see them decently. I feel that some permanent palettes or even individual shadows for purchase have better color pay off and more useage than holiday, limited edition palettes as well as better formulation. I’ll stick with trying to build my own palette with MAC, MUG, and ABH. 🙂
Rave: It’s a great time of year to get some beautiful palettes and gift sets. I save up for October-November so I can get more bang for my buck. Some of my favorite items are from holiday collections.
Rant: Some companies use different manufacturing for holiday palettes, so their normal quality just isn’t there. I’ve figure out most of the companies to steer clear of at this point. Plus I can come to Temptalia for a review before I buy!
Love: Can get many different colors/products in one set
Hate: hard to get a hold of or not offered in stores that I can buy from as they aren’t in my country (Canada), sometimes the quality is not so great
Rant about the Benefit Box of Blushes last holiday – they were nowhere near the quality of the permanent boxed blushes (much harder texture, less payoff for example), and in a few cases actually different colors, though bearing the same name (e.g. Coralista much more orange, Dandelion darker pink).
The fact they get sold out so quickly and end up on eBay .
That is SO annoying. I am sitting here hoping that is not going to happen with UD spectrum because it got out early. I hope UD at least still has it in October!
I’m worried too. I really want the Spectrum Palette desperately, but this early release reminds me of the Vice LTD palette fiasco of last year. ?
Nancy T., I called US customer service this afternoon and inquired if they were still slated to stock Spectrum in Oct. I was told , it was a Sephora exclusive and they don’t know if they are going to get it for sure or not yet!
I meant UD not US,lol!
Nicole, as of 9/14, Sephora.com has UD Spectrum available for VIB or VIB Rouge. I bought mine today
Oh no! This is worrisome and doesn’t bode well, does it? Now what to do to remedy this situation….I just don’t know. But I do think this may go the way Vice LTD went. And that was seriously awful the way they strung people along!
Hey Nancy, I feel your worry .But, honestly, I would think eventually they would get it- Espescially since that was the info given to the” press”. When one calls,they get a person that reads a computer. So she basically told me what her computer told her in an attempt to get me to buy their palette sooner .I will buy it asap. But, I just am not sure until some other major expenses clear.my account. I really want Spectrum. But, house payment has to get priority as boring as it is.:)
do you know anything about if it’s going to be released on Sephora’s site for non-VIBs in the coming weeks? I know it’s a perk of VIB and Rouge to get things a bit early sometimes, but I’m so confused about whether it’s exclusive in that sense or if it’s going to be online later still. I’m Canadian, so I can’t order from UD’s site! I’m scrambling to find Americans who may be able to send me the palette.
Sarah, usually things are released for sale to everyone after a certain time period on Sephora,com.
I would LOVE the Spectrum palette, but how to get hold of it in Australia? That’s the million dollar question…..
Mecca Maxima might stock it. They’ve had most of the others since they got UD.
Nancy, UD Spectrum is available on the Sephora site as of 9/14 for VIB or VIB Rouge members. I bought mine today
I just ordered it today but I’m a VIB ROuge. Early order but should come out soon.
If they’re good quality, I love them. They can be a good value, and there may be new or limited edition colors. They can be a good way to try different products from a single brand. The packaging is usually really pretty. There is usually lots of sparkle, shine and glitter, which I love.
I agree, often the quality is subpar compared to buying the products singly. The limited quantities on a lot of the palettes is just stupid and a PITA. Holiday palettes can be repetitive: 1) Many brands bring out the same kinds of palettes with the same colors year after year. 2) Nearly every brand seems to bring out the same things — metallic eyeshadows, golds, and red lipsticks. (Which is what a lot of people want for holiday wear/holiday gifts, so it makes sense. But if you have a lot of these colors, or don’t like them, it’s not your time of year.)
I have such a love/hate relationship with palettes. I have worked in retail cosmetics for so long that I feel like I could write a novel listing all the pros and cons. Lol. On one hand, they allow you to try a variety of colors for a lesser price and you get some great limited life shades. However, with that comes the inevitable inability to replace thise shades once they are fully used. Plus, the quality is usually not on par with basic business products. They make gift giving practically a no-brainer, but I feel like many brands just reissue a slightly modified version of the same palettes each season. This regularly leads to the common complaint of “I/she/he already have a palette like this.” I can’t lie though, I am ultimately still a sucker for them! Lol.
I enjoy the Holiday packing, but I dislike the fact that most of the items are limited edition 🙁
They are usually too bulky.
I want them all is the rant and then I am broke and overflowing in palettes. The rave is they are so pretty. 🙂
Pros: Some really creative things come out, as well as some standout items (the Hourglass blush palette is one that comes to mind). Good for gift giving as well (I got my sister the Sephore Give Me More Lip set last year)
Cons: Sometimes the quality doesn’t live up to the price, or if it’s a group of items there can be some that either are poor quality or not your style. The limited edition nature does kind of suck for people on a budget because everything is out at once and so we have to pick maybe one thing out of a few, which we would otherwise space out and buy all of. Also people buy them in bulk and then resell them for a higher price on ebay, so honest folks can’t get a hold of them.
I hate that many times the formula is different than a brand’s normal offerings. On rare occasion it’s better but it’s usually for the worse.
Rave: More bang for your buck, in the sense that you get a veritable ton of colors, finishes and shades of colors. Very fun to play with! Even though I know Vice 3 didn’t get a glowing review, I love it for the shades. Very green-hazel eye friendly palette! ? Buuut….?
Rant: The quality isn’t usually as consistent as permanent palettes. At least not across the board, it isn’t, or so it seems. Another even MORE bothersome issue is availability. My Goodness!!! Why at Ulta, but not Sephora, or vice versa? Why just online? Why only a few measley hours up online??? Gives me a migraine just thinking about how on earth I’m going to grab up UD Spectrum Palette!!! ?
I get excited about the holidays so seeing makeup holiday sets and palettes makes me happy! It’s fun to see what new and hopefully shiny products are coming out!
When they’re well planned and well thought out, they give you a chance to try a good bit of product all within a single purchase at a decent price. Some might also give you a chance to have several of your favorites in a single palette if they are repeat shades. And then some are just like, “What were they thinking” with some color combos, quality, or just a bad collection!
Rave: often great deals with lots of extras
Rant: limited editions, hard to source, sometimes packed with colours I wouldn’t use and occasionally the quality is lacking.
Seems like the “holiday” palette are coming out earlier and earlier .. I mean it just turned September .. 😛
Monica.
From what I’ve seen just lately, they seem to be getting a bit repetitive (though that could be a function of the fact that I, probably like many here, have a lot of makeup). I do like the good value that is almost always to be had (that Hourglass palette notwithstanding – GRRRR, I am ticked about that) and also just the anticipation. And this may sound really stupid and a bit unbalanced, but I get a bit “emotional” about great purchases from the past and sort of hope that some of those great things (like some Tarte chubby eyeshadow/eyeliner pencils from a Holiday collection about 5 years ago) will maybe reappear.
I love the holiday palettes, look forward to them every year, usually a wide selection of colors, creative packaging, and bargain prices . It’s a great way to try a brand. But I don’t like it though when brands issue too many of the same shades every year (or worse, re-name the shade so you think you’re getting a new one). Or when supply is so limited that it sells out within hours or days.
I love Holiday palettes but I hate that they launch in September and remain sold out sometimes indefinitely! It makes no sense to launch so early and it makes even less sense to not re-stock. It’s a lose-lose for everyone!
I love that it’s a great way to sample a variety of a brand, but they rarely put the popular colors!