Cheek Palettes | 2017 Editor's Favorites
Best of 2017
Cheek Palettes
As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect back on the products I’ve reviewed during the past year and share with you my personal favorites. One tip off that there were numerous more palette releases in 2017 was that there was enough cheek palette releases (and not just during the holidays!) to merit putting together a best of list for them. I tend to like seeing duos and trios released the most; quads and higher tend to either look too similar or are so varied that some will find they can’t wear all the shades in a palette. Of course, I am Queen of Variety, and I’ll happily wear something that’s “unflattering” on my coloring if I like the color anyway!
CoverFX’s Perfect Highlighting Palette was one of my all-time favorite releases from the year, period. I was also happy to see Becca release two quality palettes this year–Light Waves and their collab with Chrissy Teigen. Check out my full list below!
Did you try and cheek palettes this year? Share your favorites in the comments!
Cover FX Perfect
Cover FX Perfect 6-Pan Highlighting Palette ($39.00 for 0.66 oz.) includes six powder highlighters housed in a slim, plastic compact. The formula is... Read full review.
Lancome Rose Twinkle
Lancome Rose Twinkle Glow For it Highlighter Palette ($39.00 for 0.23 oz.) includes three "silky-cushion cream powder[s]" that have a "buildable... Read full review.
Bobbi Brown Bobbi to Glow
Bobbi Brown Bobbi to Glow Highlighting Powder Trio ($69.00 for 0.63 oz.) is a new, limited edition set for the holidays that contains three, nearly... Read full review.
Becca Light Waves
Becca Light Waves Highlighter Palette ($34.00 for 0.27 oz.) includes three highlighters--two we've seen before and one new to the palette (Pink... Read full review.
Hourglass Holiday 2017
Hourglass Holiday 2017 Ambient Metallic Strobe Lighting Palette ($62.00 for 0.30 oz.) contains three new, limited edition highlighters that can be... Read full review.
Urban Decay Afterglow
Urban Decay Afterglow Highlighter Palette ($34.00 for 0.64 oz.) is a four-pan highlighter palette exclusively available at Ulta. It features four new... Read full review.
NARS Banc de Sable
NARS Banc de Sable Highlighter Palette ($49.00 for 0.33 oz.) includes three highlighters that go from light to light-medium to medium in depth with... Read full review.
ColourPop Gimme More
ColourPop Gimme More Pressed Powder Highlighter Palette ($18.00 for 0.78 oz.) includes six highlighters in a slim, cardboard palette. It is new and... Read full review.
Huda Beauty Winter Solstice
Huda Beauty Winter Solstice 3D Highlighter Palette ($45.00 for 1.10 oz.) contains a cream highlighter and three powder highlighters housed in a slim,... Read full review.
Becca Chrissy Teigen
Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette ($46.00 for 0.53 oz.) includes two highlighters, a blush, and a bronzer housed in a large, square-shaped... Read full review.
Anastasia Aurora
Anastasia Aurora Glow Kit ($40.00 for 0.90 oz.) includes six, sparkling highlighters that are supposed to have a "metallic" finish for "intense... Read full review.
Wound up getting Aurora, Banc de Sable, and the CoverFx. Don’t use golds or even highlighters much, so the Banc was probably a mistake. But the CFX is absolutely pretty, and the Aurora is very fun. Think i’m all set.
Yeah, Banc de Sable feels like it wouldn’t be a great pick if you don’t tend to wear a lot of ggold/bronze! Aurora is a fun one to play with – totally agree!!
I don’t know how, or why, I don’t have any of the above? Especially since I’ve been wanting the UD Afterglow Highlighter Palette ever since I first read your review! Ah, well I *do* still have today before I begin my low-buy…?
No real cheek or face palettes stood out to me as a must have this year. I have a few gathering dust too. I was tempted by the hourglass offerings but I’ve barely touched last year!
Same here.
Being fair af I really didn’t think that the Aurora palette would work for me but I essentially got it for free on Black Fri thanks to the sales and having a gift card and I LOVE it. Spectra is the only color that looks a bit funky but if I mix it in with a lighter shade it works. 😀
I don’t typically indulge in cheek palettes, unless they contain contour shades (and even then I’m extremely picky!), but I did indulge in ABH Aurora (along with Moonchild), NARS Bord de Plage, which turned out to be surprisingly wearable for me, and UD Naked Shapeshifter, which didn’t really get much buzz. While the colors are great, it UD Naked Shapeshifter is *extremely* pigmented, and while easy to blend, it may not be the best choice for those who tend to be heavy-handed, don’t own/use a very soft, fluffy brush, or beginners.
I managed to resist all these, with ABH Aurora being the most difficult. That’s not to say I won’t cave and get it in 2018. 😉
My favorite cheek palettes I got in 2017 were UD x Basquiat Cheek Gallery Palette; Tarte Blush Bazaar, and Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Palette.
Christine, I love your comment “I am the queen of variety” and will wear something that others deem unflattering because you like it. I think society has come a long ways from where it has been and that in general there is more freedom to experiment with makeup today. When I started wearing makeup you didn’t see much except shades of pink and red lipsticks and you were daring if you wore red. That was more for “older” women. Eyeshadows were more colorful, but you wore them subtly. Of course, my part of the Midwest was pretty conservative when I grew up. Its nice to see such variety now and freedom to express ourselves. After all, it all washes off.
Thank you for this look back thru 2017 and for your wonderful site. I wish you, your family, and your readers a very happy and healthy 2018.
Is Becca Light Waves already sold out on Sephora (and all other retailers except Becca), or has it not launched yet? It only launched on Becca a little over a month ago! That’s the only one here that really interests me (besides Aurora, which I have and love).
I believe I bought mine from Becca directly!