By Terry Tropical Sunset Sun Designer Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
Tropical Sunset
By Terry Tropical Sunset Sun Designer Palette ($82.00 for 0.53 oz.) includes six powder blushes–three are bolder, brighter options and three are more subdued, “neutral” tones. All six of the powders were soft, finely-milled, and blendable on the skin with pigmentation varied from medium to opaque (but the ones that weren’t richly pigmented were still buildable) that lasted from eight to nine hours on me.
Tropical Sunset
LELimited Edition. $82.00.
Tropical Sunset #1
Tropical Sunset #1 is a bright pop of medium orange with warm undertones and a semi-matte to satin finish. It had medium, buildable pigmentation with a soft, silky texture that felt finely-milled and just kicked up the tiniest amount of excess powder. The blush blended out easily on the cheeks and lasted for eight and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever B402 (P, $23.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Milk Makeup Teleport (P, $20.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Tarte Fame (LE, $29.00) is darker (95% similar).
- NARS Me First (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Get Leid (P, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Rare Beauty Nearly Apricot (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, more muted (95% similar).
- NARS Soulshine #2 (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Bonus (DC, $8.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Aloha (P, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Kosas Papaya 1972 (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Tropical Sunset #1
LELimited Edition.
Tropical Sunset #2
Tropical Sunset #2 is a muted, medium-dark gold with warm undertones and fine pearl. It’s an interesting shade because it’s lighter than a typical brown but nowhere near as shimmery as most gold-colored powders. The consistency was incredibly and silky and smooth, just a touch dusty in the pan, and applied easily to bare skin with effortless blending. It had good color coverage that lasted for eight hours on me. It did seem to darken slightly on my skin after I applied it–slightly coppery compared to the swatch.
Top Dupes
- Becca Opal (DC, $38.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup Revolution Gold Addict (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- L'Oreal Golden (P, $12.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Too Faced You Light Up My Life (P, $30.00) is more shimmery (85% similar).
- The Estee Edit 14K Glow (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- NARS Jubilation (Left) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- MAC Oh, Darling! (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Anastasia Dripping in Gold (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Sephora Jubilant (21) (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- MAC Whisper of Gilt (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
Tropical Sunset #2
LELimited Edition.
Tropical Sunset #3
Tropical Sunset #3 is a rich, medium-dark fuchsia pink with very subtle, cool undertones and fine, iridescent pink pearl. It had semi-opaque, buildable color payoff with a soft, slightly dusty texture in the pan. The blush did not appear dry or dusty on the skin, and it blended out with little effort (more effort than the other shades, but for this type of shade, impressive). It stayed on well for eight and a half hours.
Top Dupes
- NARS New Fling (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Peony Rose (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Poppy Pink (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Rhubarb (P, $24.00) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Please-blossom (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Summer Dual Intensity Blush III (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Plumagranate (Blush) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Premiere (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Aroused (P, $30.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Clutch (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Tropical Sunset #3
LELimited Edition.
Tropical Sunset #4
Tropical Sunset #4 is a medium brown with warm, yellowish undertones and a natural, matte finish. It had good color coverage that applied evenly and smoothly to the skin. The powder was dense, soft, and smooth, while remaining blendable. This shade wore nicely for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Viseart Bronze #1 (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- KIKO 100 Cookie (P, $12.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Liberating (LE, $24.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Barre Hopping (DC, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Bronzer (LE, $34.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass Brilliant Nude (PiP, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Benefit 10 (Bronzer) (DC, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Illicit (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Spring Bling (LE, $35.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NYX Nude 'Tude (P, $6.50) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Tropical Sunset #4
LELimited Edition.
Tropical Sunset #5
Tropical Sunset #5 is a soft, light-medium beige with a hint of rosiness and warmth paired with a satin finish. It had excellent pigentation, while the consistency was smooth, silky, and dense enough not to be powdery or dusty in the pan but still very blendable on the skin. It just barely showed on my skin tone, but I thought it worked well to layer over the more intense orange and pink blushes to tone them down, if desired. It wore well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- LORAC Lost Soul (LE, $23.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Hush (DC, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Spanish Villa (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Zoeva ND010 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- NARS Maldives (P, $39.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).
- By Terry Savannah Love #4 (LE, ).
Tropical Sunset #5
LELimited Edition.
Tropical Sunset #6
Tropical Sunset #6 is a muted, medium-dark coppery brown with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly to the cheeks. The texture was soft, finely-milled, and blendable, and it became more luminous as I blended the powder on my cheeks (but never appeared shimmery). The color started to fade after eight and a half hours of wear.
Top Dupes
- The Estee Edit First Lover (01) (P, $28.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Getting Handsy (LE, $10.00) is darker (95% similar).
- NARS Dream Place (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Cantaloupe (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Merit Terracotta (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Milani Bronze Burst #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Fashion District (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Infatuation (P, $10.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC I'm Not Blushing (Bottom) (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Fenty Glow (LE, $20.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Oh BOY do I LOVE this!! It’s so so stunning!! And I love the more vibrant blush shades, paired with the subtler bronzer shades!!
I’ll have to seriously consider this. Eeep!
I like that one can mute some of the bolder shades using the right side, as it makes the palette more versatile!
That very idea was going through my mind as I was reading your review!
Gorgeous. These retail for $141 NZD here so for someone who loves Colourpop and Nyx, this would be a MAJOR splurge… I think it would be worth it though!
Ouch, ouch, ouch!
Took my breath away….This is perfect for medium-deep skin tones. I hope you review the other sun designer palette.
It should be! 🙂
Those Sun designer palettes have my favorite formula for powders ! Can’t wait to see them in real !
When the quality and the packaging are both stunning, one can’t resist !
Can’t wait to see your review on the other one ! I may get them both.
Which one do you prefer ?
Probably the other one, since I rarely wear orange/fuchsia blush!
i have the palette from last year but wanted to see how this one compared to last years (other than the colorful square) before i drop dmn near $100 i need to make sure the rectangle side isn’t duped from last year…what you think….
I don’t think it’s a must-have if you already have one or both from last year, but it just depends on how often you use it, you know? This year’s right side is more red/rose toned.
Thank you for saving me $82 lol. They are definitely lovely palettes to have and the quality is superb.
Wow, this is really pretty. The powders all have a beautiful finish on the skin, and except for the bright berry I could see myself wearing each and every one of them.
They apply and look great on the skin – probably one of their best attributes!
I still haven’t made a dent in the one from last year’s ! Great value. But I think I’ll pass on this 🙂
They’re quite large, so I’m not surprised!
I purchased last year’s #2 because of the highlighter but this year I’m quite indifferent to them. The bronzer side is too red and I don’t like the zig-zag pattern, that’s why I haven’t used the last year palette as much as I thought
This is tempting!
I can see why!
I’ve been interested in these since they came out last year. This color scheme won’t work for me, but maybe the other version will.
Here’s hoping! 🙂
Wow – these are really bright shades, not really for me, but on darker complexions it would look stunning.
Yep, the left side is bolder!
What a well done cheek palette! Even #5, which at first glance, I was thinking it wouldn’t even show up on me, but that it could be used to tamp down that uber vivid fuchsia makes sense.
I was a little surprised at the inclusion of #5 myself, since this palette is geared towards darker skin tones (there are two – one for lighter, one for darker skin tones). Using it to soften was definitely the easiest way to use it!
So summery looking!
Very true!
This is a pretty palette and all the shades look beautiful on you Christine. The only thing I don’t like with these palettes it looks like it would be hard to get your brush in there to pick up just one color at a time did you find that to be true?
It can be more difficult if you use a medium or larger blush brush – I think if they weren’t zig-zag in shape, they would be a little easier to use.
Hi Christine, the problem with blush palettes with many coulours is that the brush can’t take the products properly.
Since the space allowed to one colour is short and the brush often swipes on two colours at the same time. Is it a problem with this palette ? Thank you 🙂
If you use a larger blush brush, absolutely! More small-to-medium are okay, but if you are a stickler for always getting ONE shade and one shade alone, you’d probably be better off with something else! My SUQQU/Chikuhodo cheek brushes are fine for picking up just one color, though.
thank you Christine ! 🙂
This one in particular is too much color for me (the bold side) but I do like the concept, the variety you can get from a palette like this.
The variety is nice!
I like to look at this palette, it’s quite beautiful but I’m not going to buy it just to look at and I think only a few of the colours would actually suit me its an easy pass for me.
Good idea — buy to use, not just to look at!
I’m still in love with last year’s Tan Vibes and it gets used routinely so I’m anticipating the lighter more neutral version of the 2017 release called Savannah Love. This one runs too bright and warm for my light skin. I think medium and darker could knock this out out of the park. It’s gorgeous!
I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts on the lighter version, Wendy!
I took a peek at your Savannah swatches and I’m less excited about it and not going to step up for the early order. Tan vibes palette is so perfect, Savannah looks weaker in terms of payoff and it’s just not wowing me as much as I thought it might. Thanks for your timely swatchation! ?
These palettes are beautiful, but this definitely seems to be a case of form trumping function — I just don’t see working within those zig-zaggy shapes, at least not without getting frustrated.
I could see that! I find most of my go-to brushes fit okay in them, but you can’t just haphazardly place your brush!
These all look so pretty and exactly what I want in a blush palette (and I usually don’t like blush palettes). This is the first blush palette I’ve seen where I feel like I would actually use all of the colors… If most of my blushes weren’t less than a month old, I would consider picking this up!
Ah, well, maybe next year 😉
The shade #5 is to die for! I would love it as a blush ?.
Being so fair I am not sure this palette would be a smart buy. I do love the palette #2 I got last year… The finish on the skin is so flattering. I will wait for your review on the other palette ?
It would be pretty as a blush on very fair skin!
Very pretty but I always have real trouble doing shades individually in a palette like this.
I love the lighter shades in this, shame I can’t just buy half the palette! I love the texture of these powders as I got one last year, they’re so easy to wear.
Very pretty! Especially the more muted colors and the orange! But isn’t it hard to get just one color with your brush from this palette?
What a lovely palette! This would make a nice addition to my collection, even at that price.
This is beautiful; so tempted to pre-order!
Another lovely palette though I’m more enamored with the bronzer shades than the blush shades (which are well covered for me by Chanel Harmony Blush (Ribbons?) from Jan 2016.
I bought the Tropical sun set yesterday at Sephora. I was so exited about those new palettes ! The pictures online look so beautiful ! But I’m a quite disappointed. The new palette have a little chemical smell from the pan that the #1 and #2 from last year don’t have ! Have anybody noticed that ? I hope to like them just as I like the #2. I’m happy to have bought some backups of #2 and I don’t think I’ll purchase backups from this years sun designer palettes. His year’s color selection is too similar to last years. They should show more creativity about the colors !
Tropical Sunset #5 is like exactly the color I’ve been looking for for YEARS to work as a bronzer for my incredibly fair and extremely cool-toned skin. It’s too bad it’s just a strip of color in an $82 limited edition set. I really wish I could find a color with exactly that color/lightness in a single blush or bronzer, but it doesn’t seem like any of the dupes are quite what I’m looking for. 🙁