Editorial

Sephora Editorial PRO Eyeshadow Palette ($68.00 for 1.12 oz.) contains 28 eyeshadows in vibrant hues and varying textures. This palette is definitely more of a complementary palette than a standalone one; it will work best paired with more cohesive palettes (like the Cool or Warm palettes), though of course, it can be used on its own. It will just be a lot more versatile when used alongside other palettes! I think that this palette is usable with primer and is best with a very light or white base to ensure the truest color payoff and intensity for the majority of brighter matte shades.

Also, I was surprised at some of the brightness/richness in the hues in the palette, as I have only typically seen that vibrancy in shades that were, consequently, labeled as not safe for the "eye area" in the U.S. (typically allowed in Canada and the EU). I reviewed the ingredient list for this one, and my understanding is that "Yellow 6 Lake" is D&C Yellow No. 6 AI Lake, which is listed as "No" for use on the "Eye Area." This was true with Red 28 Lake (D&C Red No. 28 AI Lake), Red 7 Lake (D&C Red. No. 7), and Red 6 Lake (D&C Red No. 6). These ingredients may be found in these shades: Chris, Porcelain, Tangerine, Amy, Jeffery, Eliza D, Helen P, Tiila, Myiesha, Shawn, and ELectric Violet. You can find color additive information from the FDA here. I could not find any information on my Sephora palette, the included insert that walked through looks (that included instructions to use some of those shades specifically on the eye area), or online. The palette is specifically referenced as a "deluxe eyeshadow palette" and a "PRO eyeshadow palette." I think that brands should more clearly label or include warnings so that consumers can make an informed decision for themselves. If it's a non-issue for one person but a deal-breaker for the other, I'm good either way, just as long as the information is there.

The formula is supposed to feature "high pigment, high performance" with long wear and better adhesion. The matte shades were often powdery with some seeming chalky--I had a lot of looks turn a bit gray or muddy along the edges after using a shade above the crease or on the brow bone. The shimmers varied from smooth, creamy, and dense (with noticeable silicone) or drier, looser, and there were some glitter shades that felt more like loose sand than usable product. The latter was barely salvage with a glitter adhesive, but they could not be solved with fingertips or a damp brush.

I know there has been a lot of buzz about the new Sephora PRO palettes, but I did not find the eyeshadow formula to be that easy to work with as quality varied too much between shades, they applied lighter/darker than they appeared in the pan, and there was considerable fallout (and yes, I did tap off excess product prior to applying!). Even when I tried the formula over a primer, I was less impressed; sometimes, I felt like the eyeshadows were easier to control over bare skin! I've actually been a fan of Sephora's Colorful Eyeshadows since they released them several years ago, including the reformulation, but these are substantially different (which some may prefer).

$68 is a higher price point for palettes, but for most mid-end brands, it seems in line with the size of the palette--each shade is almost as much the average single, full-size eyeshadow. Sephora's house brand isn't high-end, and it sometimes comes in lower than mid-end with respect to product pricing, but it seems to float around there. Using Sephora's Colorful Eyeshadow (different formula) as a point of comparison, each shade retails for $10.00 and contains 0.07 oz. or $142.86/oz. The palette retails for $68.00 and contains 1.12 oz. or $60.71/oz. Here are some other pricing comparisons of a few mid-end/high-end palettes:

Sephora PRO Eyeshadow Palette: $68.00 for 1.12 oz. or $60.71/oz.
Too Faced Natural Love: $59.00 for 0.90 oz. or $65.56/oz.
Tarte Tarteist Palette: $53.00 for 0.70 oz. or $75.71/oz.
Ciate Pretty, Fun, & Fearless: $42.00 for 0.52 oz. or $80.77/oz.
Too Faced Sweet Peach: $49.00 for 0.54 oz. or $90.74/oz.

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