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You may be wondering why I’m writing a review of a product over one year after it was released. I had planned on doing this much sooner but I think having the perspective of a year of using these products is much more valuable for a review. I have compiled about 20 looks using the palettes so you can see how I’ve been wearing them over the past year. I've used them much more than that but these are the times I managed to take photos. I've also used them many times in combination with other eyeshadows but for this review, I wanted to just include looks using only the Lisa Eldridge eyeshadows because otherwise there would be too many photos. I also wanted to have somewhere that people could see all of the looks I've done using the palettes as I know it can be hard to search for things on Instagram. It's all well and good if I say I love a product a couple of weeks after getting it but I think seeing how I have integrated a product into my everyday makeup collection is the best way to gauge my true thoughts on a product. I was also aware that these palettes have been in and out of stock and I was reluctant to review something that people weren’t able to readily buy. Myth, Vega and Cinnabar are currently out of stock in the UK and EU however all of the palettes are in stock in the US. If you follow me on Instagram I usually update my stories when I see that something is back in stock. I realised it could be helpful to write this post before there is another restock so that if you have been thinking about buying one of them you can see how I've used them and whether they are something that would suit your makeup wants and needs.
There are lots of reference photos in this review including close-ups of the eyeshadows on the eyes, swatches and makeup looks. I’ll be discussing the packaging, the shades, the formulas, the pricing and the refill element. These three palettes were sent to me by the Lisa Eldridge team for review purposes. I was asked to choose three palettes and I chose these three because the other two palettes Muse and Myth have more shades that contain carmine, an ingredient that gives my eyes some trouble. Some shades in Cinnabar and Vega contain carmine but I haven’t had any issues with them. If eyeshadows get into my eyes or if I use a liner that contains carmine my eyes swell and get red and sticky so I didn't want to risk getting Muse or Myth. I plan on buying some of the single eyeshadows from those two palettes when they are back in stock.
I was so excited to receive these palettes as I loved the Liquid Lurex Eyeshadows (reviewed here) and I was so eager to try a Lisa Eldridge powder eyeshadow formula. Sorcery was the palette I was most excited about, especially after seeing Lisa wearing it in her YouTube video talking about the launch. Greens and blues are two of my favourite shades to wear on my eyes and I love a blinding shimmer so this palette is a dream for me. I loved the idea of having a cool and warm palette too. I also adore purples so I was disappointed to not get Myth but I didn’t want to risk it in case the eyeshadows containing carmine irritated my eyes. But I would definitely have chosen that palette as I love those shades. There are a lot of photos and I have a lot of thoughts so let's get into the review.
The Packaging
I’ll begin by discussing the packaging and the refill system. The palettes are slightly larger than palm-sized (depending on the size of your hands) and they have a magnetic closure. The finish is a sleek matte gold in what I am assuming is plastic which makes them durable for Makeup Artist kits, traveling, or bringing out in your makeup bag. There are 6 pans in each palette and a hole at the back of each one so that you can push a pin through to take out the individual pans and rearrange them or add a refill. I particularly like that there is no added sponge applicator or brush so the palette is just the eyeshadows and it means there is no excess packaging. The top of the palette is slightly domed with a seam running across it so you wouldn't be able to stack them on top of each other which is the only thing that people might find awkward about the packaging. I keep mine in their boxes anyway and it doesn't take up much extra room so that doesn't bother me. The packaging has a vintage feel to it but still looks modern and fits in perfectly with her other products. It is comfortable in the hand and not too heavy, the mirror is a good size which I often use when I'm doing my makeup.
Lisa said that the whole idea was to create palettes that would mimic the colour-coded mixed palettes in her own makeup kit. She made them refillable so that you could easily pop out the shades and create your own bespoke palette depending on your preferences. When these palettes launched there were a lot of people who were disappointed that there wasn't the option to create your own palette. I don't know the exact reason why but I assume it would have been logistically quite difficult and more expensive as you'd have to fulfill custom orders. I know some people just bought the refills and put them into their own magnetic palettes which is another option. The refills are currently sold out in the EU (there are some still available in the UK) but hopefully, they will be restocked soon so I can buy another French Grey and Raw Sienna. I don't think anyone ever uses all of the shades in an eyeshadow palette equally so having the refills is such a great idea.
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The Shades and Formulas
On her website, there is a quote from Lisa stating “I wanted my Eyeshadow Palettes to be a closely edited wardrobe of shades, inspired by the self-created palettes I've always carried in my kit with the shades and textures I absolutely rely on.” Each of the palettes has a cohesive colour story that makes sense for both makeup artists and makeup consumers. Hopefully, you can see from the photos below the diversity of looks that you can achieve from each of the palettes. The inspiration behind each palette is mentioned on her website too, something I find fascinating. Cinnabar is "inspired by the natural pigments our earth has to offer, particularly historic paint colours and art". Vega is "inspired by the graphic optical artistry and illusionism and the infinite nature of the galaxy". Sorcery is "inspired by medieval tales and legends...Sorcery is a story of the magicians, fairs and fantasy of the middle ages". The Myth Palette "takes its inspiration from the Mauve Decade and Victorian Gothic hues". Finally, Muse is "inspired in part by the Belle Epoque with its painterly washed world of romance and by the sensuous, smoky rosewood undertones of [her] Velvet Muse Lip Colour".
The six-pan palette is an ideal size because it's not overwhelming but there is enough diversity that you won't be always creating the same look. It's a comfortable amount of shades that also allows for a variation in the depth of the shades so that more skin tones can wear them. There is something for every makeup user whether you're a lover of bold jewel tones or more of a neutrals lover. The only issue that I can see is if you only wear mattes or you only wear shimmers you're probably not going to want a palette of eyeshadows with various finishes because you won't get the use from them. In that instance, these palettes probably won't be for you.
There are six formulas- Seamless Matte, Velvet, Luminous, Satin/Metallic, Lustre and Top Coat. I have 5 of the 6 in these 3 palettes, the only one I don’t have is a Lustre. I'm a big fan of the shades but the formulas are where these palettes really shine. They are unlike any other eyeshadows I've tried. I always use a primer with every eyeshadow because I have quite oily eyelids. I did try these eyeshadows without primer and as I expected they did crease after a while, although it depends on the formula, some last longer than others. I find the mattes creased on me sooner than the metallics. It's clearly not something that has put me off as I'm used to wearing primer with all of my eyeshadows.
All of the formulas can be applied with a brush or fingers but I find that the seamless mattes and the velvets work best with a brush. They really do blend seamlessly and effortlessly. The Luminous, Metallic and Top Coat formulas have the most impact when applied with a finger but if you want a more subtle wash of the eyeshadow, using a brush works best. The formulas feel different from all of the other eyeshadows in my collection, they almost feel like a cream to powder, they have a kind of grip to them that makes them adhere to the eyelids so well. The silicone slip of the formula means that they would work well on all ages too as they have such a refined, smooth texture that I find is very forgiving on my eye area. They are easily blended with each other, with the Liquid Lurex Eyeshadows and with all other eyeshadow formulas I’ve tried so far. I have found any brush I've used has worked perfectly well with these formulas, but as a side note, the Lisa Eldridge brushes are the most exquisite I have ever tried. Their softness and ease of use are unparalleled in my collection.
I don't think I've ever hit pan on an eyeshadow before except for maybe the first Naked palette about 12 years ago when it was the only eyeshadow palette I owned. I hit pan on French Grey a while ago because it is such a great matte shade. I've made a significant dent in Raw Sienna, Turbulence, Deep Ochre and Mercurial too. I thought Vega would be my least used palette but it's by far the one I have used the most. It's an ideal neutral palette to pair with any lipstick and the formulas are reliable so I know I can get a quick look and I don't have to worry about it. We were away for a few days earlier this year and I took Vega with me as I knew I wouldn't want to spend too much time doing makeup but I knew I could get both an everyday look and something more glamourous for the evening with this palette.
I’ve used Vega the most, then Cinnabar and lastly Sorcery. However, I have the most looks below using Sorcery as there is probably more to showcase with the shades in that palette. You can see that I’ve done some more graphic looks and the formulas work really well on a thin brush as a liner or sharp eye look. You can also spritz your brush to get more impact from the metallic and luminous shades. If you are an eyeshadow novice or someone who prefers a more subtle eye look, the formulas are quite versatile and can be worn more sheer and also built up for more opacity and impact.
My Experience
If you’re reading this to know whether I recommend these palettes the short answer is a resounding yes! If I hadn’t been sent these three I definitely would have bought Sorcery and probably Vega too. I do not need new eyeshadows as I have quite an extensive collection because of my work as a Content Creator. However, along with the Hindash Beautopsy Palette, these are my most used palettes of the past year by far. If I’m getting ready quickly or going to an event I always use these palettes because they’re so reliable. Vega and Cinnabar are ideal for pairing with bold lips. They make excellent palettes for events and I think they would be great for bridal makeup too. I know that I can create a softly sculpted eye look and then add depth, definition, or sparkle if I want to. It’s made me really think about my larger eyeshadow palettes and I don’t think I would be inclined to buy one in the future. Whether or not these palettes are for you completely depends on your taste, your makeup usage and your budget. You may already have similar shades in your collection but if you don’t I think these palettes are such a good buy for beginners, makeup enthusiasts and makeup artists alike.
For me, it's about the overall experience. Some brands may already have similar shades and colour stories but it would be difficult to beat the packaging, formulas and pricing of these palettes. I'm really happy to have these compact, beautiful, easy-to-use eyeshadow palettes. As someone with a more extensive makeup collection than the average person and as someone who has tested out a lot of eyeshadow formulas over the past 20 years, I'm happy to see something new and exciting in its reliability and performance. These are the kinds of palettes that I want to use every day because I know I will always be happy with the results and I won't have to work hard to make them look good. I have a small child and not a lot of time to do makeup most days so having reliable makeup that makes me feel good is a must.
The Pricing
The palettes are priced at €59 for 6 pans. In comparison to similar products from other Makeup Artist owned brands, quads from Victoria Beckham and Pat Mc Grath are €66 and €62 respectively. The Charlotte Tilbury quads are €53. The Lisa Eldridge palettes are therefore the best value in comparison to these other similar brands. The refills are €14 which is more than the price per shadow in the palettes, which is to be expected. I think the pricing is very fair considering the packaging and the formulas. I think €62/€66 for a quad is quite expensive. I had a Charlotte Tilbury quad when the brand first launched and it was €50 at the time. While I did like it, the Lisa Eldridge formula is much more my kind of formula and more intuitive and special compared to other brands I have used.
I know a lot of people would love the see a build-your-own palette option with an empty palette and the option to choose your own six shades. If you only like mattes you could make up a palette with just matte shades or a palette with just the metallics and luminous finish shades. I know that would involve a lot of logistics but I think in the future it's something that the brand could do as I know it would be a popular option.
Cinnabar, Enhance and Define in Jazz, Velvet Duchess | Enhance and Define in Muse, Gloss Embrace in Muse
Cinnabar, Velvet Decade (See the video here)
Vega, Sorcery and Cinnabar, Velvet Fawn
Vega, Enhance and Define Lip Pencil in Jazz, Velvet Morning (See the video here)
Vega, Velveteen Dragon and Ribbon, Gloss Embrace in Silent Sun (See the video here)
Vega and Cinnabar, Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Le Mépris (See the video here)
Vega and Sorcery, Velveteen Dragon, Gloss Embrace Myth (See the video here)
I hope this has been a comprehensive review and that all of your questions have been answered. As I have been compiling the photos and information for over a year I wanted to be as thorough as possible. If you follow me on Instagram or if you have read any of my other Lisa Eldridge reviews, you'll have noticed that I'm a big fan of the brand. I always hope that I will love her products and these palettes are no exception. I love them for many reasons but the reasons I love them may be the reasons they are not the products for you. You may prefer different packaging and formulas and maybe the shades aren't what you like to wear. Everyone has different preferences and I'm sure there will be people who will read this review and not want to buy these products. I wanted to give as much information as possible to help people decide if these eyeshadows seem like something they would like to own. After a year of using these palettes, I am so happy that I have them in my collection and I'm still excited every time I use them. If there is anything else you'd like to know or if you'd like to see a video on a specific look, just leave me a comment or send me a DM on Instagram. I would love to know if you have any of these palettes and what you think. Are there any colour stories you'd like to see Lisa release in the future?
Emma x
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