It’s official: this is the season of the palette. We’ve seen red lips, sparkling eyes and now, the beauty of structured palettes that ooze the elegance of a Dita Von Teese performance yet have the structure and clean lines of a work by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The uses of the palette are versatile: put one in your stylish bag; gift one as a stocking stuffer; pack several in beautifully printed wrapping paper and leave them in glistening piles under a tree. Convenient yet stylish and the perfect size for that new hand bag Santa may leave under your tree. Remember that these are limited edition, so take advantage while you can!
Shiseido is introducing its first makeup palette for the face just in time for the holiday season. Created by Artistic Director Dick Page, this simple yet elegant palette includes seven shades for lips, eyes and cheeks. The Limited Edition palette, Essential Elegance, provides the right shades to take you from casual wear to stunning evening wear. According to Page, “Perfect Beauty is now created with one makeup palette.” Available November 2010 ( www.sca.shiseido.com) $50.
You can now travel in style with Dior’s red patent deluxe travel palette. This palette includes a mini Diorshow Extase Mascara, a mini pink Ultra-Gloss, a medium pressed powder, a blush and six eyeshadows.Available October 2010 (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora) $75.
Dior also has created a chic travel lip palette which is a perfect accessory for those holiday parties. This palette features burgundy and berry shades and a light pink gloss. These colors make it easy to go from day to night. Available October 2010 (www.nordstrom.com) $44.
I am personally completely in love with the Dior Minaudiere. Details include a vintage kiss clasp, a gold plaque engraved with the Dior logo, and a black patent leather finish embossed in the iconic Dior houndstooth pattern. Christian Dior says, “Black is the most elegant and surprising color, mixed with gold, it brings life to the most outrageous creations.” This palette is available in two color harmonies; grey or pink tones. This is one palette I hope to see in my own stocking this year. Available October 2010 (Grey Golds, www.saks.com Pink Golds at all Dior counters) $80.
In celebration of their 15 years of bringing us modern yet classic beauty, NARS has created three Holiday palettes for 2010 including Day and Night, Wild at Heart and Everlasting Love. From bold and sultry to elegant and sophisticated, these palettes embody the beauty NARS has given us over the years.
Day and Night Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $50.
Everlasting Love Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $75
Wild at Heart Palette (www.narscosmetics.com) $75.
Fantasy and luxury were the inspiration for Estee Lauder’s holiday collection created by Tom Pecheux, Creative Makeup Director. The limited edition, Pure Color Extravagant includes golds and deep reds for an “extravagant indulgence” preparing us all for the festivities of the holiday season. What I really love about this collection is the beautiful gold packaging which is unique yet stylish and oh so fitting for the holidays. Available October 2010 (www.esteelauder.com). Palette is $42.
Inspired by Manhattan’s legendary Stork Club, a favorite spot of iconic beauties like Grace Kelly and Lena Horne, Bobbi Brown has introduced a Holiday Collection of Classic yet Modern eye and lip palettes. This ultimate Holiday Collection fit for the Classic Beauty in your life, provides shades that will create lovely soft colors to dramatic yet glamarous colors preparing your special lady for her own silver screen.
Day to Night-Warm. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45
Day to Night-Cool. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45
Pink and Gold Lip Palette. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com) $45
Modern Classic Lip and Eye Palette. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com)
Sparkle Glamour Quad. Available October 2010 (www.bobbibrown.com)
Clinique’s Strawberry Fudge Collection for 2010 was inspired by the Clinique favorite, Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duos. This Holiday treat for the eyes and cheeks comes in a beautifully designed compact. Available November 2010 (www.clinique.com) $36
For those eco-conscious loves of your life, Origins has the perfect stocking stuffer. Good to Glow includes everything needed for gorgeous eyes and lips. Packaged in an eco-friendly cosmetics case, Good to Glow includes eye cream, mascara and lip color (www.origins.com) $29.50.
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice in 2010, Santa will be able to find a little shimmer and luxury for your stocking this year, but only for a limited time.
AND THE WINNER IS (chosen by random number generator):
Savannah
Savannah – please email us at Info@beautystat.com and give us your mailing address details so that we can ship the Dior palette to you.
In honor of all our amazing BeautyStat.com fans and readers, we are giving away ONE DIOR MINAUDIERE (yes, you can all gasp now) to one lucky winner. Just enter a comment below to let us know why you should win one. Winners will be picked within a week.
– Amelia Keith, author and editor of PrettyintheQueenCity.com
