Let’s talk about the latest in luxury beauty; Louboutin Beauty has expanded it’s portfolio with a new range of palettes for the eyes and cheeks. The compacts and refills are sold individually, which adds up to a total of SGD 216 per palette. There’s a red and black compact to choose from… and then three eyeshadow palette refills + three blush trio refills to mix and match.
It’s quite the splurge considering each empty palette is SGD108 and another SGD108 for the refill. Still cannot get over how much it costs to have just one palette with the case! But I do appreciate the effort to be environmentally conscious even though I might never really pan these palettes.
The empty palette is a stunning compact with a magnetic closure. The top is studded with signature Louboutin spikes (that surprisingly don’t seem to add a load of weight) and the bottom of the palette has an equally pretty ‘red sole’ .
Each palette assembles with a satisfying click thanks to the magnetized case. Perfection! Honestly wish Hermes got it right that first time.
My picks from the eyeshadow palettes were Rose Pigalle & Bronze Eloise. These look like the most likely combinations I’d normally wear. I wish the two had a bit more variation of colours. Unfortunately BOTH contain a gold shade with one palette containing TWO. I honestly didn’t see the point in releasing similar shades when the launch is such a small one. Also there is room for some matte shades in the palettes. Bronze Eloise had one matte brown, luckily!
Unfortunately the variety of looks from Rose Pigalle is limited to shimmery, sparkly ones. I really hoped the brown in this was matte. But at least the palette didn’t contain two golds!
Rose Pigalle is a mix of, a pink with gold shimmer, a warm gold with micro glitter, a shimmery copper, a rich metallic orange, a satin brown with gold shimmer and a rich metallic maroon.
The formula between these vary, the two shades bottom left and right (orange & maroon) swatch like baked (wet and dry) formulas. I tried them wet and they really do POP. The only shade I wasn’t loving was the satin brown, the gold shimmer in this ends up in the eye when I use it to line the lower lash line and irritates. Personally I prefer darker shades to have minimal to no shimmer (especially when the formula is a powdery one and tends to escape while applying). Overall the pigmentation in these shadows were pretty good. I wouldn’t say they are crazy pigmented and buttery like let’s say… the Pat Mcgrath shadows, but I do think they are good. I also actually like the gold in this palette. It has a gorgeous high shimmer glittery finish that can be worn on it’s own for a statement eye look. I’d use it patted and pressed on all over the lid with fingertips for maximum effect.
My only gripe is that the palette isn’t well balanced. The addition of some matte shadows would definitely allow more variety in terms of the looks.
If you really want to try out the Louboutin formula and enjoy luxury palettes, I definitely feel this would be the one to go for. Of the three palettes Rose Pigalle had a better colour mix in my humble opinion (read, no repeat shades).
Bronze Eloise is the ‘neutral’ palette that …. wasn’t quite neutral. I really didn’t get the need for two golds. I feel this missed the mark in that sense since the launch didn’t have a single true ‘neutral’ palette that many of us tend to use on a regular basis. What was lacking was a matte cream or a simple beige that would really kick up the versatility of this one, minus the gold. The 1st gold really wasn’t needed. Who needs a pale gold that’s pigmented ‘ok’ at best and a incredibly warm but well pigmented, VERY yellow gold too?
Anyway.. the shades in here are a shimmery rose, a satin gold, a medium matte brown, a rose bronze, a warm saturated gold and a deep metallic bronze. My favorite shade in the palette is the 1st one, the beautiful satin rose. It’s formula is silky smooth and just the kinda shade I love to use as a one and done colour for daily use. It’s so pretty.
The first gold in the palette is more of a muted pale gold, the second a warm saturated one. The matte brown swatched ok, but did perform much better with a brush. I feel overall these pick up with brushes really well and blend out nicely! They look very smooth on the eyes.
Bottom line, the palettes weren’t extraordinary. I do think they create a glamourous eye look as the brand intended. It’s all about drama. If I had to pick, I can’t say I love one more than the other.. except where wearabilty is concerned I guess you would be better off with Bronze Eloise.
Of the blush palettes I pick up one.
I ADORE the shades in this. Plus it’s a baked Gelee type formula. Silky smooth, amazingly pigmented and wears like a second skin with no powderiness. This almost melts and fuses with the skin for a luminous glowy finish. On me they wore well for over 5-6 hours after which they faded considerably.
The colours in here are definitely more for medium to deeper skin tones and I love that the brand kept this launch more inclusive.
Left to right there is a berry with a subtle blue shift, a warm gold highlighter and a bronze. I was curious to swatch this along with the NARS blush Dominate and to be quite honest they are very similar (almost like a mix of the two blush shades in the palette). However NARS is a little bit more bolder, more saturation and also contains a little micro glitter that catches the light for a dazzling look.
Lastly a look with the palette.
I used Bronze Eloise and the So Prive blush palette for easy glam makeup. The blush shade is a mix of the two colours in the palette. I skipped the highlighter as I didn’t want the look to end up too warm. I’m happy the palette does come together rather nicely.
Bottom Line
The eyeshadows apply smoothly and are well pigmented. They also blend easily and can be used with or without primer, (I tried both). There wasn’t much fallout during application except for the deeper shades. I like that overall they do come together to create a beautiful eye look.
For what they cost, the quality and formulation should be exceptional and truth be told, I could achieve this look with other palettes with possibly better formulations. However as far as overall execution, they are very nice. I feel the attention to detail for the packaging alone is pretty amazing and they nailed it as with their lipsticks which look and feel equally luxurious!
Btw these palettes contain 6g of product , 1g per pan. I cross checked with a Chanel eye palette and it contains 2g. The average Dior palette contains 3g and a NARS 4.8g . Depending on whether a powder is baked or pressed the weight varies. But overall 6g is pretty generous.
For me the real winners were the blushes, and they are lovely! I feel if you are on the look out for some luxury retail therapy these are wonderful. Personally I wouldn’t mind adding more to my collection… but the price… I really find it hard justifying it.
Bubbly Michelle 