Wait — are you kidding me?! You two haven’t met yet? Well, we need to fix that immediately.
Babe, this is Sonia Kashuk’s new Formal Affair Palette; Formal Affair, this is one of my beauty besties.
I think you two will hit it off. Formal Affair here is quite a bargain at $19.99. She may spend her days in drugstores, but at heart, she’s 100% department store-caliber makeup.
It’s as if Sonia said, “I’m going to make the perfect powder palette, and it’s going to contain two blushes, one bronzer and four eyeshadows for girls who want to look like they’re wearing NARS, Bobbi Brown and Urban Decay but don’t want to spend that much.”
Is that the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo??
Don’t the golden brown powder bronzer and shimmery, golden peachy pink blush on Formal Affair’s far right look inspired by the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo? Except that Sonia’s bronzer is sheerer than NARS Laguna, with slightlier grittier grains of golden glitter, and the golden pearl within the blush looks less pronounced to me than NARS Orgasm (maybe they’re just kissing cousins).
Look who’s getting Naked2
Okay, although I feel kinda lame getting excited about a brown eyeshadow (with so many great flashy colors out there and all!), Formal Affair’s brown is just so chocolaty…so shimmery…and so Mmmm! — buttery smooth.
It reminds me of Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked2 palette.
It’s just so blendable, and I love how easy it is to wear sheer or build up in layers.
Sparkle like Bobbi Brown’ Sparkle Eyeshadows
The tan and black glittery shadows in Formal Affair would fit right in with Bobbi Brown’s Sparkle Eyeshadows. Like those shadows from Bobbi, they’re loaded with gobs of medium-sized glitter, but Sonia takes things a step further by using an intensely pigmented base. Patting either shade on the brown shade from Formal Affair is a quick way to dress up a look. I do have to be mindful, though, of the fallout, which is slight, but still. At least it’s easy enough to clean up, especially if I do my eyes first.
The two remaining pieces in the palette — the pink blush and shimmery white eyeshadow on the far right — are comparable to rest of the palette in terms of texture, pigment and blend-ability, but I don’t know… For some reason, I just don’t find them as inspiring as the other pieces.
Eh, but I’m glad they’re here, because you never know when the mood to mix and match will strike.
Even though its name implies bow ties and ball gowns, I’ve nicknamed Formal Affair, “Girl next door goes glam.” To my eye, it’s a very feminine, sensual and approachable makeup look, with softly defined eyes and cheeks reminiscent of a Victoria’s Secret runway model (just add glossy lips and big hair, LOL!).
I really dig this palette and think it’s one of Sonia’s most exciting palettes in years. Great job, girl! 🙂
PRICE: $19.99
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Target stores (didn’t spot it online)
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Pins and needles
You know what I’ve been noticing lately? I get this feeling in my feet like pins and needles A LOT.
Back when I was in my teens and twenties, it was less frequent, like maybe once or twice a month, but now it seems to happen almost every day.
Maybe it has something to do with Tabs making me sit in front of the computer all day long. Maybe I need to get up and move around a little more often.
Sometimes, I think about converting my desk to a standing workstation, or maybe getting a treadmill desk (here’s one on amazon.com for $500, yikes!).
Do you also spend a lot of your day sitting down? And have you ever worked at a standing desk? Inquiring minds want to know…
I think I might try doing this Ikea desk hack that I saw on wired.com for $22, even though the thought of Ikea and putting furniture together gives me hives.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
That kit look pretty amazing, Karen! We don’t get SK here but I’ve owned a couple of her brushes (thanks to your recs) and they are great for the price 🙂
Great palette! I love the neutral shades and the the combo of the blush and bronzer. And Karen, your hair looks absolutely out of this world!
I completely agree with you–I think this is one of Sonia Kashuk’s more exciting palettes. It’s GORGEOUS! That shimmering chocolate brown is absolutely stunning and so pigmented and all those cheek colors are lovely too! I am definitely going for this one!
PS: While I have never personally tried a standing workstation, my boyfriend recently converted his setup to one and he likes it a lot–seems to help his back, which is a problem I have :/
What is that gorgeous nude lip color you’re wearing?
My o my! I can easily say that my Christmas wishlist is gona be sooo long this year. Check out the lovely ‘peachy pink blush’!
Sarah
I am so glad you posted this. This would make a great gift. I have to ask, what is the lip color you are wearing? I LOVE IT!!!!!
That brown is fantastic, exactly the king of colour I wear. And the eye makeup looks great on you 🙂
STANDING DESKS are da bomb! We went to visit Outdoorkitty’s meteorologist uncle, and the weather men work 12 hour shifts and ALL have standing desks. They say they feel more energetic than if they sat around. And they were all like cyclists / runners, totally in shape guys. I don’t have one at work YET but I’m going to push for it when I go back.
I drooled at that treadmill desk… I’ve threatened to bring in a treadmill to long boring department meetings to keep me awake. One of these days…
This palette is gorgeous! And I love your sweater. I love sparkly clothes 🙂
Try and stand to walk about during your day at the desk. It really works in getting those pins and needles out. 🙂
That palette is so goshdang pretty!
I am so with you on the daily pins and needles in my feet. I know I need a better set up soon too. Of course, I am loving this palette it looks like a great buy! PS I also love that your NARS duo looks like it has been through a war, that says it all!
Kashuk has a bomb makeup line and is affordable to boot! It’s too bad I have colors in my stash similar to this palette. Hmn maybe I can sneak this one in to my goddaughter’s stocking when her overprotective parents aren’t looking. (I am the worst/best ninang.)
I have tried standup desks before. Your legs and feet might need a little time to adjust to the orientation. Over time your leg circulation improves, so less pins and needles. Also it does wonders for your posture. You’ll realize how much slouching hurts.
Karen! You look absolutely GORGEOUS! this is probably one of my favorite looks that I’ve seen on MUBB. The Formal Affair Palette looks like the perfect stocking stuffer. :]
I just got the Orgasm/Laguna duo and I’m liking it a lot. Though I’m sure my shadowing/bronzing skills are sub par. HAHA! That’s great that Sonia’s palette has some lower priced dupes. 🙂
Have you tried a taller, softer desk chair? Sometimes if I’m sitting on something hard or leaning forward/keeping my feet in a tippy-toe position while sitting, my feet fall asleep. I don’t know if it’s the same for everyone, though. I can’t imagine a standing workstation; I think I’d have the urge to move around too much.
I really am loving that eye look on you! It looks much more expensive than target!
oooo girl I probably walked right past this yesterday when I was at target… but now you are making me want this!
Hey Karen, can you tell me how you did this eye look? I absolutely love it, its gorgeous!!!!!!!!!